The Science-Based Solution to Eliminate Your Slice Forever: Why I Fix Face First, Then Path

Hi friends and golfers! My name is coach Erik Schjolberg. After analyzing thousands of swing sequences with 3D video and TrackMan data over my 20+ years of coaching, I’ve discovered that most golfers are fighting their slice backwards. They’re obsessing over their club path when the real culprit is staring them right in the face—literally.

Here’s the counterintuitive truth: Your slice isn’t primarily a club path problem. It’s a club face problem.

The Face-First Philosophy That Changes Everything

When a student comes to me at EJS Golf with a persistent slice, the first thing I do is measure their club path and face angle via my Trackman unit—followed by a 3D analysis of their golf swing. What I consistently find through advanced ball flight analysis is that golfers are losing at least 15-20 yards of distance and significant accuracy simply because they’re fighting an open club face with compensatory moves.

The traditional approach teaches golfers to swing more “from the inside” to fix their slice. This creates a frustrating cycle where they’re constantly manipulating their swing plane while never addressing the root cause. It’s like trying to steer a car with misaligned wheels—you can overcorrect all you want, but you’ll never drive straight until you fix the alignment.

Golfers swing over the top to stop the golf ball from curving too much to the right.  This is done b/c the golfer does not fully comprehend why the ball goes to the right and how to stop it.  Most golfers that come to see me have no idea why a golf ball starts in a certain direction and then what causes it to curve a certain way.

My approach is different: Fix the club face first, then optimize the path.

Why This Sequence Actually Works

The reason I prioritize club face control over club path comes down to immediate playability. When you learn to close the club face at impact, even with an over-the-top swing path, you’ll hit straight pull of a pull fade instead of slices. A straight pull or pull fade that carries at least 15 yards further than your slice? That’s a playable golf shot that won’t destroy your round while you continue working on your club path leading to the ultimate draw.

This isn’t just theory—it’s backed by the data I collect from every lesson. Students who master club face control first typically see their dispersion tighten by 30-40 yards at their first session , even before we’ve made significant path changes. They leave the lesson able to play better golf immediately, not months down the road.

The Biomechanical Reality of Face Control

Most slicers have developed what I call “survival grip patterns”—they’ve unconsciously weakened their grip and learned to hold the club face open through impact because their swing path is so severely outside-in that a square face would send the ball left into trouble.

Breaking this pattern requires understanding the cause-and-effect relationship between grip, wrist angles, and face control. I use pressure plate technology and 3D motion capture to show students exactly how their body mechanics influence club face position. When they see the data showing how a stronger grip position and proper wrist rotation creates consistent face control, the lightbulb goes on.

The key insight? Your hands and wrists control the club face for the most part. Your body rotation and club path plane control the path. These are separate systems that need to be trained in the right sequence.

The Implementation Strategy That Sticks

Here’s how I systematically eliminate the slice with my students:

Phase 1: Club face Mastery I start every student with impact bag training and slow-motion rehearsals focused solely on delivering a square club face. Using apps like Sportsbox AI for my online students or TrackMan for in-person lessons in Scottsdale, we measure face angle until they can consistently control it regardless of club path.

Phase 2: Path Optimization Once club face control becomes automatic, we address the club path through proper body rotation and swing plane adjustments. Now when they occasionally revert to their old path, they’re hitting straight pulls or pull fades instead of big banana ball slices—a massive improvement in playability.

Phase 3: Integration and Fine-Tuning The final phase involves coordinating both elements under pressure and on-course conditions. This is where the magic happens—when students realize they’re no longer afraid of their driver and can actually attack pins with confidence.

The Data Doesn’t Lie

In my experience coaching golfers at all levels, students who follow this face-first approach reduce or eliminate their slice by 70-80% within a session or two. More importantly, they maintain their improvements because they understand the biomechanical why behind each adjustment.

Compare this to golfers who try to fix everything at once—they often get overwhelmed, revert to old patterns under pressure, and never develop the systematic understanding needed for long-term improvement.

The Bottom Line

Your slice isn’t a character flaw or a permanent condition. It’s a technical issue with a specific, measurable solution. By addressing club face control first, you can start playing better golf immediately while building the foundation for long-term swing improvement.

The best part? Once you understand how to control your club face, you’ll never fear the slice again. You’ll have the knowledge and the tools to self-correct when old patterns creep in.

What’s been your biggest frustration with slice correction? Have you been focusing more on club path or club face control? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments.

Coach Erik Schjolberg is the founder of EJS Golf and has spent over 20 years helping golfers eliminate their slice through science-based instruction. As Scottsdale’s top-rated golf coach, he uses advanced technology including 3D video analysis, TrackMan, and force plates to accelerate improvement for both in-person Scottsdale golf lessons and online golf lessons. For more help check out coach Erik's Youtube page.