If you want to know how to stop slicing a golf ball you first need to understand why the golf ball slices and what causes it to slice.

The first thing you need to be aware of is whether your problem is indeed a slice and not a push slice. These are  two distinctly different problems and both are caused by only two things - albeit different for each.

Only two things can cause a slice.  Both occur at point of impact:

1. The swing path
2. The angle of the clubface at impact.

The swing path is the determining factor in the Primary Direction of the flight path of the ball.

For a slice you must have an "out to in" swing path.  This will give you a primary direction with the ball going left of the target (right handed golfers).

There is no way the ball flight can start off anywhere except left of target. I want you to think about that for a while and be sure in your mind that this is so.

The clubface at impact determines the Secondary Direction of the flight path of the ball.

For a slice to occur the clubface angle must be open at the point of impact. This open angle of the face at impact means that the club cuts across the front of the ball placing an anti-clockwise spin on the ball.  Similar to a cut or drop shot in tennis.

With the combination of the "out to in" swing path and the "open" club face at impact  the result is a slice.  The ball, which starts off left of target, will eventually end up going right.

I mentioned in my opening paragraph that you need to be sure that it is a slice that is troubling you and not a "push slice."

To clarify: if your ball starts off to the right of the target, and goes even further right, this is a push slice.

A push slice is caused by an "in to in" swing path with an "open" club face at impact.

There are only three possible swing paths - they are:

1. In to Out
2. Out to In
3. In to In.

There are also only three possible club face angles through impact :

1. Open
2. Square
3. Closed.

Each of the three possible swing paths in combination with each of the clubface angles will produce a different result:

1. Push -  Created by an in-to-out swing path with an open club face.
2. Draw - Created by an in-to-out swing path with a square club face.
3. Hook - Created by an in-to-out swing path with a closed club face.
4. Slice - Created by an out-to-in swing path with an open club face.
5. Fade - Created by an out-to-in swing path with a square club face.
6. Pull - Created by an out-to-in swing path with a closed club face.
7. Push Slice - Created by an in-to-in swing path with an open club face.
8. Straight - Created by an in-to-in swing path with a square club face.
9. Pull Hook. - Created by and in-to-in swing path with a closed club face.

There could be any number of reasons causing you to have a slice.

The fault could be caused by any one or several different aspects of the golf swing:

The first is the grip. This will determine the angle of the club face at impact. A weak grip will encourage an open club face.

Another common error is to lift the left shoulder too early through impact.

Try this right now. Get up from the computer, grab a club and address a ball. Take a slow motion swing and just before the contact area lift your left shoulder and stop at this point. Notice the club face - it will be open.

The swing path is usually determined by poor alignment or incorrect aiming. I often I ask people what they are aiming at and discover that what they think they are aiming at, and what they are actually aiming at, are two different things.

Another common error is trying to hit the ball too hard. The natural tendency when trying to hit the ball hard is to come from "over the top" in a casting motion. To get rid of a slice you will have to fight this tendency to "hit the ball hard". Timing and tempo have a far greater effect on accuracy as well as distance control.

With the correct grip and correct alignment you should be in a position where you can decide what shape shot you want to play. Most players favour a draw or a fade.

The hardest shot in golf is a straight shot.

The golf swing is really a lot simpler than people make out. There is far too much technical and confusing information bandied about for the average golfer. Keep it simple I say.