What is the outcome of a "pull slice" in golf?

A "pull slice" in golf occurs when the ball begins to travel in a straight line toward the left side of the target (for a right-handed golfer) but then curves to the right, resulting in a slice. This specific shot usually happens because of the club's path and the position of the clubface at impact.

In this scenario, the club's path is outside-to-in, meaning that the club is coming from the outside of the target line and cutting across to the inside. This path contributes to the ball starting left of the intended target line. Additionally, the clubface is open relative to the path, which means it is facing to the right of the target at impact. This combination of an open clubface and an outside-to-in path is what causes the ball to slice to the right after initially pulling left.

Understanding this dynamic helps to clarify how the mechanics of the swing result in a specific shot pattern, thereby providing valuable insights into how adjustments can be made to improve accuracy.