Something one might slice - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Something one might slice," is a fantastic example of misdirection, a favorite tool of crossword constructors. Your mind might immediately jump to the kitchen, thinking of bread, cake, or an onion. However, the puzzle guides us to a different venue entirely: the golf course.

Clue Analysis

The brilliance of this clue lies in the double meaning of the verb "to slice." While its most common definition involves cutting something into thin pieces, it has a very specific and well-known meaning in the world of sports.

In golf, a slice is a type of shot where the ball curves dramatically in flight, away from the player's dominant side (for a right-handed golfer, the ball curves to the right). It's a common and often frustrating mishit for amateur players. The "something" that one might slice, therefore, is a golf stroke. The answer, TEESHOT, is the first stroke taken from the teeing ground at the beginning of a hole, and it is very frequently the shot that golfers slice.

Thinking Approaches

When you first encounter this clue, your thought process might look like this:

1. Literal Interpretation: What do I slice? My first thoughts are food items: CAKE, PIE, BREAD, TOMATO. I'd check the letter count and any crossing letters. If they don't match, it's time to pivot.

2. Re-evaluating the Verb: The key is to question the word "slice." What are its other meanings? This is a crucial step in solving ambiguous clues. Is there a slang meaning? A technical one? A sport-specific one?

3. Broadening the Context: This leads to thinking about sports. You might think of a "slice" backhand in tennis, but the most common association for a sliced shot is golf.

4. Connecting to the Answer: Once you've landed on golf, you can brainstorm types of golf shots. PUTT, CHIP, DRIVE, and of course, the very first one you take: a TEESHOT. Given that a slice is a major, often wild, swing, it fits perfectly with the powerful swing used for a tee shot.

Background Context

For those unfamiliar with the sport, golf involves hitting a small ball with various clubs into a series of holes on a course. Each hole begins at a designated area called the teeing ground.

• A tee shot is the inaugural stroke on a hole, played from this teeing ground. It's often made with a long-hitting club called a driver, with the goal of sending the ball as far down the fairway as possible.
• A slice is a specific ball flight pattern caused by sidespin. It's the bane of many golfers' existence, often sending the ball into the rough, trees, or out of bounds. Its opposite, for a right-handed player, is a "hook," where the ball curves sharply to the left.

This clue cleverly uses this piece of sports jargon to create a fun "aha!" moment for the solver.

Conclusion

This clue is a masterclass in using a common word's secondary meaning to create a satisfying puzzle. By moving our thinking from the culinary to the athletic, we uncover an answer that perfectly fits the clue's more nuanced interpretation. It's a reminder to always consider alternative contexts when a clue's most obvious meaning leads to a dead end.

Hints

1. Hint 1: This action often takes place outdoors on a large, manicured lawn.
2. Hint 2: It's related to a sport that involves clubs and a small ball.
3. Hint 3: The word 'slice' in the clue refers to a specific type of errant hit in this sport.
4. Hint 4: This is the very first stroke a player takes on a given hole.