How to Fix a Slice with Your Driver

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Common Faults & Fixes

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Quick answer

• Tighten up your grip, making it more neutral or slightly strong.
• Focus on keeping that driver face square through the ball.
• Swing the club from the inside, not cutting across it.

Who this is for

• Any golfer who finds their driver shots veering way off-course to the right.
• Players ready to add some serious control and distance back to their drives.

What to check first

• Your Grip: This is huge. For righties, check if the V’s formed by your thumb and forefinger are pointing too far left of your right shoulder. That’s a weak grip, a prime suspect for slices [1].
• Your Aim: Are your feet and shoulders aligned way left of your actual target? This setup often tricks you into swinging over the top.
• Ball Position: Is the ball sitting way too far forward in your stance, almost off your lead heel? This can make it a real challenge to square the clubface at the right moment.
• Clubface at Address: Take a peek at your driver’s face before you swing. Is it wide open, aiming way right of your target?

Fixing Your Driver Slice: Step-by-Step

This isn’t rocket science, but it takes a little practice. We’re going to dial in the fundamentals to get you hitting it straight.

1. Adjust Your Grip: This is where we start. For right-handed golfers, loosen your grip slightly and then rotate both hands clockwise on the club.

• What to look for: The V’s formed by your thumb and forefinger on both hands should now point more towards your right shoulder. This creates a more neutral or slightly strong grip. It feels a bit different, but trust the process.
• Mistake to avoid: Don’t crank it so strong that the club feels like it’s twisted in your hands. An overly strong grip can lead to pulling the ball or even hooking it, which is a whole other problem.

2. Check Ball Position: Let’s get the ball in the right spot. For your driver, place the ball up near your lead heel.

• What to look for: The ball should be consistently positioned off the instep of your lead foot. This gives the club room to approach the ball from the inside on an upward arc.
• Mistake to avoid: Putting the ball too far forward in your stance can encourage you to swing too far out and around, leading to an outside-to-in path and that dreaded slice.

3. Square the Clubface: This is crucial for impact. At address, make sure the face of your driver is square to your intended target line.

• What to look for: The driver face should look like it’s aiming directly down your target line, not off to the right. You can even practice setting up with the face square and then taking your grip.
• Mistake to avoid: Leaving the clubface open at address is a common setup error. If it’s open from the start, you’ll have to consciously try to close it during the swing, which is tough and inconsistent.

4. Focus on the Takeaway: How you start the swing matters. Take the club back smoothly, keeping the clubface relatively stable.

• What to look for: The clubhead should stay on or just inside the target line for the first few feet of the takeaway. Avoid the urge to flick your wrists or pull the club inside too quickly.
• Mistake to avoid: Rolling your wrists open or pulling the club straight inside right away can lead to an “over-the-top” swing path later on.

5. Develop an Inside-Out Swing Path: This is the money move for fixing slices. You want to swing the club from the inside of your body towards the outside, through the ball.

• What to look for: Imagine swinging out towards first base (for righties) or third base (for lefties). You’ll feel like you’re releasing the clubhead more naturally through impact. This is a key element in Fixing a Driver Slice.
• Mistake to avoid: The biggest mistake here is swinging “over the top,” which means the club comes down from outside the target line and cuts across the ball. This imparts spin that makes it slice.

6. Maintain Lag and Release: As you transition from the top of your backswing to the downswing, try to maintain some angle between your lead arm and the club shaft.

• What to look for: This “lag” allows you to generate speed and deliver the clubface squarely through impact. The release should be a natural uncoiling of your body and arms.
• Mistake to avoid: Trying to “hit” at the ball with your hands and arms too early, often called “casting,” will rob you of power and make it hard to control the clubface.

7. Finish Your Swing: A full, balanced finish is a good indicator of a solid swing.

• What to look for: Your weight should be on your lead foot, and your belt buckle should be facing the target or even slightly left of it. The club should finish wrapped around your shoulders.
• Mistake to avoid: Stopping your swing short or losing balance can mean you didn’t commit to the proper swing path and release.

How to Fix My Slice with My Driver: Common Mistakes

Let’s talk about the pitfalls. You’ve got to watch out for these if you want to get rid of that slice for good.

• Grip Too Weak — Why it matters: A weak grip (hands too far left for righties) naturally encourages an open clubface at impact, which is the primary cause of a slice. You’re fighting an uphill battle from the start. — Fix: Rotate your hands clockwise on the club until the V’s point towards your right shoulder. Even a slight adjustment can make a big difference.

• Aiming Left (for right-handers) — Why it matters: When you aim left of your target, your brain often tries to compensate by swinging “out to right” relative to your body, which actually results in an outside-to-in path relative to the target. This cuts across the ball. — Fix: Make sure your feet, hips, and shoulders are aligned parallel to your target line. Use alignment sticks if you need to.

• Over-the-Top Swing — Why it matters: This is the classic slice move. The club comes down outside the target line and cuts across the ball, imparting sidespin that makes it curve right. It’s like chopping down on the ball. — Fix: Focus on an inside takeaway and feel like you’re dropping the club from the top of your backswing, approaching the ball from the inside. Drills like the “pump drill” can help.

• Clubface Open at Impact — Why it matters: Even with a good swing path, if the clubface is open at impact, the ball will slice. It’s the combination of path and face angle that dictates spin. — Fix: Work on squaring the clubface through impact. This often comes from a better grip and a more neutral release. Feel like you’re “shaking hands” with the target after impact.

• Ball Too Far Forward — Why it matters: Placing the ball too far up in your stance can lead to you swinging too much around your body and coming over the top. It makes it hard to hit the ball squarely. — Fix: Move the ball back slightly in your stance, so it’s just inside your lead heel. This allows for a more upward strike.

• Trying to “Steer” the Ball — Why it matters: When you’re trying to fix a slice, you might consciously try to “push” the clubface closed or “hold” it square. This kills speed and leads to inconsistent contact. — Fix: Focus on the feeling of a full body turn and a natural release of the clubhead. Trust that the adjustments you’ve made to your grip and path will help square the face.

FAQ

• What is the most common cause of a slice with a driver?

The most common culprit is an “over-the-top” swing path combined with an open clubface at impact. This means the club comes down outside the target line and cuts across the ball, imparting slice spin. A weak grip often contributes to this.

• How can I check my grip for weakness?

For right-handed golfers, look at your hands when you’re holding the club. The V’s formed by your thumb and forefinger on both hands should point roughly towards your right shoulder. If they point more towards your left shoulder or straight up, your grip is likely too weak.

• What is the correct ball position for a driver?

For the driver, the ball should be positioned forward in your stance, typically just inside the instep of your lead heel. This allows you to hit the ball on the upswing, which helps promote a more powerful and straighter drive.

• Will changing my grip fix my slice completely?

Changing your grip is a huge step and often resolves a significant portion of a slice. However, it’s usually a combination of factors, including grip, alignment, and swing path, that cause a slice. Addressing all of them will yield the best results.

• How long does it take to fix a slice?

It varies from golfer to golfer. Some see improvement within a single practice session, while for others, it might take weeks of consistent practice to retrain the swing. Be patient and focus on making small, consistent changes.

• Can I fix my slice without changing my swing path?

While you can sometimes mask a slice by manipulating the clubface, it’s not a reliable long-term solution. The most effective way to fix a slice is to address the underlying swing path issues, primarily by swinging from the inside.

• What’s the difference between a slice and a fade?

A slice is an uncontrolled, often severe curve to the right (for right-handers) caused by an outside-to-in swing path and an open clubface. A fade is a controlled, gentle curve to the right, often intentionally hit by players for accuracy and is typically caused by a slight outside-to-in path with a square or slightly open clubface.

Sources:

[1] Fixing a Driver Slice: https://golfhubz.com/fixing-a-driver-slice

[2] Correcting a Slice with Your Driver: https://golfhubz.com/correcting-a-slice-with-your-driver

[3] Fixing a Slice with Your Driver: https://golfhubz.com/fixing-a-slice-with-your-driver

[4] How to Fix a Slice in Your Driver: https://golfhubz.com/how-to-fix-a-slice-in-your-driver

[5] Fixing Your Driver Slice: Tips and Drills: https://golfhubz.com/fixing-your-driver-slice-tips-and-drills