There is no sound on earth more heartbreaking than the thwack-fizz of a sliced drive.
You know the one. You feel strong at the top of the backswing, you unleash hell on the downswing, and then… you watch your brand new Pro V1 take a hard right turn into the trees.
I see it every weekend at the club. Strong guys—men who can bench press a Buick—flailing at the ball because they think power cures a slice. It doesn’t. In fact, the harder you swing with a bad path, the deeper into the woods you go.
I used to struggle with a nasty fade myself until I fixed my hip rotation. Today, we’re fixing yours. No more “fore right.” Let’s find the fairway.
Key Takeaways: The 30-Second Fix
- Check Your Grip: If you can’t see at least two knuckles on your left hand, your grip is too “weak.”
- Stop the Slide: You are swaying your hips instead of rotating them.
- The Armpit Drill: Keep your right elbow tucked to stop coming “over the top.”
1. The Grip: You’re Holding It Like a Gentleman (Stop That)
Most of the men I coach hold the club like they’re shaking hands with the Queen. It’s polite, but it’s killing your drive.
If your left hand (for righties) is rotated too far to the left, the clubface opens immediately upon impact. An open face + a swing path aimed left = a banana ball that slices two fairways over.
** The Fix:** Rotate your left hand clockwise until you can clearly see three knuckles. This is called a “strong” grip. It feels weird at first—like you’re over-rotating—but it forces the clubface to close through the impact zone.
2. The Path: The “Headcover” Drill
The number one cause of a slice is coming “over the top.” This means your hands move away from your body at the start of the downswing, cutting across the ball.
I see this constantly. You’re trying to kill the ball, so you throw your right shoulder at it.
** The Fix:** You don’t need fancy gadgets. Grab your driver headcover.
- Tuck the headcover under your right armpit.
- Take a half-swing.
- Try to hit the ball without letting the headcover fall out.
If the headcover drops before you make contact, your “chicken wing” is flying out, and you’re slicing. Keep it tucked. Stay connected.
3. The Hips: Rotate, Don’t Slide
This is where the power actually comes from. A lot of older guys tend to slide their hips toward the target laterally, rather than turning them.
If you slide, your hands get stuck behind you, and the face stays open. You need to clear the left hip out of the way so your hands have room to whip through.
** The Fix:** Imagine there is a wall behind your butt. On your downswing, you want your left butt cheek to hit that wall. Turn around your spine, don’t slide past it.
Stuck? Let Me Look at Your Swing.
Reading about a swing is one thing; seeing it is another.
I can’t tell if you’re swaying or sliding from a blog post. If you’re serious about breaking 90 (or just beating your buddy Steve next Saturday), come hang out with me in the lounge.
[BUTTON: Analyze My Swing with Sienna Live] (Link this button to your “Cam” Landing Page)
FAQ: Fixing the Slice
Can I fix a slice in one range session? Yes and no. You can fix the cause in one session (usually the grip), but muscle memory takes about 500 reps to lock in. Don’t give up if it feels awkward at first.
Is it my driver or my swing? It’s almost certainly your swing. However, if you are using a stiff shaft and your swing speed is under 90mph, you might not be loading the club enough to close the face. But fix the grip first—it’s cheaper than a new driver.
Why do I only slice my driver and not my irons? The driver has the least amount of loft. Loft creates backspin, which fights side-spin. Because the driver is flat (9-10 degrees), any side-spin is exaggerated. It is the most unforgiving club in the bag, which is why we love it.
