Driving · Drill
Use a Range Bucket to Block Your Slice
Part of our driving programs for slice. Build a program with it
Most slices come from a swing that cuts across the ball from outside in. A simple obstacle can retrain that fast. Set an empty range bucket just outside your ball and a little past it. If you cut across, you'll clip it. To miss it, the club has to come from the inside and swing out to the right. You don't need any swing thoughts. The bucket gives you honest feedback every time. It's great for beginners.
The drill
- Tee up a ball.
- Set a bucket a foot past the ball, a few inches outside the line.
- Add a second bucket inside and behind, if you like.
- Swing at 60 to 70 percent and miss the buckets.
- Move the bucket closer as you improve.
Why it works
A slice starts when the clubhead moves left of the target line at impact while the face points right of that path. For a right-hander, that outside-in path puts left-to-right spin on the ball. The bucket sits where an outside-in swing would pass, so you hit it if the club comes from outside. To miss it, the club has to approach from the inside and travel out toward the right, which gives a path closer to the target line or slightly to the right of it.
Common mistakes
- You steer the club around the bucket with your hands and leave the face open.Let your body turn through the ball and keep a relaxed grip so the club drops in from the inside on its own.
- You set the bucket too close to the ball and swing scared, so you lose rhythm.Start with the bucket farther out, then move it closer only after you miss it several times in a row.
- You swing hard to fight the slice and your path goes back over the top.Stay at 60 to 70 percent and make smooth, balanced swings.
How you'll know it's working
- The club passes the bucket without touching it for several swings in a row.
- The ball starts on or slightly right of your target line and curves less to the right.
- You make contact in the middle of the face, and any divot points at or slightly left of the target rather than sharply left.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Place the bucket farther from the ball and a little more outside the line so you have plenty of room to miss it.
Harder: Move the bucket closer to the ball and add the second bucket inside and behind so the club has a narrower path to travel.
Common questions
Why does a range bucket help fix a slice?
It gives you instant feedback on your swing path. If the club hits the bucket, your path is too far outside-in, and missing it forces a more inside approach.
Should I use a driver or an iron for this drill?
Start with a mid-iron or a short club off a tee, because it is easier to control. Move to the driver once you can miss the bucket consistently at 60 to 70 percent speed.
