Driving · Lesson
Grip, Path, Takeaway: A Simple Slice Plan
Part of our driving programs for slice, topped or thin. Build a program with it
Most slices have two parts: a move over the top and a ball that curves left to right. Start with your grip. Then work on path. Lay two clubs down. Point one at your target. Angle the other out to the right. Feel the club swing out along that angled club through impact. Watch your takeaway too. If it whips too far inside, the club tends to loop over the top. Start with short irons. Then move up to hybrid and driver.
Step by step
- Check your grip first.
- Lay one club at the target, one angled right.
- Swing out along the angled club.
- Keep your takeaway from going too far inside.
- Work from short irons up to driver.
Why it works
A slice happens when the clubface is open to the swing path and the path cuts across the ball from outside to in. A stronger grip helps the face close relative to the path. Swinging out along a line angled to the right trains the club to approach from the inside, which reduces the sidespin. A takeaway that stays reasonably on plane gives the club room to drop into that path instead of looping over the top.
Common mistakes
- You skip the grip check and only work on path.Set your grip first, so you can see whether the path change alone improves the ball flight.
- You pull the club well inside on the takeaway to force an inside path.Keep the clubhead moving back in front of your hands, so the club does not whip inside and loop over the top.
- You aim your body along the angled club instead of swinging the club along it.Keep your feet and shoulders square to the target club, and only swing the clubhead out along the angled club.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball starts right of target at first and then curves less, or starts straighter.
- You hit the center of the face more often, with fewer thin or weak shots.
- Your divot with short irons points right of the target line for a right-hander, not left.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Start with a wedge or 9-iron off a tee peg, and make half swings along the angled club.
Harder: Move up to a hybrid and then the driver, and hit full swings while keeping the same path and takeaway.
Common questions
Why do I slice the ball with my driver?
Usually the clubface is open to a path that moves across the ball from outside to in. The driver has less loft, so it shows that side spin more than a short iron does.
Should I fix my grip or my swing path first for a slice?
Check your grip first, because it affects where the face points. Then work on path with the two-club setup.
