Driving · Tip
Change Your Trail-Hand Grip to Quiet a Slice
Part of our driving programs for slice, topped or thin. Build a program with it
Some slices start early, when the face opens in the backswing. A common reason is the trail hand sitting too much on top of the grip, with the club held in the fingers. You don't need to fiddle with your hands mid-swing. Just change the grip. Let the fleshy pad at the base of your trail hand support the club. Your trail hand will feel a bit more under the handle. At the top, it's like holding a tray. The face stays more closed on its own.
Step by step
- Check if your trail hand sits on top of the grip.
- Move it a little more under the club.
- Feel pressure in the heel pad of that hand.
- Make slow backswings and feel the face stay closed.
- Hit half shots before full ones.
Why it works
A trail hand that sits on top of the handle lets the club rotate open as your trail wrist folds back in the backswing. Moving that hand more under the grip puts the heel pad behind the handle, so it supports the club like a tray at the top. The face then stays more closed without any extra hand action, and you arrive at the ball with a face that is easier to square.
Common mistakes
- You turn the trail hand too far under, so it looks like a very strong grip.Move it only a little, then check that the face still looks square at address.
- You grip the club tightly in the fingers and ignore the heel pad.Let the handle rest against the pad at the base of the hand and feel light pressure there.
- You try to hold the face closed with your hands during the swing.Leave the hands alone and let the new grip do the work with slow, smooth swings.
How you'll know it's working
- The face looks square or slightly closed to your target at the top of the backswing.
- Your ball starts on line and curves less to the right, or comes out straighter.
- You feel steady pressure in the heel pad of your trail hand, and the club feels supported.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Hit slow half swings with a short iron, focusing only on the heel pad pressure and the grip position.
Harder: Take the same grip to full driver swings and keep the face stable through the whole backswing.
Common questions
Why do I slice the ball with my driver?
A slice comes from a clubface that points right of your swing path at impact, for a right-hander. One cause is the face opening in the backswing, which a trail-hand grip on top of the handle can encourage.
How should my right hand sit on the club to stop a slice?
Place it a little more under the handle so the heel pad supports the club. Check that the face still looks square at address, and do not overdo the change.
