If there’s one shot that frustrates golfers more than anything else, it’s the driver slice.
At the Golf 360 driving range in Mount Maunganui I see it all the time. The swing looks decent, the contact feels okay… but the ball starts left and then bends way off to the right.
For golfers who have battled that shot for years, the most important thing we want to see is a completely different ball flight.
And that usually means not being too subtle with the fix.
Why the Slice Happens
A slice is created when two things combine:
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The club travels left across the ball
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The clubface is open relative to that path
That combination makes the ball spin from left to right.
Many golfers try to fix this with small tweaks, but when a slice has been around for a long time, those small adjustments often don’t change the ball flight enough.
Don’t Be Subtle When Fixing a Slice
When I’m helping golfers who slice the ball, I actually encourage them to make a bigger correction than they think.
That means:
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Aim well to the right
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Swing well to the right
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Feel like the clubface is closing through impact
For some golfers it may even feel like they are rolling their hands over through the strike.
That’s completely fine.
If you’ve been slicing the ball for years, the last thing you want is to keep seeing that left-to-right ball flight.
Instead, we want to see the ball start moving in the opposite direction.
Even if that means you hit a few shots that over-draw at first.
You can always fine-tune it later.
Start With Shorter Clubs First
One of the best ways to learn this feel is to start with shorter clubs before moving to the driver.
For example:
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Begin with a 9 iron or pitching wedge
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Aim your feet and shoulders to the right
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Feel like you swing out to the right
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Allow the clubface to close relative to that path
Once you start seeing the ball curve right to left, you know you’re beginning to change the pattern.
From there you can gradually move into:
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mid irons
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hybrids
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fairway woods
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driver
Shoulder Direction Is Critical
One thing many golfers overlook is shoulder alignment.
If your shoulders aim left of the target, your swing path almost always follows that direction.
So if you're trying to fix a slice, make sure:
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Your feet aim slightly right
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Your shoulders aim slightly right
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Your swing follows that direction
Your shoulders play a massive role in dictating swing direction, so getting them aligned correctly makes a big difference.
What You Want to See
When this starts to work, you’ll notice a big change in ball flight.
Instead of:
Starting left and slicing right
You may see the ball:
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Start slightly right
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Curve gently back toward the target
That’s a huge step forward.
Once the slice pattern disappears, you can always fine-tune your direction later.
Want Help Fixing Your Slice?
If you’ve been battling a slice for years, sometimes a quick session with a coach can make the process much easier. Golf lessons at Golf 360 are designed to help you play better golf.
https://golf360.co.nz/pages/golf-lessons-and-coaching
A PGA professional can quickly identify the root cause and give you drills that work for your swing.
FAQs
Should I aim right if I slice the ball?
Yes, aiming right can help encourage a swing path that travels more from the inside rather than across the ball.
Is it okay if I start hitting hooks when fixing a slice?
Absolutely. In many cases it’s actually a good sign that the slice pattern is disappearing.
Why start with shorter clubs?
Shorter clubs are easier to control and help golfers learn the correct swing direction before moving to longer clubs like the driver.
Good luck and happy golfing
Scott Pickett
PGA Professional
Founder - Golf 360
Mount Maunganui
