Slice No More: Equipment & Drills to Straighten Your Driver

A slice – the ball starting left (for right‑handed players) and then curving hard right – is one of the most frustrating shots in golf. It robs you of distance, wastes strokes, and leaves you playing from the rough or even out of bounds. The good news is that a slice isn’t a mystery; it’s the result of a few fixable swing faults. In this guide we’ll explain why your driver slices, show you how to correct it, and recommend training aids from FinalPutt.com to help you groove a powerful, draw‑like swing.

Why You Slice: Common Causes

Understanding the root causes of your slice is the first step to eliminating it. Here are the most common culprits:

• Weak grip: If your hands are positioned incorrectly on the club, the clubface stays open at impact and the ball spins to the right. Golf Avenue notes that a weak grip causes the clubface to open and create slices.

• Poor stance & alignment: An open stance or misaligned shoulders directs your swing path from outside to inside, adding sidespin.

• Over‑the‑top/out‑to‑in swing path: This happens when the upper body dominates the downswing, causing the club to cut across the ball.

• Open clubface: A cupped left wrist or weak grip keeps the face open during impact, leading to slices.

• Improper weight transfer & lack of rotation: Staying on your back foot and failing to rotate your hips can leave the clubface open and force a wipey swing.

• Ball position & equipment: A ball teed too far forward or a driver with low loft can exacerbate a slice. While equipment changes can help, fixing your fundamentals should be the priority.

Fixing Your Slice: Step‑by‑Step Solutions

1. Strengthen your grip

Make sure the “V” formed by your thumb and forefinger on both hands points toward your right shoulder and that you see two or three knuckles on your lead hand. A firmer, more neutral grip helps keep the clubface square through impact.
Training aid: The Perfect Grip Pro clips onto any club and positions your hands perfectly, building muscle memory for a strong, neutral grip. Use it during practice sessions to cure a weak grip and start squaring your clubface.

2. Square up your stance & alignment

Your feet, hips and shoulders should be parallel to the target line. Golf Avenue stresses that an open stance and misaligned shoulders lead to an out‑to‑in path and slices. Practice aligning your feet shoulder‑width apart and square your shoulders.
Training aid: Foldable Alignment Sticks are lightweight rods you can lay on the ground to ensure perfect alignment. They improve setup consistency and guide your swing path into a proper inside‑to‑out motion. Take them to the range and check your alignment before every shot.

3. Train an inside‑to‑out swing path

Most slices occur because the club approaches the ball from outside the target line. To straighten your driver, you need to swing from the inside. Visualize the clubhead traveling out toward right field after impact and avoid “casting” the club over the top. Golf Avenue recommends practicing with an alignment stick angled next to the tee and swinging under it to encourage an inside‑out path.
Training aid: Connection Band wraps around your arms and body, keeping them connected throughout the swing. It trains a rotational move instead of throwing your arms over the top. Combine it with the Alignment Sticks to set up a path drill at the range.

4. Close the clubface & flatten the lead wrist

A slice is often caused by an open clubface. Focus on keeping your lead wrist flat or slightly flexed at impact. An extended (cupped) wrist opens the face and adds loft, causing the ball to start right. HackMotion notes that flexing the lead wrist through the downswing (the “Motorcycle Drill”) helps square the face.
Training aid: The Swing Hinge teaches the proper wrist hinge and flattening. It promotes smooth swing mechanics and fixes slices and hooks by guiding your wrists. Use it on range sessions to feel the correct wrist flexion and clubface angle.

5. Shift your weight & rotate properly

Keeping your weight on your back foot reduces your ability to square the clubface. Start with a slight weight bias (about 60%) on your front foot and maintain it throughout the swing while rotating your hips. This encourages an inside‑out path and prevents sliding.
Training aid: Connection Band keeps your arms and body connected, promoting a proper hip rotation and weight transfer. Divot Tutor shows where your club contacts the ground and reveals whether you’re shifting weight properly by highlighting the low point of your swing.

6. Check ball position & equipment

Teeing the ball too far forward can exacerbate a slice because the clubface hasn’t had time to square up. Place the ball inside your lead heel for the driver and ensure your driver has enough loft (10.5° or higher) to reduce side spin. You might also benefit from adjustable drivers or custom fittings to optimize shaft flex and weight distribution. While equipment changes help, prioritizing swing fundamentals offers the biggest payoff.

Drills to Straighten Your Driver

Incorporate these drills into your practice routine to reinforce proper mechanics:

Alignment Stick Path Drill

1. Stick one Foldable Alignment Stick vertically into the ground just outside the ball.

2. Place another stick on the ground pointing slightly right of the target to represent the desired inside‑to‑out path.

3. Make swings trying to avoid the vertical stick and follow the ground stick.
   This drill trains you to swing from the inside and prevents an out‑to‑in path.

Glove Under the Arm Drill

1. Tuck a glove or small towel under your trail armpit.

2. Swing while keeping the glove in place until after impact.

3. This encourages your trail elbow to stay tucked and your arms to stay connected, preventing the over‑the‑top move.

Motorcycle Drill for Clubface Control

1. Address the ball with your driver.

2. On the downswing, “rev the throttle” by adding flexion to your lead wrist, like revving a motorcycle.

3. Practice without hitting a ball to feel the clubface squaring earlier.

4. Then hit balls focusing on reproducing that feeling.
   Use the Swing Hinge to build this motion into your muscle memory.

Weight Transfer Drill

1. Place a Foldable Alignment Stick on the ground behind your trail foot and perpendicular to your target line.

2. During the swing, ensure your trail hip doesn’t slide past the stick.

3. Feel your weight shift onto your front foot while rotating through the shot.

4. Combine this drill with the Connection Band to keep your arms and torso in sync.

Training Aids That Cure a Slice

To accelerate your progress, incorporate specialized training aids. Each of these FinalPutt products offers targeted feedback and helps you groove the mechanics needed to straighten your driver:

• Foldable Alignment Sticks: The ultimate tool for alignment and path drills. They improve setup consistency, monitor ball positioning and guide your swing into an inside‑to‑out motion. Portable and easy to set up, take them to the range or use them at home.

• Perfect Grip Pro: An adjustable grip trainer that positions your hands correctly and eliminates the weak grip that causes slices. Use it to build muscle memory for a stronger grip and square clubface.

• Swing Hinge: This device teaches the proper wrist hinge and promotes the correct clubface alignment through the swing. It helps fix slices and hooks by guiding your wrists and builds muscle memory for a powerful release. Attach it to your club during practice to feel the correct wrist motion.

• Connection Band: Keeps your arms and body connected, promoting a rotational swing and proper weight transfer. Use it to prevent your arms from outracing your body and to encourage an inside‑out path.

• Impact Stick: This aid forces your hands to stay ahead of the clubhead at impact and builds muscle memory for forward shaft lean. It provides instant feedback when your hands lag behind, helping you eliminate slices and compress the ball. Practice chips and full swings with the Impact Stick to feel solid contact.

• Divot Tutor: A visual feedback mat that shows the direction and low point of your swing. It trains you to strike the ball before the ground and helps eliminate slicing and fat shots. Use it indoors or outdoors to monitor your swing path and low point after every shot.

Conclusion: Straighten Your Driver & Enjoy the Fairway

Fixing a slice requires a combination of proper fundamentals, targeted drills and the right training aids. By strengthening your grip, aligning correctly, grooving an inside‑to‑out path, squaring the clubface, shifting your weight and using specialized equipment, you can transform that frustrating banana ball into a powerful, controlled drive.

Ready to start your slice‑free journey? Visit FinalPutt.com to equip yourself with the Perfect Grip Pro, Foldable Alignment Sticks, Swing Hinge, Connection Band, Impact Stick and Divot Tutor. These tools provide instant feedback and make practicing fun and effective.

👉 Shop now and watch your drives soar straight down the fairway.