The golf slice is the single most frustrating shot in the amateur game, costing golfers distance, accuracy, and confidence. If your ball consistently starts straight and then curves violently to the right (for a right-handed player), you are suffering from the dreaded slice. As of today, December 10, 2025, the root cause remains the same—a combination of an open clubface and an outside-to-inside swing path—but the modern, most effective fixes are more targeted and easier to implement than ever before. This comprehensive guide breaks down the five critical areas you must address to turn that weak, curving shot into a powerful, controlled draw.

The good news is that curing a slice is entirely achievable. By focusing on the correct sequence of setup, grip, and swing path changes, you can fundamentally alter the way the club meets the ball. Forget generic advice; we are going deep into the specific setup adjustments and proven drills that PGA professionals use to help their students hit straighter, longer shots immediately.

The Anatomy of a Slice: Understanding the Core Problem

Before you can fix the problem, you must understand the two primary culprits that work together to create the disastrous banana ball. Understanding these mechanics is the first step toward achieving a controlled ball flight.

• Open Clubface at Impact: This is the main source of the side-spin. If the clubface is pointed to the right of your target line at the moment of impact, it imparts sidespin that causes the ball to curve severely.
• Outside-to-Inside Swing Path (The "Over-the-Top" Move): This describes the direction your clubhead is traveling relative to the target. An outside-to-inside path means the club travels across the ball from outside your target line to inside, which is the path that encourages the open clubface to impart maximum slice spin.

The key to a straight shot or a draw is to have a clubface that is either square or slightly closed relative to a swing path that is either neutral or slightly inside-to-out.

1. The Non-Negotiable Grip Fix: Go Stronger

The fastest way to fix an open clubface is to change your grip. Most slicers have a "weak" grip, which makes it physically difficult to square the clubface through impact. A stronger grip encourages the hands to rotate naturally, shutting the clubface.

How to Achieve a Strong Golf Grip

• Left Hand (Lead Hand): Turn your left hand (for a right-handed golfer) clockwise on the grip until you can see two to three knuckles. The 'V' formed by your thumb and forefinger should point toward your right shoulder.
• Right Hand (Trail Hand): Place your right hand on the club so that the 'V' formed by its thumb and forefinger also points toward your right shoulder or even slightly further to the right.
• Feel the Change: This position will feel awkward initially, but it is essential. The stronger grip allows your hands to release properly, turning the clubface over and promoting a draw.

2. The Setup and Alignment Reset

Setup issues are often overlooked, yet they are a major contributor to the over-the-top swing path. If your body is aligned to the left of the target, your brain will instinctively swing the club to the right (outside-to-inside) to try and hit the ball back to the target, thus creating the slice.

• Square Your Body: Use an alignment stick or a club shaft on the ground. Ensure your feet, hips, and shoulders are all lined up parallel to the target line, not pointing left.
• Aim Left (Temporary Fix): As a temporary, immediate fix to get the ball starting right, try aiming your stance and clubface slightly more to the left of your target. This encourages a slight inside-out path and gives the ball room to curve back towards the target.
• Ball Position: For the driver, ensure the ball is positioned off the inside of your lead heel. This encourages an upward strike, which reduces spin and often promotes a straighter flight.

3. Mastering the Inside-to-Out Swing Path

The "over-the-top" move is the slicer's curse. It happens when the arms and club start the downswing before the lower body, throwing the club outside the target line. The goal is to re-route the club to an inside-to-out path.

The 'Gate Drill' for Swing Path Correction

This is one of the most effective, modern drills for immediate feedback:

1. Set Up: Place one golf ball (the one you will hit) on the tee.
2. Create the Gate: Place a second ball about one clubhead-width outside and slightly in front of the target ball.
3. The Goal: The objective is to swing the club from the inside, missing the second (outside) ball entirely. If you hit the outside ball, you know you came over the top.
4. Advanced Version: For a more aggressive fix, place a third ball slightly inside and behind the target ball. The goal is to swing between the two guide balls, forcing a pure inside-to-out path.

4. The Lower Body Secret: Hip Rotation

A stiff, inactive lower body is often the hidden cause of the over-the-top move. If your hips don't rotate properly on the downswing, your upper body and arms take over, leading to the outside-to-inside path.

• Flare the Lead Foot: At address, flare your lead foot (left foot for a right-handed golfer) out toward the target by about 30 degrees. This simple adjustment removes a restriction and allows your hips to clear faster and more aggressively on the downswing.
• The ‘Pump’ Drill: Take the club to the top of your backswing. Pause. Initiate the downswing by bumping your hips slightly toward the target line before dropping your arms. This sequence forces the club to drop onto a shallower, inside path, preventing the steep, slicing attack angle.
• The Feeling: The feeling should be that your lower body is leading the downswing, and your arms are merely following. This is the foundation of power and accuracy.

5. Equipment as a Powerful Assist: Draw-Biased Drivers

While a new driver won't fix a fundamentally flawed swing, modern golf technology offers significant assistance. If you have implemented the swing and grip changes but still need help, consider a draw-biased driver.

• Technology Explained: Draw-biased drivers feature weight positioned closer to the heel of the clubhead. This heel-side weighting helps the clubface rotate closed more quickly through impact, effectively reducing the severity of the slice.
• Offset vs. Internal Weighting: Some older or more extreme anti-slice drivers use "offset" (the clubface is set slightly behind the shaft), but modern designs use internal weighting to achieve the same effect without the visually distracting offset.
• Immediate Results: Paired with a stronger grip, a draw-biased driver can often transform a severe slice into a manageable fade or even a straight shot in a single round. It's a powerful tool in your anti-slice arsenal.

By implementing these five steps—strengthening your grip, squaring your alignment, practicing the inside-to-out swing path, engaging your lower body, and considering draw-biased equipment—you will gain control over your ball flight. Focus on one change at a time, commit to the practice drills, and you will eliminate the slice from your game forever.