The Simplest Way to Fix your Slice is Swing on the Same Path

One of the simplest ways I help golfers who struggle with a slice is to get them to focus on one thing — swinging the club on the same path during the backswing and downswing.

A lot of golfers who slice the ball can become confused when they start talking about different swing planes and positions. Instead of trying to think about too many different things, sometimes it is much easier to give the golfer a simple feeling and a clear target to swing towards.

One of my favourite drills for this is using an alignment stick and a bucket.

We place the alignment stick into the bucket and set it at approximately a 45-degree angle behind the ball. The goal is then to make some simple half swings while feeling like the club is travelling just underneath the alignment stick on both the backswing and the downswing.

The idea is to focus on swinging the club on the same path.

As you swing the club underneath the alignment stick on the way back and then underneath it again on the way through, you will start to get the feeling of the club travelling more from the inside of the ball.

This is important for a golfer who slices because the club is often travelling too far from the outside coming into impact. This can make it much more difficult to square the clubface and can create the left-to-right ball flight that so many golfers struggle with.

By using the alignment stick, we are giving you something external to focus on rather than trying to think about complicated swing positions.

The key is to start with small half swings. You don't need to hit the ball hard. The goal is simply to feel the club travelling underneath the alignment stick on the way back and on the way through.

As you become more comfortable with the movement, you can gradually make the swing bigger while keeping the same feeling.

One thing you do need to be careful of is taking the club too far inside on the backswing. We don't want to exaggerate the movement. The club should simply travel underneath the alignment stick, rather than being pulled excessively behind you.

The feeling we are looking for is that the club is slightly more in-to-out through the follow-through. This can help you develop a better swing path and, over time, reduce your tendency to slice the ball.

If you are struggling with a slice, you don't necessarily need to start making major changes to your swing. Sometimes a simple external target can give you a much better understanding of the movement you are trying to create.

Try the alignment stick drill with some half swings and focus on one simple thought — swing underneath the stick on the way back and underneath it again on the way through.

If you'd like any help with your golf swing or are struggling with a slice, contact me at David Waters Golf Coaching, located at Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre in Carrara.