Golf Drills to Fix Your Slice and Lower Your Handicap
If you've ever watched your ball curve hopelessly into the rough off the tee, you already know the frustration of a slice. It's one of the most common issues in golf, affecting beginners and experienced players alike, and it usually comes down to a handful of fixable habits in your grip, stance, or swing path.
The good news is that a slice isn't a mystery — it's almost always caused by an open clubface at impact or an out-to-in swing path. The drills below target those exact issues, and with consistent practice, you'll start seeing straighter, more reliable shots within a few sessions.
1. The Grip Check Drill
Before you even swing, check your grip. A weak grip (where your hands are rotated too far left on the club for a right-handed golfer) is one of the most common causes of a slice. Hold your club out in front of you and check that you can see two to three knuckles on your top hand when you look down. If you can only see one, your grip is too weak and likely contributing to that open clubface at impact.
2. The Headcover Drill
Place a headcover or soft object just outside your golf ball, slightly behind it on your target line. The goal is to swing through without hitting the headcover, which naturally encourages an inside-to-out swing path rather than the out-to-in path that causes slices. This is one of the simplest visual drills you can do on the range or even in your back garden.
3. The Alignment Stick Drill
Lay an alignment stick (or a spare club) on the ground pointing at your target, and place a second one perpendicular to it at your ball position to check your stance alignment. Many golfers slice because they're unknowingly aiming left of their target, which forces an out-to-in swing path to compensate. Checking your alignment regularly helps build awareness of where your body and clubface are actually pointing.
4. The Slow-Motion Swing Drill
Take your normal setup and swing at about 50% speed, focusing entirely on rotating your forearms and releasing the clubface through impact. Slicers often leave the clubface open because they're not rotating their hands and forearms properly through the hitting zone. Doing this slowly, without worrying about distance, helps build the correct release pattern before adding speed back in.
5. The Inside Path Drill with a Training Glove
A golf training glove with built-in grip positioning guides — like the one in our range — is a great tool for this drill. Wear it during practice swings and full shots to get instant feedback on your hand position throughout the swing. Combined with the headcover drill above, this helps reinforce the correct inside swing path and hand rotation simultaneously.
Practice Makes Permanent
The key to fixing a slice isn't a single quick tip — it's repetition. Spend 15-20 minutes on these drills before your next few range sessions, and you should start to feel (and see) the difference in your ball flight. A telescopic swing trainer is also a great addition to your practice routine, letting you rehearse your swing path and tempo even when you don't have access to a full range.
Fixing a slice takes patience, but with the right drills — and the right kit — you'll be hitting straighter shots and shaving strokes off your handicap in no time.