Few things are more frustrating in golf than watching your ball start straight before curving violently to the right (for right-handed players). The dreaded slice plagues golfers at all levels, robbing them of distance, accuracy, and confidence. But the good news? A slice is fixable with the right drills and focused practice.

The root cause of a slice usually comes down to a combination of an open clubface, an out-to-in swing path, or poor body rotation. The key to fixing it lies in retraining your swing mechanics through deliberate, repetitive drills. Below, we’ll break down five highly effective practice routines designed to eliminate your slice for good.

Understanding Why You Slice

Before diving into the drills, it’s important to understand why the ball slices in the first place. A slice occurs when the clubface is open relative to the swing path at impact, imparting sidespin that makes the ball curve right. Common causes include:

• Weak grip: A grip that’s too neutral or turned too far to the left encourages an open clubface.

• Over-the-top swing: An out-to-in swing path cuts across the ball, promoting sidespin.

• Poor weight transfer: Staying on your back foot can lead to an open clubface and weak contact.

• Lack of rotation: Failing to turn through the shot forces the hands to flip, leaving the face open.

Now, let’s get into the drills that will help you correct these issues.

Drill 1: The Towel Under the Arm Drill (For Better Connection)

One of the biggest culprits behind a slice is an overactive upper body that disconnects from the lower body, leading to an out-to-in swing. This drill helps sync your arms with your torso for a more connected, inside-out swing.

How to Do It:

• Take a small towel and tuck it under your lead (left) armpit.

• Make slow, controlled swings, keeping the towel in place throughout the motion.

• Focus on turning your shoulders and hips together rather than letting your arms dominate the swing.

• If the towel falls, your arms are separating too much from your body.

Why It Works:

This drill forces you to maintain connection between your arms and torso, preventing an over-the-top move. It also encourages proper rotation, helping you swing more from the inside.

Drill 2: The Headcover Outside the Ball (For Correcting Swing Path)

An out-to-in swing path is a major slice contributor. This drill trains you to approach the ball from the inside, promoting a straighter or even a slight draw flight.

How to Do It:

• Place a headcover (or any small object) just outside the ball, about a foot away and slightly ahead of it.

• Take your normal stance and focus on swinging so that your clubhead avoids the headcover on the downswing.

• If you swing over the top, you’ll hit the headcover. Adjust until you can consistently miss it.

Why It Works:

The visual barrier forces you to reroute your swing path, ingraining an inside-out motion. Over time, this helps neutralize the slice-producing outside-in path.

Drill 3: The Strong Grip Experiment (For Clubface Control)

Many slicers have a weak grip (hands turned too far left), which keeps the clubface open at impact. Strengthening your grip can help square the face more easily.

How to Do It:

• Adjust your grip so that you can see at least two knuckles on your lead hand at address.

• Hit half-swing shots, focusing on the feeling of the clubface closing through impact.

• Gradually increase to full swings while maintaining the stronger grip position.

Why It Works:

A stronger grip naturally encourages the clubface to close at impact, reducing the open-face spin that causes a slice.

Drill 4: The Foot Together Drill (For Better Balance & Rotation)

Poor weight transfer and balance often lead to slices. This drill simplifies your swing, forcing better rotation and weight shift.

How to Do It:

• Stand with your feet together and take slow, controlled swings.

• Focus on turning your shoulders fully and shifting weight smoothly from back to front.

• If you lose balance, you’re likely swaying instead of rotating.

Why It Works:

With a narrow stance, any excessive lateral movement becomes obvious. This drill promotes a more rotational swing, preventing the "hanging back" that leads to slices.

Drill 5: The Tee Gate Drill (For Path & Face Alignment)

This drill ensures both your swing path and clubface are working together to produce a straighter shot.

How to Do It:

• Place two tees in the ground just wider than your clubhead, forming a "gate" around the ball.

• The tees should be angled slightly inside-out to encourage the correct path.

• Swing, ensuring your clubhead passes through the gate without touching the tees.

Why It Works:

The gate gives instant feedback—if you swing over the top or leave the face open, you’ll hit a tee. This reinforces the proper inside-out path and square face.

Putting It All Together: Practice Plan

Fixing your slice requires consistent practice. Here’s a simple routine to follow:

• Warm-up: Start with the towel-under-arm drill (10-15 slow swings).

• Path Work: Alternate between the headcover and tee gate drills (20-30 shots).

• Grip & Rotation: Use the strong grip and foot-together drills (10-15 shots each).

• Full Swings: Combine all adjustments and hit normal shots, focusing on the feels from the drills.

Final Thoughts: Patience & Persistence

Eliminating a slice doesn’t happen overnight, but with these drills, you’ll see steady improvement. The key is repetition—ingraining the correct movements until they become second nature.

Next time you’re at the range, pick one or two drills to focus on rather than overwhelming yourself. Over time, your swing will become more efficient, your shots straighter, and that frustrating slice will be a thing of the past.

Now, grab your clubs, hit the range, and start turning those slices into powerful, penetrating drives!