Slice Golf Shot Drills: Basket Outside the Line

The first step to fixing a slice is to correct a faulty swing path. Most golfers who slice have an “over-the-top” or “outside-to-in” swing, where the clubhead approaches the ball from outside the target line and moves across to the left. When the clubface is open in relation to this path, a left-to-right shot results.

What you want is a path that traces a slightly inside-to-out angle, which is necessary to hit a draw and to maximize your power. At first, it may seem counter-intuitive – why swing to the right if you want to stop hitting the ball to the right? It’s simply a matter of physics. Swing inside-out with a clubface that’s closed (pointing left) of this path, and you impart right-to-left spin and shots which curve in that direction.

This simple drill will help:

Line up a shot with a short to mid-iron.

Place a range ball basket or something similar about 18”-24” behind the ball and just outside the target line. If you take the club straight back from the ball, the toe should just miss or knick the basket.

If you make an over-the-top swing, you’ll hit the basket. Swing inside-out or directly down the target line and you’ll miss it.

Hit 10-15 shots with the basket in place, then move the basket and emulate the same inside-out action.

Fear of hitting the basket will force your body to improvise a swing that misses it, teaching you the proper swing path.