Why do I slice my driver so much?

Understanding the Driver Slice: A Power-Killer You Can Conquer

As Riley "The Rotator," I've helped countless athletic golfers turn their slicing drivers into distance machines through explosive body rotation. A slice—a shot that curves dramatically from left to right for right-handers—is one of the most common driver mishits, robbing you of 30-50 yards or more per swing. It stems from a mismatch between your club path and face angle at impact, but the root cause is almost always an out-to-in swing path combined with an open clubface. In a rotary swing, we eliminate this by prioritizing aggressive hip and shoulder rotation for speed, not arm-dominated moves that promote slicing.

Primary Causes of the Driver Slice

Your slice isn't random—it's biomechanically predictable. Here's the breakdown:

• Open Clubface at Impact: The clubface points right of your target line. This often starts with fanning—an exaggerated opening of the clubface early in the backswing—exposing the face to air resistance and preventing proper squaring.
• Out-to-In Attack Angle: Your path cuts across the ball from outside the target line to inside, like slicing a baseball. Without rotary power from hip drive, arms take over, creating this steep, armsy path.
• Poor Sequencing: Insufficient lower-body rotation lets shoulders spin out too early, while hands flip to compensate—exacerbating the open face. Rotary swings fix this with a short-to-medium backswing loaded for explosive "turn and drive."
• Ball Position Errors: Ball too far back in stance promotes descending blows; position it just inside your lead heel for an ascending rotary launch.
• Grip and Setup Faults: Weak grip (hands rotated too far left) or poor alignment sets up an open face from the start.

Rotary Swing Fixes to Eliminate Slices and Unlock Distance

The rotary method crushes slices by generating speed through body rotation, not arm swing—perfect for athletic, flexible players chasing bombs. Implement these biomechanically sound adjustments:

1. Adopt the "Turn and Drive" Trigger: Feel hips fire first, then shoulders whip through—like a baseball swing or discus throw. This shallows your path inside-out, closing the face naturally.
2. Shorten Your Backswing: Efficiency over length loads rotation power without over-swinging into slice territory. Stop at parallel or shorter.
3. Strengthen Grip and Close Face: Rotate hands right on grip (V's point to trail shoulder). Practice half-swings feeling face square through impact.
4. Alignment Drill: Lay a club on ground along toes, another parallel for target line. Swing along the toe line to groove inside path.
5. Ground Force Drill: Push into lead foot on downswing, rotating hips aggressively. Builds the athletic sequencing slices destroy.

Equipment Tip: A deep-faced driver can help launch higher with less spin on borderline swings, forgiving minor path issues while you build rotary power.

Progression Plan for Slice-Free Power

• Week 1: Grip/setup + ball position. Hit 50 drives focusing on feel.
• Week 2: Add rotation drills; film swings to check path.
• Ongoing: Flexibility work (hip openers, thoracic rotations) to sustain aggressive turns—rotary swings demand it.

Key Takeaway: Rotate to Dominate

Slices thrive on passive arms and poor rotation; rotary swings eradicate them by channeling athletic hip drive into explosive speed. Commit to these changes, and you'll trade right roughs for fairway bombs—gaining distance that sticks. Master the mechanics, own the power.