How to Fix a Slice: Simple Drills That Actually Work

You line up your shot, feeling good, taking a smooth swing… and there it goes — that soul-crushing banana ball, arcing high and slicing hard right into the trees (or worse, the parking lot).

If you’re a right-handed golfer, nothing feels more deflating. But here’s the good news: fixing a slice isn’t just possible — it’s actually pretty simple, once you stop treating the symptoms and start attacking the real causes.

Let’s dive into the drills that are actually worth your time (and sanity) — the ones that can finally straighten out that ball flight and get you back in the fairway where you belong.

Why Your Slice Won’t Just “Fix Itself”

A slice happens when your clubface is open relative to your swing path at impact. Translation? You’re swinging across the ball with the clubface pointed in the wrong direction, basically begging it to veer off course.

Most golfers waste months (or years) treating the wrong things — tweaking their grip mid-swing, overcorrecting their stance, or worse, just hoping one day it’ll magically go away. As Martin Hall put it in his 2025 teaching materials, “Most amateur golfers try to manipulate their swing during execution rather than establishing proper fundamentals and developing muscle memory through dedicated practice.”

Yep, that one stings. But it’s true.

If you’re tired of slicing it up like a deli worker on double shifts, it’s time to get real — and get drilling.

Drill #1: The 3, 2, 1, None Method (2025 Update)

This one’s pure gold — and it’s taken off like crazy for a reason.

Invented by Martin Hall (yes, that Martin Hall), the “3, 2, 1, None Drill” works because it trains your swing path and clubface position at the same time — without overwhelming you.

Here’s how it rolls:

Set up three alignment sticks (or clubs) on the ground.
One parallel to your target line.
One slightly angled outward.
One as a takeaway reference.

You practice swings removing one stick at a time — until you can groove the right motion without any crutches. It’s like riding a bike with training wheels… and then popping sweet wheelies without them.

Hall’s words? This drill helps you “square the clubface at impact for straighter, more powerful drives.” And honestly, you feel it. Every. Single. Swing.

Drill #2: The Alignment Stick Method (Still Crushing It in 2025)

Old school? Kinda. Effective? Absolutely.

Here’s the basic play:

Stick an alignment rod into the ground along your intended swing path.
Use it as a guide during your takeaway to stay wide.
Then — and this is key — swing inside the stick on the way down.

When you get it right, it’s like your swing suddenly has lanes, like a highway. Wide backswing, inside downswing, full follow-through. Boom — no more sidewinding banana balls.

Quick tip: If you’re chunking into the stick or swerving around it like a bad Uber driver, realign and reset. Your hands need to be in the right spot at the top to let everything drop into place naturally.

Drill #3: The Fork Technique (Yes, a Dinner Fork)

No fancy gadgets needed. Just raid your kitchen drawer.

The setup:

Grab a dinner fork.
Slip it between your knuckles as you grip the club, with the tines pointing backward.
Swing while keeping the tines pointed back.

If they rotate forward during your swing? Your clubface is opening. Slicing city, population: you.

Brad Skupaka explains it best: “The whole purpose of holding the fork is to ensure the tines are pointed back throughout the backswing, promoting a closed clubface.” Simple sensory feedback, and oddly satisfying when you get it right.

Creating Space (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

Ask any pro: creating and maintaining space during your swing is non-negotiable.

Instructors hammer this home because when you lose space — when your arms collapse or get jammed into your body — you force that ugly over-the-top move that causes slicing.

Checklist to remember:

Focus on width during takeaway.
Keep the space between your hands and chest consistent.
Resist the urge to “all-arms” your backswing.
Let your hands reach a proper position at the top (shaft parallel, nice and clean).

Get the width right, and suddenly the club is dropping into the slot, not throwing you into slice territory.

Want more tips straight from the pros? This Golf.com roundtable shares some of the best advice top instructors are giving their students in 2025.

Home Practice: No Range, No Excuses

In 2025, slice correction has gone mobile — like, really mobile.

You can (and should) work on these drills right at home:

Foam golf balls are perfect for safe, indoor swings.
Rolled-up socks also make decent practice balls if you’re feeling scrappy.
Impact mats now give you real feedback on swing path without turning your living room into a war zone.

And if you’re into tech, video coaching platforms have made gamifying your practice easier than ever. Think of it like a personal golf coach… without the price tag that makes you cry harder than a three-putt bogey.

James Hong, Director of Instruction at Harbor Links, says it best: “You can stay at home and still practice effectively and make it fun while you’re at it.”

The Slice Killers: Grip, Release, and the Mental Game

Three bonus killers of your slice you might not have even thought about:

1. Weak Grip:
Martin Hall again with the dagger: developing a stronger grip dramatically improves ball flight. Translation? If you’re gripping the club like you’re holding a frightened hamster, it’s time to toughen up.

2. Early Release:
Mark Durland points out that releasing the club too early destroys your contact and promotes that dreaded rightward spin. Play the ball “down” without preferred lies to teach yourself solid, centered strikes.

3. Overthinking:
Maybe the most brutal truth of all: George Knudson’s famous advice — “Give up control to gain control.” Plan your shot, then swing with no second-guessing. Be brave. Doubt is a bigger enemy than your slice.

Mike Bender wraps it up beautifully: “Aim small, miss small.” Narrow your focus. Tunnel vision your way through every swing.