How to Fix a Golf Slice with a Driver for Left-Handed Players

Seeing your golf ball start left and then veer off on that long, curving arc to the right is one of the most disheartening sights for a left-handed golfer. That slice with the driver doesn’t just rob you of distance, it puts you in trouble and can ruin your confidence on the tee box. We're going to fix that. This guide gets right to the source of the problem, providing clear, lefty-specific instructions and drills to straighten out your ball flight, add distance, and get you back in the fairway.

First, Why Are You Slicing the Ball?

Before we can apply the fix, we need to understand the cause. A slice, that ugly rightward curve for a lefty, is caused by a simple (but frustrating) relationship between two things: your clubface angle and your swing path at impact.

In nearly all cases, a slice happens when your clubface is open relative to your swing path. For most slicers, this is combined with an "outside-to-in" swing path. For a left-handed player, this means your club is moving from right-to-left across your body as it strikes the ball (swinging toward second base if you were a baseball batter). When the clubface is aiming even further right than that path, you impart sidespin that sends the ball curving uncontrollably to the right.

Our entire goal is to fix these two root causes. We want a swing path that moves from inside-to-out (swinging toward left field) and a clubface that is square to that path at impact. It sounds complicated, but we can break it down into simple, manageable steps.

The Setup: Your First Line of Defense Against the Slice

More than half of all slices are born before you even start the club back. A poor setup almost guarantees a poor outcome. Getting your grip, alignment, and posture right creates the foundation for a slice-free swing.

Your Grip: The Steering Wheel of the Clubface

Your grip is the single biggest influence on your clubface. Many lefties who slice have what's called a “weak” grip. This doesn't mean you're not holding it tight enough, it refers to the rotational position of your hands on the club. A weak lefty grip forces the clubface to open on the backswing and makes it very hard to square up at impact.

Let's fix it by building a neutral, or even slightly "strong," grip:

• Your Top Hand (Right Hand): Place your right hand on the club first. When you look down, you should be able to clearly see at least two, maybe even three, knuckles of your right hand. The "V" formed by your right thumb and index finger should be pointing toward your left shoulder. If that "V" points at your chin or right shoulder, your grip is too weak and promotes a slice.
• Your Bottom Hand (Left Hand): Now, bring your left hand on. The lifelines in your left palm should cover your right thumb. Similar to your top hand, the "V" formed by your left thumb and index finger should also point generally toward your left shoulder.

Heads Up: If you've been slicing for a while, this new grip will feel extremely weird and "closed." It might feel like you're going to hook the ball a mile left. Trust it. This is how your hands should be positioned to allow the clubface to release and square up naturally without any extra manipulation.

Alignment and Ball Position

Your body alignment pre-sets your swing path. Many slicers subconsciously align their body open to the target (feet, hips, and shoulders aiming well left of the target) to compensate for the slice.

Instead, we need to feel square or even slightly "closed."

• Feet, Hips, and Shoulders: Lay a club or alignment stick on the ground pointing at your target. Now, set your feet so they are parallel to that stick, not pointing left of it. Feel like your hips and shoulders are also square to this line. To actively fight the slice, it can even help to feel "closed" - with your front (left) foot slightly more forward than your back (right) foot. This encourages a swing from the inside.
• Ball Position: With the driver, place the ball off the heel of your front (left) foot. This gives you time to swing from the inside and allows the driver to meet the ball on a slight upswing, which is perfect for maximizing distance.

Fixing the Swing Path: Learning to Swing 'Inside-out'

The dreaded "over the top" move is the killer of a left-handed tee shot. It's that lunge from the top of the swing where the shoulders and arms throw the club out and away from the body, creating that sharp outside-in path.

The Takeaway: Setting the Stage

Your backswing sets up your downswing. A slice can start with a takeaway that is too steep or lifts the club outside your hands immediately.

Instead, feel like the first few feet of your backswing are "low and slow." Feel your torso - your chest and shoulders - doing the work. As you turn away from the ball, let the clubhead stay low to the ground and feel like it's moving straight back or slightly inside the line of your hands. This prevents you you from immediately setting the club on that dreaded outside track.

The Downswing: Dropping it in 'The Slot'

This is where you stop swinging "at" the ball and start making a full rotational swing.

The feeling we're after is starting the downswing from the ground up. As you complete your backswing turn, the first move down should be a slight bump of your hips toward the target. This does something wonderful: it gives your arms and the club time and space to drop down on a path from the inside, instead of lunging "over the top."

A great thought for a lefty: Feel like your right elbow stays connected to your ribs as you start down. This keeps the club from flying out and away from you. From this 'inside' position, you have a straight path to hit the back of the ball and swing out toward left field, the hallmark of a powerful draw.

A Drill to Feel the Inside Path

Here’s a fantastic drill you can do at the range. Tee up your ball as normal. Now, take your driver's headcover and place it on the ground about a foot outside and slightly behind your ball. So for a lefty, it will be to the right and slightly behind the ball.

Your goal is simple: hit the golf ball without hitting the headcover. If you make your old slicing, 'over-the-top' swing, you will clobber that headcover on the way down. To miss it, you are forced to make the club approach from the inside. This drill provides instant feedback and ingrains the feeling of a proper swing path.

Clubface Control: Squaring it at Impact

A great path is useless if the face is wide open. A strong grip is your first step, but you also need to learn to release the club.

Understanding the Release

Slicers often have a "blocked" or "held-off" release, where they try to steer the club with the hands and arms, holding the face open through impact. A proper release isn't a violent flick of the wrists, it's a natural result of the body rotating and the arms straightening.

For a lefty, as you swing through impact, feel like your right hand and forearm rotate over your left. You're not flipping the club, but you're allowing this natural rotation to happen. When you combine this forearm rotation with your powerful Body turn, the clubface will speed up and square itself right at the ball. Imagine you're skipping a stone - you don't hold your hand stiff, you let your forearm naturally rotate. It's the same feeling here.

Putting It All Together on the Tee

Let's walk through it on the course.

1. Stand Behind the Ball: Pick a specific, small target in the distance (a single tree, not the whole fairway). Then pick an intermediate target - a leaf or spot of discoloration on the ground just a few feet in front of your ball on that same line.
2. Set Up With Intent: Walk in and aim your clubface at the intermediate target first. Then set your feet, hips, and shoulders square or even slightly closed to that line. Check your grip - can you see two knuckles on your right hand? Ball off your left heel.
3. One Swing Thought: Don't overwhelm yourself with ten different instructions. Pick one. A good thought for the slice could be, "Miss the imaginary headcover" or "Turn my belt buckle to the target." Commit to that one thought.
4. Swing and Hold Your Finish: Make a confident, committed swing through the ball and hold your finish position. A balanced finish with your torso facing the target and nearly all your weight on your front (left) foot is a sign of a good, rotational swing, not an armsy, slice-inducing one.

Fixing a slice takes practice. It will feel different and maybe even produce some strange shots at first. But by focusing on the fundamentals - the setup, the path, and the face - you are addressing the root causes and putting yourself on a long-term path to hitting powerful, straight drives.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, correcting a driver slice for a left-handed player comes down to fixing two things: an open clubface and an outside-in swing path. By strengthening your grip, correcting your alignment, and teaching your body to swing the club from the inside, you can transform that weak slice into a strong, reliable shot.

When you're out there on the course wrestling with these feelings, sometimes you just need an objective second opinion. That's where we designed Caddie AI to help. If you find yourself slipping into old habits, you can ask for a quick reminder or a simple swing thought to get you back on track. If you're standing on a tricky tee box and aren't sure on the best strategy for your new shot shape, you can get instant advice to help you play smarter and with more confidence.