Many golfers hit their irons relatively straight but experience a severe slice the moment they pull out the driver. There are biomechanical and physical reasons for this:
- Longer Shaft: The driver's shaft is the longest in the bag, making it harder to control the clubface and square it in time.
- Lower Loft: Lower loft means less backspin. Backspin actually stabilizes ball flight; when backspin is low, side-spin (slice spin) takes over.
To stop slicing your driver, you must adjust your setup on the tee box:
- Ball Position: Position the ball far forward in your stance, just inside your lead heel. This gives the clubhead more time to close before reaching the ball.
- Spine Tilt: Tilt your spine slightly away from the target at setup (trail shoulder lower than lead shoulder). This encourages an upward sweep.
- Sweep Upward: Unlike irons where you hit down, you must hit upward on a driver. Sweeping upward helps you deliver the club from the inside, reducing out-to-in slice paths.