Why Do I Slice My Driver But Not My Irons? (Answered!)

If you can hit your 7-iron straight, you can learn to hit your driver straight.

The driver is longer and more difficult to square up than any other golf club in your bag. If you have even the slightest problem with your swing or the angle of the clubface, it’s magnified with the driver in your hands.

We will show you exactly what it takes to get the slice out of your bag, and finally stop slicing your driver.

Why Do I Slice Driver But Not Irons? (Key Takeaways)

If you don’t have time to read our entire article about why you slice your driver but not your irons, here are the most important things you can walk away with.

• The slice is caused by a clubface open to the target and your path at impact.
• A weak grip at setup reduces your control of the clubface, making it harder to feel the proper release and close of the clubface at impact.
• Wrist angle controls the clubface (even on the drives); golfers with too much extension in their lead wrist at the backswing don’t have the time or ability to return the wrist to flat and hit a straight driver shot.
• Proper forearm rotation from the top of the swing through impact helps close the clubface and straighten your shots.

If you prefer to learn by watching a video, here is a complete rundown of why you slice the driver but not the irons and some drills you can use to work on this issue.

Why Do I Slice My Driver But Not Irons?

Slicing a driver but not your irons is common. Issues that cause this range from problems with the club path to incorrect equipment and improper wrist angles.

Since the driver is longer, it’s more difficult to swing and tends to bring out the worst of these left-to-right tee shots seen on the course.

However, sometimes you’ll notice the slice sneaking into the long game, and maybe even the short game. If that’s the case, take a look at our complete seven-video course on how to fix a slice.

We go through everything, including grip, wrist angles, and drills, and you’ll find a special section on fixing the slice with a driver.

Click here to access the free course to fix your slice permanently!

1. Weak Grip

A weak grip means the V-shape points to the left side of your head if you are right-handed, and the opposite applies to lefties.

Employing this grip leaves you unable to control the clubface and square it up, leading to impact.

While a neutral grip is recommended, you can still slice the golf ball when it combines with a cupped lead wrist on the backswing.

Use HackMotion to establish a consistent grip position each time you swing the club. Check for differences in lead wrist extension between your driver setup and your setup with your irons.

2. Inside Club Path

Drivers and irons follow different club paths due to the shaft length and your ball position. With a driver, you need to hit the ball after the low point of your swing, causing the clubface to catch the ball on the upswing.

Typically, the clubface starts to travel along an inside path after reaching the swing’s low point. Following this path can cause your driver to cut across the golf ball and impart enough sidespin for a slice.

Ideally, you want the clubface to catch the ball following an outward path, with a closed angle, to produce a moderate draw.

3. Striking the Ball in the Heel of the Driver Head

A driver clubface carries a curved design, aggravating off-center hits and increasing the sidespin imparted on the golf ball.

When you hit the ball in the heel, it amplifies the right curve on the ball, leading to a sliced shot.

The goal, however, is to strike the ball in the center of the clubface.

Modern drivers are equipped with expanded sweet spots in the center of the clubface, restricting spin and accelerating ball speed for long, straight drives. One of the most significant indicators of how far a golf ball travels is how close to the center of the clubface it was hit.

If you want to get great at distance and accuracy, learn to hit the center of the face.

4. Excessively Stiff Shaft Flex

Golfers with slower swing speeds require flexible shafts to spring into the ball at impact and square the clubface.

A stiffer shaft does not offer this luxury. Ultimately, a stiffer shaft causes slow-swing-speed golfers to lose distance and accuracy off the tee.

Players launching a driver between 84 to 96 mph are built to swing a regular flex shaft, while 72 to 83 mph works with a senior flex. On the higher side, shaft manufacturers design a stiff flex for driver swing speeds between 97 and 104 mph.

Super fast swing speeds exceeding 105 mph are better equipped to handle an extra stiff or tour extra stiff shaft. If unsure which golf shaft is best for your game, head for a golf club fitting and test to see if your equipment is causing your slice.

5. Cupped Wrist

A cupped wrist at the top of the backswing requires players to morph into a bowed position at impact to square the clubface up.

A cupped wrist at the top of the backswing without a transition at impact leaves the clubface open.

As a result, you impart slice side spin on the golf ball and produce a nasty slice.

Wearing the HackMotion device while you practice swinging your driver can eliminate the cupped wrist position at the top of the swing.

When you get to more of a flat wrist position, it’s easier to square the clubface at impact.

6. Flat Lie Angle

A clubface with a flat lie angle aims to the right of the target for right-handers and to the left for lefties.

That means you should close your clubface slightly at impact to keep it square to the target.

Failure to alter the clubface position at impact causes the golf ball to start and finish right of your intended target.

Check your lie angle with your driver; even though the lie angle in the irons is so important, the lie angle in the driver also matters.

How to Fix Your Driver Slice

There are multiple fixes to get rid of your driver slice. The ultimate goal is to square the clubface at the impact.

Square the clubface at contact to generate straighter ball flight and improved accuracy from the tee box.

1. Neutral to Strong Grip

If your grip is weak and you are slicing every shot, it’s time to strengthen it slightly to improve your control. To do this, adjust the position of your hands so that the V-shape runs directly up to your nose.

Do not squeeze the club harder; maintaining a lighter grip pressure can help you rotate the club through impact.

A neutral grip gives you the freedom of movement to release the club from the top of the swing for added power.

Plus, you can guide the clubface to a square position at contact for a straighter tee shot. Some players find that to fix the slice, they need a slightly stronger grip, and that is also acceptable. Use the stronger grip to fix the slice and then work your way back closer to neutral.

Once you get your club into the neutral position, swing with the HackMotion. Keep this data, as it will give insight into your wrist extension and flexion with a neutral grip position.

2. Keep the Handle High and Forward

One of the best ways to fix a slice that is not talked about often enough is to keep the club handle high and forward. When your hands are in this position, you can keep the clubface close to the path and give yourself a chance at hitting a draw.

This video from Rob Cheney details the importance of this setup. If you notice Rob mentioning the rest of our Slice Fix Course, you can find the details here.

3. Bowed Wrist at the Top of the Swing

Although Ben Hogan thrived with a cupped wrist at the top of his swing, I recommend working on bowing or at least flattening your wrist at the top.

This position requires very little wrist transition on the downswing, putting you in a prime position to maximize speed and get your clubface square at impact.

Collin Morikawa displays an excellent example of a bowed wrist at the top before using his rotation to drive the clubface to the golf ball.

After analyzing over 1,000,000 golf swings at HackMotion, we know that golfers with the most speed and accuracy are in this position at the top of their swing.

Player Handicap	Flex at Address	Flex at Top	Flex at Impact
Less than 10	19.3	14.5	3.6
Between 10-25	19.5	17.0	9.0
More than 25	18.8	24.2	10.7

Understandably, wrist angles may confuse newbies, but the sooner you understand their relevance, the faster you produce more accurate drives.

One approach to optimizing your wrist angles with a driver is to train with our HackMotion wrist sensor. It guides your wrist position to deliver greater power, accuracy, and control in your golf swing.

The HackMotion wrist sensor also has audio feedback that allows you to get the instant feedback you need while working on fixing a slice.

4. Place Extra Weight in the Heel

If you play a driver with a moveable CG weight, I recommend shifting mass to the heel for a draw-bias setup.

The positioning helps your driver face fight slice side spin and generate straighter ball flight.

Alternatively, should your driver carry no moveable weights, you can apply lead tape to the heel for additional weight. While this method is not as precise as an adjustable weight, it still achieves the same purpose.

Getting fitted for a driver that suits your game is a good choice, but it’s best to learn how to fix the issues you struggle with.

5. Adjust to a Standard Lie Angle

Most modern golf drivers are equipped with an adjustable hosel, enabling you to manipulate the clubface loft and lie angle.

I recommend adjusting the lie angle to a standard setup if you utilize a flat lie angle and experience severe slices.

A standard lie angle keeps your clubface level and points at your intended target at setup. This helps you square the clubface at contact. However, to execute efficiently, optimize your wrist position and hip and shoulder rotation.

Drills to Fix a Slice with a Driver

If you are a golfer who slices the ball with your driver, drills are often the best way to fix it. Here are a few of our favorites.

Add in the Hook Ingredients

Adam Bazellegette discusses how golfers can learn what it takes to hit a hook and then incorporate some of that into their golf swing.

As he calls them, the hook ingredients are very much related to the setup, spine tilt, and swing path.

Left Hand Point Toward the Ground

Another great drill to fix the slice is to ensure you are pointing the lead wrist toward the ground on the takeaway.

Eric Cogonro walks through how to fix a slice with a driver and gives you drills and pre-shot routine additions that you can add to your swing.

Throw a Ball Drill

Danny Maude created this “Throw A Ball” drill to help you see and feel exactly what it takes to square a clubface during impact.

This drill may look a little funny at first; however, you’ll see why it’s so effective when you watch the positions he gets into in slow motion.

Try a variety of drills to get to the root cause of your issues and straighten out your slice.

Alignment Stick Setup

If you have access to some alignment sticks and a few pool noodles, you can create a setup that will help you never slice a driver again.

In this video, Tyler Ferrell explains the reasons why golfers slice and then places the alignment sticks in ways that will guide your driver down the proper swing path.

Why are Irons Easier to Hit Straight?

You are not the only golfer who has an easier time hitting shots straight with your irons than your drive.

The core reasons why players hit iron shots straighter compared to drivers involve several key factors:

• Shorter Shaft: Irons have shorter shafts, making it easier to rotate them and square the clubface at impact.
• Center of Gravity (CG) Position: Irons have a CG behind the clubface, reducing side spin on off-center hits and improving shot accuracy.
• Weaker Lofts: Weaker lofted clubs create more backspin, leading to a higher ball flight and less slice severity.
• Mental Game: Focusing on hitting the ball straight and reaching your target, rather than maximizing distance, helps improve accuracy.

FAQ

What causes a slice with a driver?

An open clubface at contact is the ultimate cause of a slice with a driver. A weak grip inside the club path and striking the ball in the heel can aggravate sliced shots.

In addition, a cupped wrist on the backswing, increased shaft flex and torque, and a flat lie angle can shove the clubface open at contact.

Does more loft reduce slice?

Yes, more loft does reduce slice. A weaker lofted club generates increased backspin, resulting in a higher apex, shorter shot, and less room for an extreme slice shot.

Will a stiffer shaft help my slice?

No, a stiffer shaft will not help your slice. In fact, it worsens it for slower swing speeds. The lack of torque and flex provides limited spring assistance into impact, preventing slow swingers from squaring the clubface at contact. Instead, they leave it open and produce a slice or a fade at best.

Final Thoughts

Slices are caused by an open clubface at impact.

To fix your driver slice, try a neutral grip, more bowing in the lead wrist, and a shallower angle of attack. If you can hit an iron straight, you can learn how to do so.

Wear your HackMotion to check your wrist angles, and make sure your lead wrist is not too extended at the top of your golf swing. From this position, it’s very difficult to square the clubface.