Fix Your Golf Slice at Setup: Aim, Alignment, and Ball Position

Piece: Tee shots | Level: Break 100 | 5-minute read | Part 2 of 4 in the Fix Your Slice series

Most slices get worse at setup, before the club ever moves. Fix your aim, alignment, and ball position first, and many golfers see their slice shrink without changing a thing in their swing. Everything here is written for right-handed golfers; lefties, mirror it.

The leak: the aim-left trap

Most slicers aim left to “allow for the curve.” That points the feet and shoulders left, which sends the natural swing path left, which adds more curve, which makes you aim even farther left. The more you compensate, the bigger the slice gets.

On the scorecard, that’s a ball that starts toward the left trees and still ends up right, or a tee shot that ends up in trouble on both sides depending on how the swing goes that day. Breaking the loop at setup is the cheapest stroke-saver in golf.

The fix: three setup checks

1. Aim the clubface first. Pick a small spot a few feet in front of the ball, on the line to your target (a leaf or a patch of discolored grass). Aim the clubface at that spot, then build your stance around it with your feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to that line, like railroad tracks.
2. Check your lines with sticks. Lay an alignment stick along your toe line, and hold another across your shoulders. Most slicers discover their shoulders point left of where they think they do.
3. Set ball position and posture. With the driver, play the ball just inside your lead heel and tee it so about half the ball sits above the crown. Tilt your spine slightly away from the target so your trail shoulder sits a little lower than your lead shoulder. That helps the club approach from the inside instead of from above.

The drill: the stick-and-spot station

Lay one stick on the ground pointing at your target and one along your toe line. Hit 10 balls with a 7-iron, and after each setup, step behind the ball and check three things: the face points at your spot, your feet are parallel to the line, and your shoulders are parallel to the line. Success: at least 8 of 10 setups pass all three checks.

For more on alignment, see the proper alignment guide.

Your 7-day game plan

• Day 1: sticks and spot with irons, 20 balls, 15 minutes.
• Day 2: the same station with your driver, 15 balls.
• Day 3: take a photo of your setup from behind and check your shoulder line.
• Day 4: sticks and spot again, 20 balls, and note any drift in your aim.
• Day 5: practice your aim routine on the range with no sticks down, 15 balls.
• Day 6: repeat the 10-ball test and compare it to your Part 1 tally.
• Day 7: play nine holes using the rule below.

Your rule for the next round

On every tee, pick a spot a few feet ahead on your target line and aim the clubface at it before you move your feet.

The measure

Compare your 10-ball tally from Part 1 with this week’s retest. Aim to cut the number of balls starting left of your target by at least two. That’s a target, not a guarantee.

Next piece on the path

Once your aim is honest, close the face. Next is Part 3: Strengthen your grip and close the clubface. See the full Fix Your Slice guide and the Path 2 Par blueprint.