When I first started playing golf, my slice was so severe that I was genuinely embarrassed to step onto the tee box. A slice—where the ball starts straight and violently curves to the right (for right-handed golfers)—is weak, unpredictable, and destroys your confidence.

If you are a beginner fighting a slice, you are probably asking yourself: “Is my driver broken? Should I buy a new one?”

No. Do not waste $600 on a new driver. The equipment is not the problem. Your slice is caused by an open clubface and a bad swing path. By making a few simple, mechanical adjustments to your body, you can cure your slice immediately. Here are the 5 proven ways to fix it.

1. How do I strengthen my golf grip?

You strengthen your golf grip by rotating your top hand further over the club so you can see two or three knuckles.

The number one cause of an open clubface is a weak grip. If you want to stop slicing, you must strengthen your grip. Rotate your left hand (top hand) to the right until you can clearly see the knuckles of your index, middle, and ring fingers. Your right hand (bottom hand) should sit slightly more underneath the club. This position naturally forces the clubface to close during your swing.

2. Why is my clubface opening in the backswing?

Your clubface is opening in the backswing because you are rolling your wrists backward instead of bowing them.

As you take the club back, you want the clubface pointing down toward the ground, not up at the sky. To achieve this, feel like you are “bowing” your lead wrist (curling it downward). The back of your left hand should point toward the sky at the top of your backswing. This guarantees the clubface stays closed and powerful.

3. How do I rotate the clubface through impact?

You rotate the clubface through impact by crossing your right forearm over your left forearm, not by flicking your wrists.

Many beginners panic at impact and pull their arms apart in a “chicken wing” position, leaving the face wide open. Instead, let the toe of the golf club rotate naturally. As you swing through the ball, feel your right forearm roll over the top of your left forearm.

4. How do I fix my out-to-in swing path?

You fix an out-to-in swing path by placing a physical barrier (like a headcover) just outside the golf ball to force an inside-to-out swing.

A slice is born when you swing “across” the ball from the outside in. To fix this, place your driver headcover on the ground a few inches outside the golf ball. If you swing with your old, slicing path, you will hit the headcover. This visual obstacle instantly forces your brain to swing from the inside, striking the inner half of the golf ball and creating a beautiful, powerful draw.

5. Am I hitting the ball on the heel of the club?

Yes, most golfers who slice the ball are consistently striking the ball on the heel (the part of the club closest to the shaft) rather than the center or toe.

If you hit the heel, the physics of the clubhead (gear effect) will naturally spin the ball into a massive slice. Go to the driving range, spray some cheap athlete’s foot powder on your driver face, and hit a ball. The powder will show you exactly where you made contact. If you are hitting the heel, stand an inch further away from the ball and try to intentionally hit the ball off the toe!