The Alignment Stick Drill to Fix Your Slice
Does your ball go to the right and curve even further to the right? With a simple alignment stick planted on the driving range, Lewis Wallace forces the club to come down from the inside. It’s a short, visual exercise that yields results right from the first session.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
On the downhill run, the club leader takes the lead on the outside of the hands. This causes the club to be pulled to the left, often with the left arm bending after impact. The ball is struck toward the heel, spins a lot, and veers to the right: you lose both direction and distance.
Lewis Wallace uses the image of a clock, viewed from the side: The slicer goes down “at 2 p.m.” and comes back up around 8–9 a.m. The goal: to go down between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., with the clubhead aligned with the right forearm, so that it naturally comes through between 9 o'clock and 10 o'clock. The result: contact higher up and closer to the toe, less spin, and a trajectory that tends toward a draw.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Place your driver on the ground, parallel to the line of play, to get your bearings.
- Stick the stick into the ground or into an empty bucket, behind the ball and on the outside, at an angle of about 30°.
- Take three practice swings without a ball: the club should pass under the stick. If you hit it, you’re down to 2 p.m.
- Go all out: aim for the feeling of landing “at 5 p.m.” You’ll land between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
- Hit about ten balls while repeating “15-16” to yourself as you swing down.
- Does the wand scare you? Slide it into a pool noodle, then remove it little by little as you practice.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Go over the stick instead of under it.
- Placing the club too close to the ball right from the start: start farther away, then move it closer.
- Trying to correct your swing by rotating your hands at impact: This exercise focuses on the club path, not the hands.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Stick behind the ball, on the outside, at a 30° angle
- 3 practice swings under the baton
- Think “15-16” on the downswing, “9-10” on the exit
- 10 balls, then take out the fry
Your Questions
Where exactly should I plant the stick?
Behind the ball and on the outside, that is, on the side opposite your feet, at an angle of about 30°. Start fairly far from the ball, then move closer as you go through the sets.
I'm hitting the club every time I swing—what should I do?
This is a sign that the club is still moving downward on the outside. Move the club away, take a few slow swings underneath it, then gradually pick up speed again.
What do “3:00–4:00 p.m.” and “9:00–10:00 a.m.” mean?
These are clock-face markers showing the club's path, as seen from above. On the downswing, the club travels from the inside, toward 3–4 p.m. After impact, it emerges toward 9–10 a.m. This path replaces the out-to-in path.
Can you do the exercise without an alignment rod?
Yes: a pool noodle, an umbrella handle, or a club cover placed in the same spot serves the same purpose. A pool noodle has the advantage of not damaging anything if you bump into it.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Lewis Wallace). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.