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DrivingAddress Posture / Stance at AddressSlice (correction of…) Driver Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 4 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Rickie Fowler Corrects His Driver Slice with Butch Harmon

Most of the golfers Butch Harmon works with hit a slight slice off the driver. With Rickie Fowler, he breaks it down to the root causes: stance, takeaway, and tempo, followed by the downward path of the club. The solution to these issues boils down to one idea: to stop slicing to the right, you have to swing toward the right.

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Rickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

9 minNext Level Up5 Pro Tips from Tommy Fleetwood: From the Drive to the GreenTommy Fleetwood · Intermediate10 minNext Level UpCollin Morikawa and Dustin Johnson's fade with the driverCollin Morikawa · Intermediate2 minFrom the same proHitting out of the trees toward the fairway: Rickie FowlerRickie Fowler · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

According to Butch Harmon, a slice often starts at the club's address and in the takeaway. First, he adjusted Rickie Fowler's stance; his head was too low, and he couldn't turn fully. You need a athletic stance, with the chin lifted off the chest, the square lines. Another major change: Rickie Fowler used to bring the club out from the outside of his hands at the start; he has now incorporated the proper setup into his waggle before every shot. The first movement must be deliberate, with the right tempo: high-handicap players, on the other hand, swing as hard as they can and have no tempo at all.

At the top of the swing, Butch Harmon demonstrates the cause of the slice: the slicer starts across the upper body, over, the club comes down too vertically and cuts across the ball. In a good swing, the weight shifts and the arms drop. His advice for the average player: shift your weight, Keep your right shoulder slightly back, hit the inside of the ball, and swing to the right. Rickie Fowler says he gained about ten yards there.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Assume an athletic stance, with your body aligned squarely and your chin lifted off your chest.
  2. At the takeaway, keep the clubhead aligned with your hands, without letting it drift outward.
  3. Repeat this setup in your waggle before every shot, just like Rickie Fowler.
  4. Start the swing deliberately, at a controlled tempo.
  5. When lifting, shift your weight and let your arms hang down instead of thrusting your upper body forward.
  6. Keep your right shoulder slightly back and aim for the inside of the ball.
  7. Swing to the right so the ball stops going to the right.

Key Takeaways

A slice often starts at the address and in the takeaway.
Athletic posture, chin lifted off the chest, square lines.
The club must not slip out of your hands at the start.
A deliberate tempo rather than swinging as hard as possible.
A slice is caused by a swing that's too vertical.
Keep your right shoulder slightly back, hit the inside of the ball, and swing to the right.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • The head is stuck at the address, preventing it from turning all the way.
  • Start by swinging the club outward from your hands in the takeaway.
  • Swing as hard as you can, without a set tempo.
  • Start the downswing with your upper body, from above.
  • A club that's too vertical and strikes the ball from the outside.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Posture Check: Keep your shoulders square and your chin up before each drive
  2. Waggle, which mirrors the club's strong start
  3. Drives characterized by the right shoulder moving backward and hitting the ball on the inside
  4. Swing at a deliberate tempo rather than at full power

Your Questions

According to Butch Harmon, what causes a slice with a driver?

Often due to the stance and the takeaway, followed by a swing that goes over the top: the upper body leads, the club comes down too vertically and cuts across the ball.

What stance should you use to slice less?

An athletic stance, a square posture, and his chin lifted off his chest. Rickie Fowler’s head was too low, and he couldn’t turn fully.

What is a good start for the club?

The club shouldn't slip out of your hands at the start of the swing. Rickie Fowler has incorporated this starting position into his waggle so he can feel it before every shot.

What mindset should you adopt when going downhill?

Shift your weight, keep your right shoulder slightly back, and strike the inside of the ball as you swing to the right. To stop drifting to the right, you have to swing to the right.

Learn More

All “Driving” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll videos on “Stance / Address Posture” →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Slice” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Tommy Fleetwood's Precision Drive: The Safe TeeTo find the fairway, Fleetwood maintains his tee height, holds the club in the air, widens his stance, and hits over a tee placed behind the ball. 5 Pro Tips from Tommy Fleetwood: From the Drive to the GreenFive habits from the Tour: placing the tee in front of the ball when using a driver, no calling out shots with irons, planning chip shots in advance, keeping a distance log, and reviewing the round afterward. Collin Morikawa and Dustin Johnson's fade with the driverAim to the left, don't force the spin, a clubface that doesn't rotate on the upswing, and a single starting line at the top: Morikawa and DJ's fade. Rickie FowlerAll of his lessons

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