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DrivingSlice (correction of…) Driver Intermediate ⏱ 2 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Butch Harmon's Push and Slice: Two Solutions for the Driver

Your drives end up to the right, but how do they get there? In this Golf Digest Tips Plus segment, a host revisits Butch Harmon’s advice: a ball that starts off to the right and stays there isn’t caused by the same thing as one that curves to the right in the air.

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Golf Digest · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

15 minSame problemTommy Fleetwood's Precision Drive: The Safe TeeTommy Fleetwood · Intermediate / Expert10 minSame problemCollin Morikawa and Dustin Johnson's fade with the driverCollin Morikawa · Intermediate9 minSame problem5 Pro Tips from Tommy Fleetwood: From the Drive to the GreenTommy Fleetwood · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

The push Start to the right and swing straight. According to Butch Harmon, the lower body rotates too early on the downswing, causing the club to drop too far inside, behind the body, and forcing it to swing from the inside out. His drill: drives with a very narrow stance, which stabilizes the lower body and prevents the club from getting stuck inside.

The slice Go straight ahead, then turn right. The club moves from the outside to the inside with an open face, which creates the effect. The player must learn to swing from the inside, toward right field. At the driving range: a very closed-minded stance and swing to the right. The trap for slicers is to aim to the left to leave room for the curve; the only way out is to swing the club from the inside.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Observe the path: start straight to the right, or curve to the right.
  2. If it's a push, take some drives with your feet very close together to settle your legs.
  3. Feel the club stay in front of you instead of falling behind your body.
  4. If you're slicing the ball, take a very closed stance.
  5. Swing toward right field so that the club comes from the inside.

Key Takeaways

First, watch how the ball goes to the right.
Push: Lower body opens too early; club gets stuck inside.
To prevent a push: drives with a very narrow stance.
Slice: swing from the outside in, with an open face.
To prevent a slice: take a very closed stance and swing to the right.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Treat a push like a slice, or vice versa.
  • Allowing the lower body to rotate too early during the downswing.
  • Aim to the left to allow room for a slice.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Drives with feet very close together against the push
  2. A very closed stance on drives, swinging to the right to counteract a slice
  3. Check the starting line before each correction

Your Questions

What's the difference between a push and a slice?

A push starts to the right and stays straight; a slice starts straight and then curves to the right in the air. According to Butch Harmon, the cause is different, so the remedy is different as well.

How do you correct a push with a driver?

Butch Harmon recommends hitting drives with a very narrow stance: this calms the lower body and prevents the club from getting stuck on the inside.

Why not aim to the left when you slice the ball?

Aiming to the left promotes an outside-in swing. The only way to correct a slice is to bring the club in from the inside, toward the right.

Learn More

All “Driving” videos →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.

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