Scottie Scheffler’s coach swears by this simple anti-slice exercise

Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a series on GOLF.com where we share improvements, lessons and takeaways from amateur golfers like you, including some of the obstacles and challenges they faced along the way.

I slice, you slice, we all slice on the golf course. And if you’re a mid to high handicapper, chances are it’s causing all sorts of frustrations during a round… and higher scores!

But a round of golf is more than hitting a shot and then spending three minutes searching for your ball on the edge of the rough. Although it may not feel like it sometimes, believe me, deep down it exists for all of us.

While there are plenty of reasons why you may be a chronic slicer of the golf ball, you’ll see immediate positive results and more fruitful outcomes if you address the root cause — opening up the clubface. And thanks to Scottie Scheffler’s coach, GOLF Top 100 Lifetime Achievement Teacher Randy Smith, you can.

Scottie Scheffler’s coach, Randy Smith, says this will stop your slice

Rather than radically changing your golf swing, Scheffler’s longtime coach says there’s a simple drill that can eliminate your slice, get you in touch with your proper takeaway and swing path, and help you hit more natural draws. It’s something every golfer strives for.

In the video above, Smith, along with GOLF Top 100 instructor Chris Como, explains how this anti-slice drill works.

“(Being a) slicer is one of the most critical mistakes, and everyone feels terrible about it,” Smith says. “A couple of things we can do (to fix a slice), and this has always been my go-to, is just a simple alignment stake in the ground.”

Smith then demonstrates how to set up the drill, and shows Como where to insert the stick into the ground so that the other point is right on top of the golf ball. The image below shows what it should look like.

After everything is set up, Smith has Como take a photo to show how simple this exercise really is.

“Swing through the ball,” he says. “We’ll see if it pulls a little bit.”

Como takes a swing and holds the club correctly under the alignment stick, which is the proper swing path you want to maintain clubface control at impact. The result? The perfect draw — much to Smith’s delight.

“Exactly the sound I was looking for,” Smith replies excitedly.

The best teachers will then show you a foolproof way to ensure you are performing the drill correctly. Simply put, if your club comes down to impact and hits the alignment stick, that means you are still going over the top, which is a common reason for consistent slicers.

“If we look at it from a negative standpoint, my hands would really be in danger (if I hold this stick),” Smith jokes.

Smith, who has worked with Scheffler since the No. 1 player was 7 years old, says the drill helps a player develop muscle memory so he can hit the club straight at impact.

“If this stick stays here, you get a feeling and a kind of ghost effect,” Smith adds. “So when you walk away after doing this for 10-15 minutes, try to recreate that same feeling (of hitting a draw) without the stick.”

This drill may seem simple at first, but it’s one that gives you instant feedback with little effort — letting you feel where your swing path and club face need to be to hit it more accurately. So say goodbye to those pesky slices and start impressing your playing partners once and for all.

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Nick Dimengo

Golf.com Editor