Golf Anti-Slice Drill: The Extreme Setup That Cures Lifelong Slicers

If you've been hitting banana slices your entire golf life and nothing has worked, this drill will shock you. It looks bizarre, feels completely wrong, and yet instantly transforms chronic slicers into ball strikers who can finally hit draws. This extreme anti-slice method has saved countless golfers from a lifetime of frustration and proves that sometimes the most dramatic problems require equally dramatic solutions.

The Lifelong Slicer's Desperate Reality

The Chronic Slice Pattern:

Common Characteristics:

• Banana slices 100+ yards right
• Affects all clubs, not just driver
• Seven iron going only 90 yards due to slice
• High, soft shots that lack distance
• No forward shaft lean at impact

The Traditional Problem:

• Open clubface at impact
• Outside-in swing path
• No leverage to square clubface
• Shoulders and hips too open
• Arms can't rotate naturally

Why Normal Fixes Fail:

Ingrained Compensation:

• Body position prevents natural release
• Setup geometry fights proper impact
• Muscle memory too strong
• Small adjustments insufficient for severe cases

The Extreme 90-Degree Setup

The Radical Position:

Setup Description:

• Face target directly (90 degrees to target line)
• Feet perpendicular to intended ball flight
• Ball position approximately on toe line
• Clubface aimed at target

Why It Looks Crazy:

• Completely opposite of normal setup
• Body facing where ball should go
• Appears impossible to make good contact
• Defies conventional golf wisdom

The Mechanical Genius:

What Happens Automatically:

1. Backswing must follow target line
2. Hips and shoulders cannot turn past target
3. Body stops rotating through impact
4. Arms forced to flip and release
5. Clubface squares naturally

The Success Story: From 90 to 150 Yards

Real Student Example:

Background:

• Former college linebacker
• Great athlete but terrible slicer
• Seven iron only 90 yards (30 yards right)
• High, soft contact with no distance

Transformation:

• Immediate improvement to 150-yard straight shots
• Played this way on course for 2-3 years
• Could shoot in the 80s with extreme setup
• Gradually transitioned to normal setup
• Now plays conventionally and well

Why Athletes Struggle:

Strength vs. Technique:

• Power without proper release
• Muscular approach fights clubface control
• Athletic ability masks fundamental issues
• Need dramatic intervention for breakthrough

The Drill Execution Guide

Setup Process:

Step 1: Position

• Stand facing target directly
• Feet perpendicular to target line
• Ball on toe line approximately
• Clubface aimed at target

Step 2: Backswing Path

• Swing along target line, not foot line
• Straight back from target perspective
• Up and down motion relative to target
• Ignore foot line completely

Step 3: Impact Understanding

• Hips cannot rotate past target
• Shoulders physically stopped
• Arms must flip to square clubface
• Natural hook release happens automatically

Common Execution Errors:

Wrong Backswing:

• Following foot line instead of target line
• Disaster for contact and direction
• Must swing relative to target
• Think flashlight drill principles

Insufficient Commitment:

• Gradual setup changes don't work
• Must go to extreme initially
• Full 90-degree setup required
• Trust the process completely

The Progressive Transition Strategy

Phase 1: Master the Extreme (Weeks 1-4)

Goals:

• Consistent hook ball flight
• Solid contact with new setup
• Confidence in ability to curve ball
• Feel of proper release

Practice Protocol:

• Range sessions 2-3 times per week
• 100 balls per session minimum
• All clubs using extreme setup
• Document ball flight changes

Phase 2: Gradual Transition (Months 2-6)

Incremental Changes:

• Start hitting draws consistently
• Gradually rotate setup toward normal
• Move feet 10-15 degrees at a time
• Maintain draw ball flight

Monitoring Progress:

• Ball flight remains draw-biased
• Distance increases with better geometry
• Contact quality maintains or improves
• Confidence grows with each adjustment

Phase 3: Normal Setup Achievement (6+ Months)

Final Goal:

• Traditional setup positions
• Straight to slight draw ball flight
• Full distance restoration
• Complete transformation accomplished

The Science Behind the Success

Body Mechanics Explanation:

Physical Limitations:

• Hip rotation physically blocked
• Shoulder turn cannot continue
• Arms must take over through impact
• Natural athletic motion emerges

Clubface Control:

• Forced release squares clubface
• Proper impact geometry achieved
• Leverage created through arm action
• Draw spin applied naturally

Why It Works for Severe Cases:

Dramatic Intervention:

• Extreme problem requires extreme solution
• Normal adjustments insufficient
• Body learns completely new pattern
• Muscle memory rewritten effectively

Instructor Applications

When to Use This Drill:

Ideal Candidates:

• Chronic slicers with 20+ years of problems
• Multiple instructor failures
• Severe slice with all clubs
• Desperate for any improvement

Not Appropriate For:

• Slight fade hitters
• Occasional slice problems
• Recent beginners still learning basics
• Players with physical limitations

Teaching Progression:

Initial Session:

• Demonstrate drill dramatically
• Explain the science behind it
• Set realistic expectations for timeline
• Build confidence in method

Follow-up Sessions:

• Monitor progress and ball flight
• Adjust ball position as needed
• Begin transition when draws consistent
• Support through awkward learning phase

Variations and Adaptations

For Moderate Slicers:

45-Degree Setup:

• Less extreme but still effective
• Easier transition to normal setup
• Good for players with some release
• Maintains same mechanical principles

For Hookers (Opposite Problem):

Open Setup Variation:

• Staggered feet with left foot back
• Hip pre-rotation to open position
• Forces fade ball flight
• Less commonly needed but effective

Course Play Considerations:

Temporary Solution:

• Some students play this way for years
• Results matter more than appearance
• Can score well with extreme setup
• Confidence building through success

Mental Game Aspects

Overcoming Setup Fear:

Initial Reactions:

• Feels completely wrong initially
• Looks awkward and unconventional
• Fear of looking foolish
• Doubt about effectiveness

Building Confidence:

• Focus on ball flight results
• Document improvement objectively
• Celebrate small victories
• Trust the process completely

Course Application:

Playing Strategy:

• Commit fully to new setup
• Ignore others' reactions
• Focus on results, not appearance
• Build scoring confidence

Equipment Considerations

Club Specifications:

No Changes Required:

• Standard clubs work perfectly
• No equipment modifications needed
• Technique solves problem mechanically
• Existing bag remains effective

Practice Equipment:

Helpful Aids:

• Alignment sticks for target line reference
• Impact tape for contact confirmation
• Range bucket for sufficient repetition
• Video recording for progress documentation

Long-Term Success Stories

Typical Transformation Timeline:

Week 1-2: Ball flight straightens dramatically Month 1: Consistent draws from extreme setup Month 3: Beginning transition to normal setup Month 6: Playing with traditional setup Year 1: Complete transformation maintained

Success Indicators:

Objective Measures:

• Ball flight direction change
• Distance increase from better contact
• Score improvement from fewer penalties
• Confidence growth throughout process

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: Still Slicing Despite Extreme Setup

Possible Causes:

• Backswing following foot line instead of target line
• Insufficient commitment to extreme position
• Ball position needs adjustment
• Years of compensation requiring more time

Solutions:

• Emphasize target line backswing
• Check setup positioning carefully
• Experiment with ball position
• Increase practice frequency and volume

Problem: Hooks Too Much

Understanding:

• Normal reaction after chronic slicing
• Sign that drill is working
• Begin transition process
• Celebrate the improvement

Next Steps:

• Start gradual setup normalization
• Reduce extreme positioning slowly
• Monitor ball flight changes
• Maintain confidence in ability

Advanced Applications

Teaching Tool for Instructors:

Demonstration Value:

• Proves ball flight can change dramatically
• Shows body mechanics importance
• Builds student confidence
• Creates breakthrough moments

Understanding Ball Flight Laws:

Educational Benefits:

• Clubface position at impact critical
• Body geometry affects release
• Extreme positions teach principles
• Transfer to normal swing improvement

Conclusion: The Courage to Be Extreme

Sometimes golf improvement requires the courage to look foolish in service of better results. This extreme anti-slice drill proves that dramatic problems often need dramatic solutions. When decades of conventional instruction fail, unconventional methods can create breakthrough moments that change a golfer's entire relationship with the game.

Key Takeaways:

• Extreme problems require extreme solutions
• Body position determines release capability
• Gradual transition possible after breakthrough
• Results matter more than appearance
• Some students may play this way successfully for years
• Ball flight laws proven through dramatic demonstration

Your Action Plan:

1. Assess severity of your slice problem
2. Commit to extreme setup if appropriate
3. Practice target line backswing religiously
4. Document ball flight improvements
5. Be patient with learning timeline
6. Begin transition only when draws consistent
7. Trust the process completely

Remember: If you've been slicing for decades and nothing else has worked, you have nothing to lose by trying something radically different. This drill has transformed countless golfers from chronic slicers to confident ball strikers. Sometimes the most unusual solution is exactly what's needed.

Don't let pride prevent you from trying something that looks strange but produces the results you've been seeking your entire golf life.