Fix Your Slice with This Swing Plane Drill

Fix Your Slice & Over-The-Top Swing With This Simple Alignment Stick Drill

If you’re tired of slicing the ball, coming “over the top,” or feeling like your swing just starts the club in the wrong direction, then you’re not alone. These faults all stem from one common source: the club is getting on the wrong swing plane too early — especially during the takeaway and transition. Luckily, there’s a simple practice tool that can fix that: an angled alignment stick placed behind the ball.

In the video above, I show you exactly how to set this up and how to train your body and club to stay on the correct, shallow plane from start to finish. Below we break down the why, how, and how to practice it.

Why This Alignment Stick Drill Works

Most amateurs struggle with an over-the-top move because their club and hands get too far outside of the ideal swing plane on the takeaway. When that happens, the downswing begins from the outside — and all too often that means a steep, out-to-in path, casting the club, and slicing the ball. Placing an alignment stick at a specific angle behind the ball creates a visual and physical barrier that helps you:

• Feel the correct inside takeaway because the stick teaches you to start the club back under the plane instead of outside it.
• Train a shallow downswing, which eliminates casting and keeps your path inside-to-square.
• Stop coming over the top, because you physically can’t swing outside the stick without hitting it — that’s powerful immediate feedback.

Instead of trying to think your way into a better swing, this drill forces your body and club into the right movement pattern.

How to Set Up the Drill

1. Stick placement: Insert an alignment stick into the ground (or use a bucket, noodle, or prop) so that it sits behind your ball at about a 45° angle pointing back toward your trail side.
2. Safe margin: Give enough room so you won’t hit it on accident, but close enough that an out-to-in or steep arc will clip it.
3. Address as usual: Take your normal setup with your club and stance; don’t change anything except where the stick sits.
4. Rehearse moves: Take slow rehearsals, first focusing on the takeaway and then downswing transition, making sure your club stays under or just outside the stick.

When you swing back and through, you’ll instantly feel how starting the club inside and shallow changes your entire path. If you do come across the top the club will hit the stick — and that’s what we want! It gives real-time feedback that a bad path would’ve created an undesirable shot (slice, pull, weak fade, etc.).

What You Should Feel

This drill isn’t about speed — it’s about direction and sequence. As you practice:

• You’ll feel the clubhead stay behind your hands longer in the takeaway.
• The downswing will feel more like a downward and slightly inside approach instead of an outside chop.
• Your rhythm will improve because you’re not fighting the stick — you’re learning the correct motion.

Once this plane movement becomes familiar at slow speed, you can gradually increase swing speed while maintaining the same movement pathways.

How This Fixes the Slice and Over-The-Top Move

When your swing starts and transitions on the inside swing plane:

• Your club approaches the ball from a more neutral path instead of out-to-in — which is what causes most slices.
• You’re less likely to cast the club because your hands and elbows stay connected to your body through takeaway and downswing.
• The contact pattern improves, leading to more consistent, powerful ball flight.

Practice Progressions

To make this more effective over time:

• Start with short irons before moving to longer clubs.
• Use a pool noodle over the stick during early reps so you’re not afraid to hit it — fear kills good practice.
• Gradually make the drill stricter by narrowing the space between the stick and your desired swing path as you improve.

Final Thoughts

This drill is one of the most efficient ways to diagnose and correct swing faults that lead to slices and inconsistent contact. Giving your body a physical boundary teaches your muscles the correct motion faster than trying to “think” about it. Pair this training with the video and you’re giving yourself a real chance to create a swing that’s on plane, powerful, and consistent.

Golf Practice Plan – What to Do & Not To Do

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Thanks for reading today’s article!

Nick Foy – Golf Instructor