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My pops 55, and he has a pretty bad slice with his driver and I want to help him over the winter so he can straighten the ball out. Any tips or little drills he could do in his spare time, there isn't enough room to have a full swing. Anything would be helpful.

I am surely no expert as I am a hacker and a slicer but lately, I have been getting much better (straighter). Work on a strong (proper) grip. I used to use an overlap grip but recently switched to an interlocking grip with alot of success. I used to complain the the interlocking grip hurt my fingers, but now I realize that was because I was gripping to tightly. The interlocking grip reminds me to not grip to tight. I also shortened my backswing to about 3/4. That helps me a ton. I also had to work on my posture. I need to keep my back very straight (almost to where it feel un-natural). This was pointed out to me by a pro during a video session and it has really helped me. One last thing is that I have had alot of success from watching Jim Mcleans 8 Step Swing on the Golf Channel. If you can get it on tape or DVD, it may help your pop as well. Sorry I can't give you expert opinions, but just some things that are helping this slicer. Good luck to both of you.

There are various reasons why golfers slice. One is grip pressure. The hands have to be soft to allow the club to release through impact. Only two fingers hold the club on the right hand (for a right handed player)..the ring and the middle fingers. The thumb and first finger DO NOT pinch...this kills the hinge and causes many problems. Another thing you can do is to tell your "Pop" to imagine the toe of the club up on the backswing and...then the toe up on the follow through. This allows the club to release through impact. If you want more help you can visit my website... link removed good luck.

That's great advice, but let me clear my original post up. I know why he slices, he comes over the top a lot, what could he practice to get on the correct plane?

This has worked with almost all I see.
First, get him a driver with plenty of loft. Second, have him closed his shoulders at address. Third, hit down on the ball.
The reason most slicers slice is that they are trying to get the ball up in the air so they swing up which turns into swinging up and left. With the extra loft (15 or 16 degrees) the ball will get plenty high so loft eliminates the need to swing up. Closing the shoulders will give him a head start on a better rotation away from the ball and the thought of hitting down will start the club on the downswing more from the inside than from the outside.
Plus, the more loft that is on the club, the less side spin is created.

90% of slices can be summed up in one word - casting. Starting down swing with a thrust of the hands instead of the two more common methods of hips or shoulders (I personally believe downswing should be initiated by hips). A good way to get rid of casting is have him feel like the clubhead is falling about a foot from top of backswing, then swing. The club when allowed to fall naturally will move into or close to into slot position. Then you can have a swing at ball from there. Now this is just temporary till you get feeling of having club in slot. You'll be surprised how much better you're hitting ball but you don't want this to become your regular swing because it's not the most powerful way to swing a club.

You can also check his right elbow at he start of the swing.I find that if I don't drop it toward my right hip at the start of the downswing I tend to come over the top or cast.Imagine you are trying to stick the but of the club in the ground just in front of your left foot.This thought helps me,hope it works for him.

Thanks everyone, I'll tell him everything and hope he listens.

For an instant visual, build your Pops an "inside approach" type of device. Not very hard to do with 4 bucks worth of 1 1/2 pvc from home depot and a piece of foam. I think the sole purpose of that training aid is to stop you from casting the club. I wouldn't spend the $80 on the real thing because I think once your Pops understands what "casting" feels like, he'll change his swing a touch and it'll probably be a little flatter. Works pretty quickly also, hit the foam pad-over the top "cast" ; swing it under the pad and hit ball- probably on line, a little flatter swing plane and ball either straight, draw or hook depending on hand speed. Just my 2 cents, and if I'm way off course then I'm sure someone else will correct me .

That's good idea, id rather build him one than buy him that for Christmas and get him something else, thanks.

hi guys i think the club head is in front of the hands when it hits the ball .thats what i was told.i also think that alot of the advice you are getting is good. see you on the 1st tee

After many years of being relatively straight off the tee (but golfing relatively infrequently), I developed a vicious slice problem (only on drives). I couldn't get rid of it for 2-3 years. I tried many drills and tips, and even spent a couple hours with a pro.

The strategy that finally worked for me, was significantly slowing down my backswing (and even the beginning of the downswing. I also don't bring the head of the club quite as straight back from the ball. This combo, subtle as they are, has finally cured me. Whew.

How do you build this training aide?

I found this thread that has what you need to get. Just scroll down a bit to find the post.
swing hoops?

K and J,

I uploaded some pictures in the gallery. As they say "a picutres worth a thousand words"...so there's 2000 words waiting for you in there. It's a pretty crude device, but like I said before it's "effective" and $5 instead of $80. Were not going to call it the "inside approach" either (legal reasons My version is as PVC and PVC2. If you have any questions let me know. I can give you a parts breakdown if you need. All the pipe is 1/2 PVC and no glue required (makes it really portable that way and the PVC is a snugg fit. Hope these help. Ed