Why Do I Slice My Driver But Not My Irons?

A question that so many golfers will ask themselves is why they tend to slice their driver, and yet they fail to do so with their irons. This is slightly confusing for some people, but the reality is that the answer to this question is a whole lot easier than people are aware.

Of course, you certainly don’t want to slice your shot off the tee. The trouble you can end up putting yourself into is going to make the entire game so much harder, so addressing these concerns can certainly benefit your game.

So, let’s get into explaining what is going on, and how you can counteract this problem.

It’s a Common Issue

The first thing to be aware of is that you are not alone when it comes to this problem. Just knowing that it is very common, and something most golfers will experience at some point, is going to help you to relax.

Also, it means there are solutions out there that will turn things around for you as well, and that’s pretty cool.

But here’s the thing. 

The key to solving this problem is clearly in the swing. Now, trying to deal with issues in the swing can be daunting for some people, but we need to go through what is going on to help you better understand where the problem lies.

The Makeup of the Driver

One of the main reasons why this happens is because of the simple fact that your driver has a different makeup to your irons. It has a different length and a different loft, and that’s going to also change the angle at which you connect with the ball.

However, it goes even further than that.

The driver has a much larger face than the iron. Now, you would automatically think that the smaller face would cause more problems, but that’s not so.

Instead, a driver comes with it being far more forgiving, but it also means that there’s a bigger chance of you hitting the ball away from the middle of the face.

When you factor all of these different things into the equation, then you can start to see how easy it is to slice the ball off the tee.

But that all changes with the iron.

With your irons, people automatically focus in a different way. With your driver, you are going for power and distance. With the iron, you are seeking more control and accuracy, and that’s a completely different shot.

More About the Length

The length of the driver has a very specific role to play. Typically, you are looking at shafts that are some 45.5” in length, and that’s a good bit longer than your irons.

With this longer swing, it does mean that any way in which you go off your desired line could then lead to a bigger issue. Also, if you are not sure that you have the right length of driver, then it’s best to get checked.

An incorrect length of driver leads to the clubface being more open. When it’s more open, it increases the chance of you getting that horrible slice.

Your Stance

Aside from the length of the driver opening up the face too much, your stance also plays a role in getting that slice off the tee. 

For most people, a slice means the stance has been too open, and there’s a good chance that this is what is going on with you. If you don’t know what that means, then basically it refers to the time where your leading foot is actually behind the trailing foot at the moment when you are facing your target.

You need to close your stance in order to seek to correct the slice.

Your Grip

Aside from the stance issue, your grip can also be having a negative impact on your swing, and it can then lead to the slice happening.

For most people, this is going to involve them having a grip that is too weak. With this type of grip, it means you will tend to have some difficulty with closing down the clubface with the downswing. 

The result of this is that you will generate more spin on the ball. That spin is going to help create the slice.

What you need to do is to work on either strengthening your grip, or creating a neutral grip. At that point, you should find that it makes a positive difference to your drive.

Your Swing

If we can jump back slightly to the point about the loft and length as that changes your swing.

With these differences, it means you will automatically create a much larger arc through your swing. Also, the natural way of doing things with the driver does lead to you effectively sweeping the ball up off the tee so it can then get onto the correct trajectory.

This changes with irons. The arc is different, and the shafts are shorter. That alone is going to reduce the odds of you slicing your iron shots, unless you are really off the middle.

You need to look at trying to close your swing up and reduce the angle of the clubface upon impact. That should make a difference with the slice aspect.

Overall, there are several things that can play a role in you slicing the driver but not your irons. The key is always in the things we mentioned above, so pay close attention to your swing, how you stand, and also your grip.

You may want to change the length of your driver, and perhaps also change the loft at the same time. This will automatically alter your swing, and there’s a pretty good chance that it will also change the way in which you address the ball. 

With some perseverance, this issue of slicing your driver can become a thing of the past. However, it’s going to take some work on your part, and a willingness to change how you address your driver in the first place.