Myth or Fact: Does Putting Vaseline/Chapstick on a Driver Fix Slices?

In your search for improving your golf swing, you may have heard of applying Vaseline or Chapstick on the face of your driver.

The practice of smearing Vaseline on a driver’s face to fix a slice is an age-old trick. But does it work? In this blog post, we will delve deeper into the use of Vaseline and explore whether it is a myth or an effective remedy for slicing.

How Do Drivers Slice the Golf Ball?

A slice is when a significant amount of sidespin is applied to the golf ball, making it curve out to the right (for right-handed players) or left (for left-handed players). Slices are the number one issue for amateurs off the tee.

The most common reason your driver produces a slice is an open club face relative to the swing path. For example, if your swing path is perfectly straight towards your target, but your club face is open to the target at impact, you will produce a slice.

Many swing factors can contribute to an open club face, such as a weak grip, poor ball positioning, and improper arm rotation.

Slicing the golf ball is a difficult habit to break, causing many golfers to seek quick fixes.

Why Do Golfers Apply Vaseline/Chapstick to Their Drivers?

The most common reason golfers apply foreign substances, such as Vaseline and Chapstick to their drivers is to reduce side spin and prevent slices and hooks off the tee.

Effects of Vaseline/Chapstick on a Driver’s Face?

Applying Vaseline or Chapstick to the clubface reduces the friction between the clubface and the golf ball. As a result, the side spin applied to the golf ball is reduced.

Reducing friction and sidespin on the clubface reduces the curvature of the golf ball. This allows for tighter ball dispersion and overall straighter shots.

Does Vaseline/Chapstick on a Driver Face Fix Slices?

Applying a layer of Vaseline or Chapstick to the face of the driver reduces friction and side spin, causing the ball to fly more true to the swing path, which limits slices and hooks.

Does Vaseline/Chapstick on a Driver’s Face Make the Ball Go Farther?

Applying Vaseline or Chapstick on a driver’s face can help increase carry and overall distance. This is because it results in less side spin and slightly less backspin, making golf balls go further.

Does Putting Vaseline/Chapstick on a Driver Work?

Besides trying it myself, I also studied a few golfers on YouTube who tried this tactic. Here are their results.

MrShortGame Golf

MrShortGame took ten driver shots without lip balm and then 10 with lip balm smeared on his driver’s face.

He had a much tighter dispersion with the lip balm. He also had an average carry of 263.6 yards with the lip balm and 249.0 yards without the lip balm. Not only did his shots go straighter, but they also went further when applying lip balm to the face of his driver.

Top Speed Golf

Clay Ballard from Top Speed Golf also tested out the Vaseline trick. Clay applied petroleum jelly to his driver’s face.

Clay gained 6 yards of carry by using the petroleum jelly. He had an average carry distance of 249.3 without the petroleum jelly and 255.5 with the petroleum jelly.

Even more surprising, Clay had an average dispersion of 17 yards without the jelly and 6.8 yards with the jelly!

Matt Fryer Golf

Finally, Matt Fryer from Matt Fryer Golf took chapstick on a driver to the test. Matt used a brand called Slic Stic, which is a chapstick made for golf.

Without the Slic Stic, Fryer had an average carry of 275 yards, 146 RPM of side spin, 1794 RPM of backspin, and hit 3/5 fairways.

With the Slic Stic Matt had an average carry of 274 yards, 61 RPM of side spin, 1150 RPM of backspin, and hit 4/5 fairways.

Although Matt didn’t get more distance with the Slic Stic, he had an insane drop in side spin and backspin, allowing him to be more accurate and hit more fairways.

How to Apply Vaseline/Chapstick onto a Driver

First, place a dime-sized amount of Vaseline or Chapstick onto your finger.

Next, rub an even amount onto the entire clubface of your driver.

Finally, swing away! You may need to reapply after every couple of swings.

Is Putting Vaseline/Chapstick on a Driver Cheating?

Putting Vaseline, Chapstick, petroleum jelly, or any other foreign substance to a clubface that affects the ball flight is prohibited.

USGA rule 4.1.A(3) states, “By applying any substance to the clubhead (other than in cleaning it) to affect how it performs in making a stroke.” Putting Vaseline or Chapstick on a driver’s clubface is deliberately changing the club’s playing characteristics, according to the USGA.

Can You Put Vaseline/Chapstick on Other Clubs Besides Driver?

The Vaseline/Chapstick trick will also work on fairway woods and hybrids, allowing you to hit further and straighter shots.

My Experience with Putting Vaseline and Chapstick on My Driver

I’ve experimented with both Vaseline and Chapstick at the driving range and on the golf course with friends. I noticed a significant reduction in my slice and hooks off the tee…it was amazing!

Usually, my ball would either fly straight as an arrow or have a slight fade. The only time I got myself in trouble was with pulled shots to the left. In these instances, the ball would travel straight but would start left and end left. I assume this is due to a left-swing path.

Although I saw improvement with the Vaseline trick, I didn’t do it for long. My golf buddies and I are competitive out on the course. We always seek to improve, but we don’t want to take shortcuts and break the rules.

Vaseline on the Driver is fun to try, but playing by the rules and improving on your own feels much better.