Swing Plane Question

[captglover]

Hi All,

I'm back at golf after 30 years off (long story) :-) After 4 months I've got most of my game back that I had back in my youth (13 handicap). But one problem seems to be a tough one for me to fix on my own, and I'm not finding written instruction to get drills to fix it.

I take the clubhead back on-plane just fine, but end up swinging outside in. But not for the usual reasons, I think. I start my path inside out, but I think my hands follow my hip/body turn across the ball, instead of following the target line.

I play my irons off the middle of my stance, and it effects it little. It is my woods and Driver that are most effected as I play the ball off the inside of the left heel. When I "visualize" an inside out path, I hit it better, but it is not my natural tendency, I also get a heavy draw when I force the in-out path. But if I open the face of the Driver too much, it turns into a slice, so I can't seem to predict the outcome of my driver.

I've worked on the range and have hit some straight shots, but on the course, with all the distractions and things to think about, the path problem comes out again.

What would be good drills to get my hands to stay along the line to the target rather than following my torso on the hip turn, so I can work to make a new swing more ingrained?

Thanks!

Michael
(first time poster)

[shootin4par]

Re: Swing Plane Question

hey capt,
please dont take this as rude,
I find it very hard to believe you start coming from the insde out and then go to the outside in. One way you can try to learn to come from the inside is think ouf skippig a rock, or hitting a tennis forehand

[captglover]

Re: Swing Plane Question

Shooting4par,

I assume your reply is trying to help... so no offense taken.

I suppose I should film my swing to see for sure, but it feels as though I start the down swing in-out, but, as the hips start before I begin forward with my hands (and therefore the hips are well ahead of my hands), and I know my hands drag across the target line following the front of my chest, so my final path ends up being out-in. Maybe my hips get going so quickly that my hands never get a chance at in-out. I DO know that my hands seem to want to follow my turning chest, rather than the target line.

I had some success tonight on the range by visualizing sending my hands towards the target, but I had to concentrate greatly to manage it.

Another problem I noticed, I was trying to counter the in-out path by taking the club head back behind me sharply in a very flat plane, this is where the hook/draw is coming from I'm sure.

What can I say, I grew up watching Arnold Palmer. Seeing him swing again recently in a Wonderful World of Golf episode, he has a very sharp inside out swing path, with a definate draw to his Driver. Only he's Arnold Palmer, and his swing is predictable.

After noticing the flat path, I tried a few shots taking the club head back along the target line for as long as possible, and then came into the down swing on a slightly more inside path, this produced fairly straight shots! But I found I couldn't do it every time.

I appreciate the mental imagry, shootin4par, and I would love to hear any other drills that might help me train my hands to follow the target line.

Cheers.

[canadian_man_44]

Re: Swing Plane Question

Check out this link. It is the right hand drill. IMHO this drill helped take me from and outside in slicer to an inside outter with a slight draw.

http://members.cox.net/gregjwillis/LESSON1.htm

[captglover]

Re: Swing Plane Question

Thanks for the link. I have been to Grg's site previously, and I have to say I've learned more about how to hit a golf ball from his lessons, than from any other source! He has a great touch for teaching. I'll work on the right hand drill today at the range. Cheers.