Across the line at the top

[iWALK18]

I recently checked out my swing on video, and I definitely have the club pointed right of the target at the top of my backswing. What are the negatives of being in that position?

[Ben]

It'll probably hurt your shot consistency more than anything. Unless you're swinging like Bobby Jones that is. I just figured something similar in my swing. Once I got the backswing "on plane" , everything felt much better. Thank You Ben Hogan!

[Paddymaster]

If your club is pointing right, then you are taking your club inside on the backswing. This tends to make it so your club is coming in to out on the ball, rather then right at your target. This will cause large draws mostly. Pushes may be a cause also. The key is to get your club so it is "on plane," so when you strike the ball, there's minimal side spin.

P.S The bobby jones video is a good representation of this.

[Zeph]

From videos I see many pros playing like this. Taking the club away on plane and aiming it at the target at the top. I've tried to do this to prevent myself from coming over the top, but ideally I want to be on the plane.

What's recommended on this? Aiming against the target at the top or trying to get it on the plane?

[tm22721]

With the sun behind you, compare the club's shadow at the top with a reference club on the ground.

[iWALK18]

It'll probably hurt your shot consistency more than anything. Unless you're swinging like Bobby Jones that is.

I swing EXACTLY like Bobby Jones... ok maybe not. But its funny you would point to Jones because I'm very much self taught, and my refference for building my swing was his "how I play golf" series. Working on using some of the things he suggested in that series dropped me from shooting in the 100s to the high 80s. Maybe its holding me back now though.

In terms of inconsistency and my miss, actually my big miss with the driver is a big pushed slice. My normal shot is definitely a draw, but my grip is very neutral, so I rarely hit a big hook.

[DaveLeeNC]

I recently checked out my swing on video, and I definitely have the club pointed right of the target at the top of my backswing. What are the negatives of being in that position?

A couple of comments. 1) If your swing is a truly inside-out type swing (maybe not 'optimum' across the entire golfing community, but also not necessarily 'death' to a golf swing either) then your best swingplane will point to the right of the target at the top. 2) BE SURE to measure where the club is pointed when it is PARALLEL to the ground. If your swing is past parallel and you are looking at your swing 'at the top' it is easy to convince yourself that the club is 'pointing right' when that is actually not the case. dave

[Paddymaster]

Believe it or not, arguable, and what i have found is that it is easier to get your swing fixed back on plane from inside rather than outside. Thats partially why you hear about everyone's slice. You may not be that far from hitting the ball way straighter

[JackLee]

I swing EXACTLY like Bobby Jones... ok maybe not. But its funny you would point to Jones because I'm very much self taught, and my refference for building my swing was his "how I play golf" series. Working on using some of the things he suggested in that series dropped me from shooting in the 100s to the high 80s. Maybe its holding me back now though.

Why would you want to change?

If you are using a square stance with all clubs, a closed stance may fix your driver problem. It's a little hard to swing inside-out from a square stance with the driver and fairway woods. Here is a quote from The Golf Swing and It's Master Key Explained: "The clubhead path through the impact area for a normal shot has been described by some instructors as from inside the target line to impact to immediately back inside the target line. They call this inside-to-inside. This will produce a straight shot if the clubface is square to the target line at impact. However, this is very hard to do, and probably could be done consistently only by a machine. Any small error can result in a very bad shot. Unfortunately, this is the clubhead path and clubface angle that most poor players are trying to use. Their most common errors are swinging outside-in and/or leaving the clubface open. Others have said that the clubhead path should be from inside the target line to impact and straight on down the target line before coming back inside. Because the clubhead is swung on a circular path, the center of the clubhead cannot travel straight down the target line. That is possible only with a putting stroke. Your normal shot should be a small draw. A draw will go farther than a fade. A draw also allows more room for error. Small errors in clubhead path and/or clubface angle can still result in shots that are close to your target. You can hit a small to medium draw from a square stance. For a big draw, you need to use a closed stance (feet and shoulders aligned right of your target line)." Yes, I am aware that some pros play a fade for their normal shot. If you have their talent, and practice as much, you can use whatever shot you want and make it consistent.

[iWALK18]

Why would you want to change?

Well I have plenty of distance, but I'm not getting the consistency I want from my swing, so I'm looking for the culprit(s). This year's goal is to get straighter, even if I sacrifice a lot of distance.

I've determined that I'm cupping the left wrist at the top, which is giving me the across the line club angle at the top. Last range session was spent keeping that wrist flat. We'll see how it goes.

[JackLee]

Well I have plenty of distance, but I'm not getting the consistency I want from my swing, so I'm looking for the culprit(s). This year's goal is to get straighter, even if I sacrifice a lot of distance.

My left wrist is cupped at the top, and I am accross the line. Works great for me, but everyone should do what works best for them. Finding what works best for you is the hard part. Good luck with your search.