Out to In Swing

[wrx_junki]

Well my swing has gone to complete shambles as of late. Played only about 2 complete rounds in the past month with maybe 2 half-assed range sessions. I was desperate so today I tried opening my stance a bit and took the club outside then brought it inside. This resulted in a slight push with a draw. What are the downsides of bringing outside and then coming inside?

[deronsizemore]

Well my swing has gone to complete shambles as of late. Played only about 2 complete rounds in the past month with maybe 2 half-assed range sessions. I was desperate so today I tried opening my stance a bit and took the club outside then brought it inside. This resulted in a slight push with a draw. What are the downsides of bringing outside and then coming inside?

If it allows you to hit the ball at your target, there are not any downsides.

Freddie Couples does it, along with some other professional players, but everyone's swing is different. I would say if you have an out to in swing though, opening your stance is only going to make this out to in swing worse in the long run. If you're opening you stance, more than likely your also opening your shoulders and if you open your shoulders, you're bound to have an out to in swing path.

[parbreaker]

There are two aspects here to address.

The first is what has been mentioned already, which is that if it allows you to hit the ball well then its great. There are indeed a number of professionals that have slight out to in swings.

The second, and most important part, is are you "actually" going out to in? Remember that what you feel or think you are doing is rarely what is actually happening. This is the same reason most amateurs overdo advice. (Like Harvey Penick always said, they took the whole bottle instead of 1 pill.) This is like someone telling you to open your stance up because you are aiming right, then a week later they say you are aiming everything 20 yards left. Its common and this is why tour pros constantly have video cameras, caddies, and pros watching them swing... so they can get feedback on what they are actually doing.

I would venture to guess that you were bringing the club too much inside and getting stuck, so now your new thought is actually bringing the club closer to on plane. If you are hitting a push/draw then you "can't" be coming outside to in really. It's just how it feels to you.

I would stick with that feeling, because it is helping you and works, but keep an eye on it, as in a couple of weeks or so you might start overdoing it as your body gets used to the movement.

[jambalaya]

I know Freddie brings the club outside or above the target line on the takeaway but I think he still swings inside out on the downswing.

An outside-in forward or downswingusually results in weak fades and slices. I have been having a lot of problems with that this year. Tried swinging more with left arm, tried not coming out of the shot too soon on the follow through, tried keeping head back of the ball, tried to mind the swing plane more, etc., What I finally found that worked is making sure my weight transfers to my front foot prior to the downswing. Of course the weight shift probably actually occurs as your start your downswing but I needed to exaggerate it for emphasis. Starting the swing with too much weight on the back foot makes you hang back and naturally promotes throwing the right shoulder forward. Often the right hand takes over and you push the club open I think. Having my left foot firmly established just seems to make it easier to bring the club from the inside rather than over the top.

[deronsizemore]

I know Freddie brings the club outside or above the target line on the takeaway but I think he still swings inside out on the downswing.

That's correct. Which is what the original poster said he was doing when he said:

I was desperate so today I tried opening my stance a bit and took the club outside then brought it inside.

and why I brought up Freddie. :)

[wrx_junki]

I know that I was super flat on the takeaway which was quite good for my driver but not so much for my irons. I think you may be right that the feeling that I am taking it outside might be more on plane. Played 9 today and I was hitting it quite solid except for a couple of fat approach shots.

[GamerJG]

Well my swing has gone to complete shambles as of late. Played only about 2 complete rounds in the past month with maybe 2 half-assed range sessions. I was desperate so today I tried opening my stance a bit and took the club outside then brought it inside. This resulted in a slight push with a draw. What are the downsides of bringing outside and then coming inside?

honestly i don't recommend this swing path. i'd recommend the opposite, an inside-out plane which will create a slight draw. this is an easier shot to control which should give you the consistency you are looking for. good luck.

ps-you might not be taking it back as outside as you think. if you take the club back lower to the ground and widen you swing arc it may just feel more outside when in actuality it's not. try to get video of your swing from behind and see if this is the case. taking the club back lower while getting good extension but slightly to the inside is the way to go imo.