Tell me how to fix this...

[rhodes81]

I need to tap into the vast amount of knowledge in this forum. I am trying to develop a more consistent swing this year (aren't we all!) and I have really concentrated on hitting out on the ball. I focus on hitting the back near quadrant of the ball. Unfortunately, this keeps resulting in a pull with a draw and the occassional hook. Am I just coming from to far inside? I dont think my stance or clubface are closed but I do have the tendency to lose focus and inadvertantly close my club face. It has been too wet here to play much so I have just been hitting my wedge in my backyard. The ball tends to wind up anywhere from 5 yards to twenty yards left of my target. What should I try?

[Zeph]

Without a video or trackman data I can't tell for sure, but you seem to be onto the right path. If the clubface is aimed at the target and you swing in-to-out, the ball will start straight at the target and spin to the left. The more you swing in-to-out, the more it will spin away from the target.

There are two ways to get the ball closer to the target. One is to open the clubface about halfways the amount of degrees you are swinging in-to-out. This will give you a draw on every shot. If your swing path goes +4º in-to-out, the clubface should ideally be +2º open.
The other is to swing less in-to-out, closer to square. With doing this, you can keep the clubface square to the target, or slightly open, and hit the ball straighter.

I suggest swinging less in-to-out. There is no gain in swinging that much from the inside, just makes it harder to shape the ball left and right. Kenny Perry swings +6º in-to-out and he struggle playing holes with dogleg right, because his default swing path is so far in-to-out, he can't hit anything but a big draw/hook. Statistically, Jim Furyk is the player with a swing path and club face angle closest to square, he is also one of the most accurate players on the PGA Tour.

[bruce]

My Usual shot is a draw,but sometimes it can draw to much on me,usually when this starts to happen my remedy is to finish the swing with more extension and high.

[jsherm45]

You are flipping the club closed with your right hand on the downswing.

Learn to not release the club until after impact:

* When you get to the top of your backswing, remember two things - 1. Hips start first 2. Keep the left arm straight through impact.
* Maintain the angle between your right arm and shaft in your downswing.
* At impact, left wrist should be the closest thing to your target.

[Zeph]

You are flipping the club closed with your right hand on the downswing.

If the ball starts straight or slightly to the right, the clubface is square at impact.

[rhodes81]

Thanks for the help guys. The ball usually starts straight at the target except for the pulls, they stay left for the duration. My divots tend to aim right of the target. I know I can aim right and just play this shot, but I am not going to compensate for a bad habit. I'm playing this afternoon and will try to keep my left arm straight and change my swing path so it is not so in to out. I will let you know how things go when i get in.

[rhodes81]

I wish I could get on here and talk about the wonderful score I posted today, but it just wasn't my day. I have to get to the driving range with my new irons. The only stat of mine that has really changed is my greens in regulation. My putting and driving has gotten better but the second shot keeps killing me. I did try the advice and it definitely helped. I didn't hook a iron all day but I just seemed to be a little off on every approach shot. Hopefully a few hours on the range and a few more rounds with the new irons will alleviate the problem.