self diagnosis and PGA lessons

[clearwaterms]

I believe that I have a problem with my swing path.  The longer the club gets, the more outside to in it becomes.  I don't know what is causing it.  I hit my irons straight and get plenty of distance (160-165 carry on a 7 iron) with very little roll.  When you look at the Divot you can see that it starts under the middle of the golf ball and points just right of the target (as a lefty this means slightly out to in)  My iron ball flight is typically straight, but the longer the club, the more fade that I start to see to the point that a Driver tends to be in trouble.

I have been going to a golf instructor for better than 3 years and he has greatly improved my game.  I have a great working relationship with him.  I hit the ball much more consistently, have a much more balanced finish, and generally make more solid contact as a result of his teachings.  However, I believe that his analysis of the ongoing issue is flawed. He has lead me to believe that the problem is that I am hitting the ball on a square club path but with an open face.  Squaring the club face by releasing the club more is what he has taught me.  After reading Iacas's article on ball flight laws , I am lead to believe that in actuality, my problem is that I am swinging on an incorrect path.  That my club face is actually square or even a little closed and the path is out to in.  I believe the problem gets worse the longer the shaft of the club.  On the driver you can see that on a good swing the ball mark on the club face is close to or in the middle, and the thin paint line starts in the middle of the club and runs towards the outside club head.

I believe that his instruction has been based on a ball starting down the line and then curving is a result of an open club face on a square club path.  I believe that the ball striking the middle of the club head and starting down the target and slicing away from the target is a result of a square club head combined with an over the top move.

I don't feel comfortable showing him the article and saying, I think you are doing your job wrong, he is clearly a good teacher, and has done a good job for me.

So what should I do?  I guess I am looking for advice on what is causing my swing path to get worse as the clubs get longer.  Additionally I would like some advice on what to do about my golf instructor.  And finally, Am I way off base on what is causing my problems?

I apologize if this is confusing.  Here is the summary for those like me (ADHD symptoms caused by internet information overload)

Problem: Slice with longer shafted clubs

Pro Analysis: square club path, open club face

- proposed solution: rotate hands and wrists more to square club face.  Shorten the back swing to better maintain the triangle between the fore arms and shoulders.

Player Analysis: out to in club path, square club face

- proposed solution: confirm the problem, ask for advice on TST on drills to work on and work with shorter back swing because it creates increased consistency.

Extended problem: If Player analysis is correct, what to do about professional?

[midwestswing]

It's pretty common that the less loft on a club the more exaggerated the sidespin becomes. Higher lofted clubs put more backspin than sidespin on a ball keeping them flying straighter. Try exaggerating an outside path on the takeaway. A lot of times taking the club to far inside will result in an over the top swing. Swinging more on an outside path on the backswing will help naturally pull your arms inside on the downswing to deliver an in to out path. Good Luck!

[EverythingGolf]

Pro Analysis: square club path, open club face

- proposed solution: rotate hands and wrists more to square club face.

That is not the way to do it!

You are correct the path is out to in and the face is open to the path (square to the target) for a straight slice.

Read through this thread and see if it helps.

http://thesandtrap.com/t/58339/how-did-you-fix-your-slice