Controlling club path

[RandallT]

I'm focusing now on the club path (4th key of 5sk), and I'm swinging half back to half follow-through against on a rug that has a very clear line in it. As I release the club, my eyes can clearly see the direction of the club (not the face, just the path) as it whips through the impact area. I can get my body to swing it through in-out, out-in, or straight in these half swings, but not always 100% how I intend. I'm definitely improving as I gain body awareness though.  I'm trying to tune in on what exactly my body can do to create each of those paths.

I've learned that I can shift my weight at different angles to the target. For example, as I shift weight from the ball of the right foot to heels on left, I can get out-in. I can also allow shift weight to go straight down the line and get in-out by using the arc of the swing.

I've learned I can tweak the shoulder alignment. For example, I can shift weight one direction, while aligning my shoulders a little differently and the shoulder alignment overrides the weight shift.

I can also allow my arms to swing from the shoulders in a different angle than the shoulders are aligned, although this is a bit awkward (I've mistakenly done it on the course though I think!) For example, I can have shoulders aligned straight, but still swing a bit to the right with my arms.

Should everything be aligned to the target (weight shift, shoulders, arms natural) and just allow the arc of the club path to naturally be in-out, since I hit before the bottom of the arc. Is that the primary feel I should be going for?  I think that much of my inconsistency has been in simply not being aware of how I am trying to control the club path.

Thanks for any thoughts- hope it makes sense.

[Ernest Jones]

I'm no pro but I believe, for consistency's sake, you want to work on having your knees, hips and shoulders all aligned parallel with each other whether the total package ends up being parallel (neutral), open or closed to your target line is something you need to play around with to see what gives you the best chance at hitting the shot shape you want to develop.

I think at the amateur level playing around with conflicting alignments of hips and shoulders is probably asking for trouble.

[RandallT]

Yah, I'm always asking for trouble as I look into my own swing. It's scary to tweak anything. I think the question also makes no sense because the shoulders are so dynamic anyway. In my little half swings (more like quarter swings actually), I wasn't moving them too much, but in a full swing they are rotating around, so their alignment is not static whatsoever.  At any rate, I've at least put some thought into what the heck my body is doing regarding swing path, so maybe it wasn't a total waste of time. It's amazing that after almost two seasons of learning to swing, I still know very little about what my body is doing.