Conference 7.286::golf

Paul,

	I've been struggling with the same problem all season.    
Two common causes which I am currently fighting include:

o Check the right elbow at the top.  To borrow a phrase from
  Jimmy Ballard, it is connected to the body?  If not, the swing
  will have a good chance of going from outside-in.  This would
  also account for the loss of the draw you previously had.

o Check the tempo of the lower body with the upper body.  Make
  sure that the hips are not moving too fast for the upper body,
  in which case a swing can go outside-in.  


Good luck,
Jeff

    Hi,
    I also had trouble like that a few years ago and cured it guite
    nicely. My solution to keeping my club face from "closing" to fast
    was to address the ball farther to the read than before. In that
    way, I could both address with the face open and have it closed
    by the time the clubhead and ball met. My duck hooks went away without
    me having to change stance or grip!!!!!
    
    Later on, I began to fade the ball. That allowed me to move the
    club address closer to the ball. Now, my normal tee shot is a
    controlled fade and I even like it!
    
    During the times when I drew the ball, hit duck hooks or faded the
    ball my divots were always outside/in divots. That is not a bad
    sign! Also, my stance and grip has always been the same so it was
    a good adjustment that did not cause me to visit a pro.
    
    Hope this helps!
    Tom  
    

    	I've taken lessons to correct the same problem you describe.
    I was bringing the club staight up, rather than low and back. Also
    part of the problem was I was not turning my back perpendicular
    to the area I was shooting to. The pro, Pete Dupuis, has gotten
    this corrected for me, my divot is straight on line to the flag
    but I still am blocking out and pushing to the right. I can only
    correct so many things at a time. :^
    
    Keith)

    
    I'm another that had the same problem, and once in awhile
    it comes back.  It can be a very difficult thing to fix.
    I would bet that this is one of the most common problems in golf,
    and is what causes most people to slice the ball, or hit
    a grounder way to the left.
    
    After taking a few lessons from an old pro, he said a couple
    of good things that I'll always remember.  First he said
    that in my follow through my club was heading towards what
    he termed the "short stop".  In your follow through you want
    the club head to go straight out towards the target, not
    way to the left of the target.  When you start your downswing
    you want to make sure you start by shifting your hips first,
    and not by swinging your arms first.
    
    I'll tell you, you can read books and watch videos until your
    blue in the face, and it won't improve your ability as much as     
    a few good lessons.  Good luck.
    
    -John-

Re: .0

>        Because I know someone will suggest it, I should let you know
>        that you folks are me last resort before I seek professional
>        help.

    Just remeber you only get what you pay for ;-).  I know how you feel
    slowly my swing had deteriorated until I was a mess.  I went to the
    Pro for a couple quick lessons & I'm hitting the ball better.  Sometimes
    I'm even on in regulation.  It's fun to 2 putt for par instead of having
    to one putt to save bogey.

    Since several other people were plugging their favorite pro I'll plug
    mine.  His name is Dan Diskin and he teaches at Stow Acres.

	Larry    

    It is so difficult to try to advice someone when you have never seen
    them swing. I know from experience that the smallest of adjustments can
    make a dramatic difference in the way you hit a ball. I mean really it
    could be one of several different things that cause your problem or a
    combination of things and without seeing you swing how are we to know
    and if  I did see you swing I may not see what it is anyway. If you
    want to fix your problem in the quickest and least stressful way see a
    pro. That's what they do.
    
    Well okay I'll tell you what I would do SLOW DOWN YOUR SWING.
    
    Pete

    Paul,
    
    Why don't you try staying behind the ball!~!  Have your right shoulder
    turn under your chin instead of coming over top of the ball!!! You
    have to stay behind the ball!!! 
    
    Joe  
                                     
    
    

    I had similiar problem such as this the last two years. My divot
    run left of the target, which I automatically thought that I was
    outside in on my swing. This did not work, so I had a friend bring
    his Video recorder down to the practice range to see what was goingh
    on. What I saw on the VCR was quite interesting. I was taking the
    backswing back fine, but half way up on my backswing I was swaying
    my arms forward instead of making my turn or coiling so to speak.
    Ever since I saw this on the VCR I've concentrated on a complete
    backswing. I also realized that the reason why I was coming over
    the top was that it's easier on the shoulder. On a golf swing the
    takeaway when you get closer to the top of the swing you will feel
    the pull of the left shoulder. I did not want that pull so I went
    over the top to reduce the pull and consequently slice. I guess
    if I had any advice it would be either to record yourself or go
    to your local pro. Myself I wanted to see it so that's why I CHOSE
    that option. You can drive youself crazy trying to figure it out
    because it took me two years and alot of frustrating rounds of golf.