Finally eliminate the slice and develop a draw with these drills:
- Back to the target drill
- Alignment Stick Drill
- Stock Shot Drill
Are you tired of hitting a slice or a pull shot?
Golf does not have to be complicated.
With some help from this post, you can be on your way to hitting crips shots that start right and have a gentle draw back towards the target.
Stop battling that slice and switch to an inside out swing that gets you in the right slot and makes the game easier.
Too many golfers get to the top of the swing and completely come across the golf ball with an outside in swing that causes poor contact and slice spin that robs the golfer of any distance and enjoyment in the game.
3 Golf Drills for An Inside Out Swing
Personal Story: These were the drills years ago that helped me develop a reliable draw shot pattern. I now use these with people I am helping develop their golf swing. Stay patient at the top of the swing and learn to hit the ball from the inside. It will change your game forever!
Before we jump in and explain these three drills that can change your golf journey for every. Let’s answer some of the basic questions about an inside out swing.
Why an Inside Out Swing in Golf?
An inside out swing provides the golfer with maximum speed, control and consistency. The golf swing is designed to be from the inside out and maximizes the lag tension at impact and helps the golfer control the club face which controls the start line in the swing. From this inside position, the golfer is able to hit a draw or a fade and control their start line on the target.
What Is An Inside Out Golf Swing?
If you were to draw a circle on the ground that runs through the golf ball, an inside out golf swing catches the ball on the back end of the circle as it approaches the ball along the circle arch. As soon as the circle starts moving towards the top, you are catching the ball as your swing moves from outside in. To have an inside out swing, we want to catch the ball on the backswing of the circle.
Related Post: How to shape the golf ball (5 Tips)
Inside Out Golf Swing and Ball Flight Laws
Another important part to understand the inside out golf swing is the ball flight laws.
The basic idea of the ball flight is that the ball will start in the direction that the club face is pointing at impact. The clubface controls about 75% of where the ball will start.
From there it will curve based on the swing path relative to the club face. For example, if your club face is 2 degrees right and your path is 4 degrees right. The ball will start right and curve left towards the target, which is away from the swing path direction.
To develop a consistent shape in your shot pattern, you will attempt to build similar numbers with the majority of your golf swings.
Below, I will provide several examples that help you practice what way your ball will curve and get the general understanding of what is taking place. The goal is to eliminate the shot that starts and curves in a different direction then what you are intending to do.
This will help eliminate big numbers from your scorecard.
Having this information will help you make the adjustments mid round or post round and not get stuck in the rabbit hole of swing corrections.
I provide three examples below, all which include a club face that is right and a path that is right. You can see how a slight variation in the difference between the face and the path can cause a ball to curve.
Related Post: Why does my golf ball curve to the right?
Ball Flight Laws: Scenario 1
Clubface: 3 degrees right
Swing Path: 3 degree right
The ball will start right of the target line (club face is 3 degree open or right) and fly straight since the clubface and the swing path are the same number of degrees open or right of the target line.
The end result is a push shot. The ball will start right and stay right.
Ball Flight Laws: Scenario 2
Clubface: 3 degrees right
Swing Path: 5 degree right
The ball will start right of the target line (club face is 3 degree open or right) and curve away from the swing ptch, which means it will curve left.
The end result is a draw shot. The ball will curve a decent amount with these numbers.
This shot would be considered a push draw.
Ball Flight Laws: Scenario 3
Clubface: 3 degrees left
Swing Path: 10 degree left
The ball will start left of the target line (club face is 3 degree closed or open) and slice since there is a big gap between clubface and swing path. The end result is a pull slice. The ball will start left and curve hard to the right.
This is a shot that many amateurs struggle with. They continue to aim further and further left. The swing path keeps moving left and the face remains open. The end result is a full slice.
This last example is the opposite of an inside out golf swing.
3 Golf Drills For An Inside Out Swing
#1: Back To The Target Drill
My studies of the golf swing brought me to Jim Venetos at one point. He is an instructor that guarantees to help someone hit a draw. He is able to do this through the setup that he promotes. Here are the steps the golfer can take to use his approach as a drill to help them hit the ball from the inside and hit a draw at some point in their life.
- Setup to the ball and loosen your hands on the grip.
- Go ahead and turn your shoulders 45 degrees away from the target, so that your chest points away from the target..
- Regrip the club with a strong grip.
- Aim the club face down the target line
- Put 70% of your weight on your front leg.
- Make a swing, moving only your arms.
- Keep the rest of your body still throughout the swing.
From this setup, as long as you stay still through the shot, your arms will follow the angle of your shoulders and you will produce an inside out swing. As we learned from the ball flight laws, if your face is slightly left of the path, you will hit a draw. The ball will start at the angle of the face at impact and then curve away from the swing path.
A golfer can use this drill to get the feel for a swing that moves from the inside out. Go ahead and hit 10-20 shots and get the feeling of your arms moving down as your back stays towards the target.
Jack Nicklaus often talked about keeping his back to the target (feeling) and having his arms beat the buttons on his shirt to the ball. This is a feeling he tried to produce and we know that sometimes the feels in a golf swing are different than what actually happens, but if Jack Nicklaus was trying this, it might work for your game as well!
Related Post: 11 Golf Drills for the Range
#2: Alignment Stick Drill
Go ahead and lay one alignment stick down with one end starting at the ball and moving towards your feet on the inside of the ball. Take the second alignment stick and set it up parallel to this but on the outside of the ball.
This “path” created by the two alignment sticks is the path you want your club to follow as it approaches the ball. This will provide a visual that you can follow. In the drill above you have a feeling and now a visual to help you keep that club on the inside as it approaches the golf ball.
Go ahead and hit 20-30 shots with these alignment sticks laying down to provide the visual. If you are struggling, remember to feel like your back stays to the target for an extra second or that your arms beat the buttons on your shirt to the ball.
#3: Stock Shot Drill
The first two drills gave you a swing feel and position to use in addition to a visual on the group. This next drill will provide you with some feedback about where the ball is starting. Some golfers are better off focusing on a target out in front in order to make something happen in the golf swing.
- Set up an alignment stick about 6-8 yards in front of you, straight down your target line.
- If you have a second alignment stick, set the stick 2-3 feet right of the first stick (for a draw) or left of the first stick (for a fade).
- Complete your initial assessment see how many times out of 10 you can start the ball to the right or left of your target. Pick one side and measure your game at this point.
- The goal is to eventually get 7 out of 10 shots to start to the correct side and draw back towards the target.
This drill will allow you to see if you are staying on the inside of the ball and keeping that club face right of the target line as well. Remember we want our path and club face to both be to the right of the target for a draw. We just want the path to be a little more to the right of the club face to produce that perfect little draw that looks so pretty.
Will An Inside Out Swing Help Me Hit A Draw?
Yes, if you want to hit a push draw, you need a swing path that is around 3-5 degrees to the right with a club face that is around 1-2 degrees to the right. This will start the ball to the right and the ball will curve away from the path.
In this scenario, you have a face that is 2 degrees right and a path that is 4. This is a quality combination for a push draw.
Helpful Post: How to make more pars in golf (5 Tips)
Learn To Read Your Ball Flight
One of the best tips I can teach you is to learn to read your ball flight. Now that you have an understanding of the ball flight laws, you understand that the ball will start in the direction of the clubface at impact and curve away from the swing path. To hit a push draw, we need both to the right, but the clubface less to the right.
Over time, whether you are at the driving range or playing golf on the course, make sure you take the time and read your ball flight. Let it engrain in your mind and make the adjustments needed with club face control or your path.
Anytime you need the path more to the right, keep your back to the target a second longer and let the arms drop a bit more in the swing.
Don’t forget the short game: 11 Golf Drills for Chipping
Closing Thoughts: My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.
I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.