Watch Your Grip

One of the biggest faults a golfer makes is starting the swing by swinging the club to the inside. When this happens, the club gets in a laid-off position at the top. From there, there is nowhere to go on the downswing but outside and over the top. This swing structure is the complete opposite of almost every good player's.

Needless to say, you want to do the opposite of swinging the club to the inside. This is where looking at the butt-end of your club can help. As you swing back to waist level, the butt end should be pointing at a spot on the ground between the ball-target line and your toe line. For severe over-the-top slicers, try to make the butt end point directly at your toe line. Your club will be nearly vertical if you do this properly.

On the downswing, there is a "momentary fall in" whereby the butt end of your club should point at the ball-target line. This happens only for a brief moment but it is the most important part of the swing. Try to feel your butt-end go from pointing vertically at the ground on the backswing, to pointing at the ball-target line as you begin your downswing. This little change of direction is crucial.

You can place a tee in the end of your grip to help you better visualize this transition. Make a series of practice swings looking at this tee. Point it at your toe-line going back, and at the target-line starting down.

If you practice this simple exercise on a regular basis, you will establish the necessary swing shape that will allow for you to be a consistently good ball striker.

---
Learn more about the #1 rated golf instruction book in the game today, 1 Step to Better Golf.