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Problem Solving 2 - Half Swing

Swing_path

Right Divots

If your ball starts to the right and sometimes goes right or over hooks then your path is too much inside-to-outside.

Right divots are caused by one of two reasons:

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1. If your backswing plane is very vertical then your body will push forward to try to make room for the arms to swing back to the ball. This movement causes a loop in your backswing and the clubhead approaches the ball from too much inside the path

2. If your body slides forward with no turn then the left side of your body blocks the right side of your body from turning through to the finish. When this happens your arms will get stuck behind your body and your clubhead will approach the ball on an inside to outside path

Exercise

I have set up the exercise using four balls. Look at how the three balls have been teed up. I want to hit the middle ball without hitting the other two. The fourth ball is on the ground about 16 inches (40 cm) behind my target ball and slightly inside of the target line.

Game

I am going to sweep the ball on the ground away with my clubhead on the takeaway (motion path of red arrow). This will force me to keep the clubhead low and on plane in the takeaway. Notice how the top of my ½ swing is perfectly on plane.

In the downswing I keep my legs very still and I allow my left shoulder to work away from my chin as I start my arms down to the ball. By opening up my chest and releasing my arms I can start the ball on the target line with no side spin.

It is also a good idea to practise hitting lots of fades (starting left of target and falling right) to neutralise your shot pattern.