Tips  •  Other Uses  •  Advanced Drills
by Jim Sowerwine

The path in which the club is swung either directly or indirectly influences one's ability to achieve a desired ball flight. If your swing path is too steep or is from out-to-in, your tendency will be to hit “pulls,” “cuts” or even the dreaded “slice.” If your swing path approaches the ball too much form the inside or underneath the proper swing plane, your tendency will be to hit “pushes,” “draws” or even “hooks.”

In a simple explanation, what you need to understand is when the swing path is too steep your ability to square the clubface with your hands and arms is restricted thus leaving you with an open clubface at impact. An open face equates to a fade, cut or "SLICE," depending on how much it is open. If the face does happen to square up with this swing path, the result usually is a "PULL." or sometimes a pull-hook.

Conversely, when the club is swung from underneath the correct swing plane or too far from the inside, your hands and arms, if they are relaxed, will have an involuntary tendency to rotate too quickly usually causing the clubface to prematurely close at impact, thus causing a "HOOK." If the face doesn't shut down, the result usually is a "PUSH."

The best ball strikers, whether they hit a draw, a straight ball, or a fade, have an ability to swing the club consistently on a path that allows them to naturally release the club without consciously manipulating their hands, arms or club. This can be accomplished effortlessly when the club is swung on the correct path. The Inside Approach is designed to help golfers of all levels, from beginners to Tour Players, understand and be aware of where their swing path needs to be.

The Inside Approach is uniquely designed to give you safe and immediate feedback with its breakaway cushion. The following pictures and captions will help you identify your swing path and help you understand how and where the club needs to be swung for you to achieve your desired ball flight.

	Advanced Uses If you really want to challenge yourself, using 2 Inside Approaches can be extremely effective. Place 1 Inside Approach with the cushion away from the target line with the ball directly under the snap-on-clip. > < Place the other Inside Approach on the inside with the cushion also away from the target line. This will appear intimidating but if you want to make sure the club approaches the ball on a perfect path (not too steep and not too far underneath) this can be a very effective way to know if you can accomplish the task. The club has returned right down the “slot.”
	Another Advanced Use for 2 Inside Approaches The Purpose: To learn how to feel "Level" Through the Shot < Using 2 Inside Approaches assures you don't swing the club too far to the inside going back and/or coming down as well as encourage you to finish your circle back to the correct forward side of the arc. This is a great practice station to learn to keep the club in front of you on both sides. Very effective for learning to stay “level” through the shot. Notice how low I'm forced to swing my hands, arms and club through the shot. >