Driving · Drill
Make Room to Swing From the Inside
Part of our driving programs for slice, push or pull. Build a program with it
If your downswing comes outside the line, you need room to drop the club in. Here are a few ways to train it. Let the club fall into the slot before you turn. Keep your trail elbow close to your side early in the downswing. And put something soft just outside the ball, so a cutting swing will hit it. Pick the feel that works best for you. Use it in your warm-up until the inside path feels normal.
The drill
- Set a headcover just outside and behind the ball.
- Swing so you miss it on the way down.
- Keep your trail elbow near your side.
- Pause at the top and let your arms drop.
- Mix drill swings with normal shots.
Why it works
A pull usually comes from a downswing path that moves out to in, with the face closed to that path. If the club drops from outside the line, it has to cut across the ball. When the arms drop first and the trail elbow stays near your side, the club has room to approach from the inside. A headcover outside and behind the ball gives you instant feedback, because an outside path hits it.
Common mistakes
- You spin your chest open at the start of the downswing, which throws the club outward.Let your arms drop first, then turn your body through the shot.
- Your trail elbow lifts away from your side and the club gets pushed outside the line.Keep the trail elbow close to your side until your hands are below shoulder height.
- You set the headcover too far from the ball, so you miss it without changing your path.Place it just outside and slightly behind the ball so only a cutting swing would touch it.
How you'll know it's working
- You miss the headcover on every drill swing and still make clean contact.
- Your ball starts on the target line or slightly right of it instead of left.
- Your divot, if you take one, points at or slightly right of the target for a right-hander.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Start with half swings using a short iron, with the headcover a little farther from the ball.
Harder: Use a driver off a tee, move the headcover closer to the ball, and hit shots without pausing at the top.
Common questions
Why do I pull the ball left with my driver?
Most often your club path moves across the ball from outside to in while the face points left of the target. Training the club to drop in from the inside reduces that cut path.
How do I stop coming over the top?
Let your arms drop before your body turns, and keep your trail elbow near your side early in the downswing. A headcover just outside the ball gives you a clear signal when you still cut across.
