Fixing an Inside-Out Golf Swing

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Common Faults & Fixes

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Quick Answer

• Your grip and takeaway are the usual suspects for an inside-out swing. Get those dialed in.
• Focus on clubface control through impact. That’s where the magic happens.
• Practice drills that build a neutral or slightly closed clubface at the top of your backswing.

Who This Is For

• Golfers who find their ball flight consistently veering right (if you’re a righty) or feel like they’re “cutting” across the ball.
• Anyone looking to tighten up their accuracy and gain distance by ditching the hooks or slices that come from an overly inside-out path.

What to Check First

• Your Grip: This is foundational, man. Make sure it’s neutral or maybe a tad strong. A weak grip can easily lead to an open clubface and send you down the inside-out road.
• Your Stance: Keep it square to your target. Feet, hips, shoulders – all pointing where you want the ball to go. An open stance can trick you into swinging too much from the inside.
• Your Takeaway: Watch yourself in a mirror or on video. Are you yanking the club inside too fast? Or is it getting too steep right off the bat? That initial move sets the whole tone.
• Clubface at the Top: Once the club’s at the peak of your backswing, what’s the clubface doing? Ideally, it’s pointing skyward or slightly down. Wide open here is usually trouble.

How to Fix an Inside-Out Golf Swing

Alright, let’s get this swing path sorted. It’s all about feel and a bit of focused practice. Think of it like tuning up your favorite truck – a few adjustments and it runs like a dream.

1. Action: Assess your current grip.

What to look for: When you grip the club, your palms should be facing each other, and your thumbs should point down the shaft. For a neutral grip, you should see about two to three knuckles on your lead hand (left hand for righties) when you look down at it. This grip promotes a more square or slightly closed clubface.
Mistake: A grip that’s too weak (where the hands are rotated too far counter-clockwise for a righty) will often lead to an open clubface throughout the swing, forcing compensations. Conversely, a grip that’s too strong (hands rotated too far clockwise) can sometimes lead to “flipping” the wrists at impact, which also causes issues. Getting this right is step one.

2. Action: Practice a neutral takeaway.

What to look for: As you start your backswing, the clubhead should move away from the ball smoothly. The clubhead should stay slightly outside your hands for the first foot or so, and then it should start to lift. Imagine drawing a small arc that goes slightly outward before going upward. This prevents the club from getting trapped behind you.
Mistake: Taking the club back too far inside right away is a massive culprit for an inside-out path. This often happens when you try to “pull” the club inside with your hands. It traps the club and forces you to come over the top or swing excessively from the inside on the downswing.

3. Action: Focus on clubface awareness at the top.

What to look for: At the highest point of your backswing, take a peek at your clubface. Ideally, it should be pointing more towards the sky or slightly down towards the ground. It definitely shouldn’t be wide open, pointing back at you. A clubface that’s pointing towards the sky is often in a good position to deliver a square face at impact.
Mistake: An excessively open or closed clubface at the top of the backswing is a major indicator of what’s to come. If it’s wide open, you’ll likely try to force it shut, leading to an inside-out path and potentially a hook or pull. If it’s too closed, that’s a whole other set of problems.

4. Action: Feel the downswing path.

What to look for: This is where you want to feel like you’re swinging the club down the line towards the target, not around your body. Your hips should initiate the downswing by rotating towards the target. This allows the club to drop into the “slot”—a more neutral position—before swinging out towards the ball. Imagine the club dropping from the inside of your elbow.
Mistake: Trying to “hit from the inside” by forcing the club too far inside the target line with your hands and arms. This often results in a push (if the face is square) or a pull-hook (if the face is closed). You want to swing through the ball, not at it from an extreme inside angle.

5. Action: Practice impact drills.

What to look for: Focus on striking the ball with a neutral or slightly closed clubface. Think of the clubface like a steering wheel. You want it pointed straight down the target line at impact. Imagine the feeling of the clubhead releasing naturally through the shot, not being held off or flipped.
Mistake: “Flipping” your wrists at impact is a common compensation for an improper swing path or an open clubface. This means unhinging your wrists very early and snapping them through the ball. It leads to inconsistent contact, loss of power, and a face that’s hard to control. Instead, focus on rotating your body through the shot, letting the club swing naturally.

6. Action: Use alignment aids.

What to look for: Place an alignment stick on the ground pointing directly at your target. Practice your swing, ensuring your club path is moving along that line or slightly inside-out relative to your body, but moving towards the target.
Mistake: Relying on visual cues alone can be misleading. Using an alignment stick provides a concrete reference point, helping you feel the correct path and avoid unconsciously aiming your body or swing incorrectly.

7. Action: Film your swing.

What to look for: Use your phone to record your swing from face-on and down-the-line angles. Look for how the club moves in the takeaway, at the top of the backswing, and the path it takes on the downswing. Compare it to professionals or instructional videos.
Mistake: Guessing what you’re doing wrong. Video doesn’t lie. It provides objective feedback on your swing mechanics, helping you identify the specific issues causing your inside-out path and confirming if your changes are working.

Common Mistakes

• Over-the-top move — This is the opposite of what we’re fixing, but it’s a common mistake related to path issues. It causes an outside-in swing path, leading to slices. — Focus on a takeaway that brings the club inside the hands, not outside, and ensure your downswing starts from the ground up, allowing the club to drop into the slot.
• Casting the club — This means releasing the wrist hinge too early in the downswing, losing potential lag and power. It can lead to an inside-out path if you try to compensate. — Practice drills that encourage maintaining lag, like the “pump drill,” where you make a backswing and then feel like you’re dropping the club into the slot before swinging through.
• Flipping the wrists at impact — This is a huge one for inside-out swingers. You’re trying to square the clubface by snapping your wrists, but it leads to inconsistency and loss of control. — Focus on rotating your body through the shot. Think of your arms and the club as a unit that swings, guided by your core rotation.
• Trying to “hit the ball from the inside” too aggressively — While a neutral to slightly inside-out path is good, overdoing it by forcing the club way inside the target line is a problem. — Focus on swinging towards the target, not around your body. Let the natural body rotation guide the club.
• Not checking your grip — This is the simplest fix, but often overlooked. A weak or strong grip can sabotage your swing path before you even start. — Make it a habit to check your grip before every practice session and round. Ensure it’s neutral.

FAQ

• What exactly is an inside-out golf swing?

An inside-out golf swing means the club approaches the ball from the inside of the target line and then travels out towards the right of the target line through impact (for a right-handed golfer). It’s a path relative to the target line.

• How does an inside-out swing affect my ball flight?

A neutral inside-out path with a square clubface typically produces a nice draw, which many golfers desire. However, if your clubface is open at impact with an inside-out path, you’ll likely see a push or a push-slice. If the clubface is closed, you’re looking at a hook or a pull-hook.

• What are the most common causes of an inside-out swing?

The usual suspects are a weak grip, taking the club back too far inside, an overly open stance, and a tendency to roll the wrists too early in the downswing. Sometimes, it’s a combination of these.

• Can I fix an inside-out swing on my own, or do I need a pro?

You absolutely can fix it yourself with dedicated practice and attention to the key areas: grip, takeaway, and clubface control. Watching videos of your swing is a huge help. Of course, a few lessons from a qualified instructor can speed up the process significantly and provide personalized feedback.

• How often should I practice these drills to see results?

Consistency is the name of the game. Aim for short, focused practice sessions several times a week rather than one marathon session. Even 15-20 minutes of deliberate practice on your grip and takeaway can make a big difference over time.

• Should I try to swing outside-in instead to fix this?

No, that’s not the goal. An outside-in path usually leads to slices. The ideal swing path for most golfers is neutral or slightly inside-out with a square clubface. We’re trying to correct an excessive inside-out path, not flip to the opposite extreme.

• Will correcting my inside-out swing path help me hit the ball further?

Yes, most likely. By creating a more consistent and efficient swing path, you’ll improve your strike quality and allow the clubface to deliver more energy to the ball. A better strike and a more neutral path often translate to more accurate and longer shots.

Sources:

• Correcting an Outside-In Golf Swing