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Inside-Out Golf Swing Technique

ByMichael Reeves

← Golf Instruction & Improvement | Swing Mechanics & Fundamentals


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Quick Answer

  • Focus on shallowing the club on your backswing to set up an inside path.
  • Initiate the downswing with your hips, driving the club from the inside through impact.
  • Practice drills to ingrain the feeling of an inside-out clubhead delivery for more power and straighter shots.

Who This Is For

  • Golfers who struggle with a slice or a weak fade and want to fix it.
  • Players looking to add more distance and achieve a controlled draw.
  • Anyone seeking to improve their ball striking consistency and power.

What to Check First

  • Your Grip: Ensure it’s neutral or slightly strong. A weak grip is a major roadblock to an inside-out path. Check the “V”s on your hands; they should point towards your right shoulder.
  • Your Stance: Is it wide enough for balance? Are your feet and hips aligned correctly? You want to feel athletic, not stiff.
  • Your Posture: Can you turn your shoulders freely? A hunched or rigid posture will restrict your swing.
  • Your Takeaway: Are you lifting the club too much or too quickly inside? A smooth, wide takeaway is key to shallowing the club.

Step-by-Step Plan: How to Swing Inside Out Golf

This is where the magic happens. It’s not about hacking at the ball; it’s about building a better motion. Let’s break down how to swing inside out golf style.

1. Action: Set your grip.

What to look for: For a right-handed golfer, the “V” formed by your thumb and index finger on your lead hand (left hand) should point towards your right shoulder. The same applies to your trail hand (right hand). This promotes a stronger position at the top.
Mistake to avoid: Gripping too weakly, where the “V”s point more towards your chin, makes it incredibly difficult to deliver the club from the inside and often results in an open clubface at impact, leading to that dreaded slice. I’ve seen plenty of buddies struggle with this.

2. Action: Establish your stance and alignment.

What to look for: Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, feeling balanced. Your body, including your feet, hips, and shoulders, should be aligned slightly to the right of your intended target line. This subtle shift encourages an inside-out swing path.
Mistake to avoid: Aligning perfectly square to the target can subconsciously encourage an over-the-top, outside-in swing. You’re setting yourself up for success by aiming your body right.

3. Action: Execute your takeaway.

What to look for: Start the club back smoothly, keeping the clubhead outside your hands for as long as possible. Think of a wide, sweeping motion. The goal here is to begin shallowing the club on the backswing, setting it on a lower plane.
Mistake to avoid: Lifting the club straight up or pulling it too far inside the line of your feet early in the backswing will make it nearly impossible to get the club back on the correct inside path during the downswing. It’s like setting yourself up for failure before you even get to the top.

4. Action: Reach the top of your backswing.

What to look for: At the top, you want to feel like the club is “laid off” or pointing slightly inside the target line. This is a result of a good shoulder turn and a shallowing motion. Your weight should be predominantly on your trail leg.
Mistake to avoid: A steep backswing, where the club is pointing outside the target line at the top, is a sure sign you’ll come over the top. This is a common issue and requires focus on the takeaway and shoulder turn.

5. Action: Initiate the downswing with your lower body.

What to look for: The downswing should be initiated by your hips and legs, feeling like they are unwinding towards the target. This “sequencing” helps drop the club into the slot, allowing it to approach the ball from the inside.
Mistake to avoid: Starting the downswing with your arms or shoulders, often called “casting” or “coming over the top,” will force the club onto an outside-in path. Resist the urge to hit at the ball with your hands.

6. Action: Deliver the clubhead through impact.

What to look for: Feel like you are swinging the clubhead through the ball and towards your target, with the club releasing naturally. The club should be moving from the inside of the target line to the outside. Imagine swinging towards a point well to the right of your target.
Mistake to avoid: Trying to “help” the ball, scoop it, or manipulate the clubface at impact will kill your power and consistency. Trust the swing you’ve built and let the club do the work.

7. Action: Practice with specific drills.

What to look for: Use drills like the “gate drill” with alignment sticks or headcovers placed on the ground to create a channel for the club to swing through. Focus on feeling the clubhead approach from the inside and exit out to the right.
Mistake to avoid: Mindlessly hitting balls at the range without a clear focus on the inside-out path won’t ingrain the correct motion. Be deliberate with your practice.

Achieving an Inside-Out Golf Swing: Drills and Feel

Getting the feel for an inside-out swing is crucial. It’s not just about mechanics; it’s about kinesthetic awareness. You need to feel the club approaching from the “correct” direction.

  • The Gate Drill: Place two alignment sticks or headcovers on the ground, forming a small “gate” just outside the ball and just inside the ball. The goal is to swing the clubhead through this gate from the inside. If you hit the outside stick, you’re likely coming over the top. If you hit the inside stick, you might be getting too far inside. This drill forces you to be precise with your path.
  • The Towel Drill: Place a towel under your trail arm (right arm for a righty) and try to keep it there throughout the backswing and into the downswing. This promotes a connected swing and helps prevent your arms from separating too early, which often leads to an over-the-top move. Maintaining connection helps you drop the club into the slot.
  • The Punch Shot: Practice hitting controlled punch shots. These shots naturally require a shallower, more inside-out swing path to keep the ball low and penetrating. Focusing on a smooth, compact swing for these shots can help you feel the proper motion.
  • Visualizing the Path: Imagine you’re trying to hit the ball out towards second base (for a right-handed golfer). This mental image can help you commit to swinging outwards through impact, rather than across the ball.
  • Hip Rotation Focus: Pay close attention to your hip turn in the downswing. If your hips aren’t leading the charge, your arms will likely take over and force an outside-in path. Feel your hips unwinding aggressively towards the target.

Troubleshooting Your Inside-Out Golf Swing

Sometimes, even with the best intentions, things go awry. Don’t get discouraged; most golfers go through this. Here are some common issues and how to fix them.

  • Feeling like you’re swinging too far right: If you feel like you’re swinging wildly out to the right, you might be overcompensating. Focus on the hip rotation. Ensure your hips are clearing and leading the downswing smoothly, rather than just trying to steer the clubhead out there.
  • Clubface is still open despite the path: This is a common problem. You might have the right path but are releasing the club too early or have an incorrect grip. Revisit your grip, ensuring it’s neutral to strong. Also, focus on maintaining your wrist hinge longer in the downswing and releasing the club through impact, not at it.
  • Lack of lag and power loss: If you feel like you’re losing all your speed at the top and hitting weak shots, it’s likely you’re starting the downswing with your upper body. Focus on that lower body initiation. Feel your hips start to turn before your arms drop. This creates lag and allows for a powerful release.
  • Ball starts left and stays left (or hooks uncontrollably): This indicates you might be swinging too far inside and the clubface is closing too much relative to your path. Check your grip again, and ensure you’re not “flipping” your wrists at impact. A slight adjustment to your body alignment might also be needed.

Common Mistakes

  • Swinging Over the Top — This is the cardinal sin for an inside-out swing. It causes slices, pulls, and a massive loss of power. Fix: Focus intently on shallowing the club on the backswing and initiating the downswing with your hips.
  • Casting the Club — Releasing the wrist hinge too early in the downswing. This kills lag, power, and makes consistent contact nearly impossible. Fix: Concentrate on maintaining your wrist hinge longer and feeling the club “drop” into the slot.
  • Too Steep of a Backswing — If your club is pointing outside the target line at the top, you’re in trouble. This almost guarantees an outside-in path. Fix: Work on a wider takeaway and ensuring a full shoulder turn.
  • Trying to Force a Draw — Some golfers get so focused on hitting a draw that they try to manipulate the clubface. This often leads to unintended hooks or blocks. Fix: Focus on achieving the correct inside-out path first. The draw will often happen naturally if your clubface is square to that path.
  • Poor Ball Position — If the ball is too far forward or back in your stance, it can disrupt your swing path. Fix: For most golfers, the ball should be slightly forward of center, aligned with the logo on your lead sleeve.
  • Inadequate Hip Turn — A restricted hip turn in the backswing or an early “spinning out” of the hips in the downswing can lead to an outside-in motion. Fix: Focus on a full, controlled shoulder turn in the backswing and a smooth, powerful unwinding of the hips in the downswing.

FAQ

  • What is an inside-out golf swing?

An inside-out golf swing describes the path the clubhead travels on relative to the target line. It means the club approaches the ball from “inside” the target line and swings “outward” towards the right of the target (for a right-handed golfer) through impact. This path is the foundation for hitting a draw and is generally more powerful than an outside-in path.

  • How do I know if I’m swinging inside out?

The most common indicator is the ball flight. If you’re swinging inside-out with a square clubface, you’ll typically hit a draw – the ball starts slightly right of your target and curves back towards it. You might also feel like you’re swinging “out towards right field” through impact. Launch monitors like TrackMan can also provide precise data on your swing path.

  • What is the proper grip for an inside-out swing?

A neutral to slightly strong grip is generally recommended. For a right-handed golfer, this means rotating your left hand slightly clockwise on the club (so more knuckles are visible) and your right hand slightly counter-clockwise. This grip helps promote a stronger clubface position and encourages the club to approach from the inside.

  • Will an inside-out swing always result in a draw?

Not necessarily. While an inside-out path is essential for hitting a draw, the clubface angle at impact is the other critical factor. If your clubface is square to your inside-out path, you’ll hit a straight shot. If the clubface is open relative to your path, you’ll still hit a fade or slice. The goal is to match your clubface to your path.

  • How can I practice the inside-out swing effectively?

Practice drills are key. Use alignment sticks to create a “gate” for your club to swing through, or try hitting shots with your body aligned slightly to the right of the target. Focus on feeling the clubhead approaching from the inside and swinging outwards. Practicing controlled punch shots can also help ingrain this motion.

  • What is the difference between an inside-out swing and a draw?

An inside-out swing is the path the clubhead takes. A draw is the resultant ball flight. You can have an inside-out path and still hit a fade if your clubface is open to that path. Conversely, you can hit a draw with other swing paths if your clubface is significantly closed relative to the path. However, the most consistent and powerful draw is achieved with an inside-out path and a square clubface.

  • Can I achieve an inside-out swing with any club?

Yes, the principles of an inside-out swing apply to all clubs in your bag, from your driver down to your wedges. However, the degree to which you swing inside-out might naturally vary based on the club length and loft. For instance, you’ll typically have a more pronounced inside-out path with your driver than with a short iron.

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