I think a lot of swing thought success has a lot to do with what your natural swing is. I’m a right-hander. My natural swing is a draw, my primary miss is an overdraw left, secondary miss is the dreaded straight ball right.
Swing Keys:
- On setup, “Ass out” - like I’m trying to shit on a wall. Gross, but it helps me straighten my spine and get more upright through the legs.
- Loosen my grip. I have a tendency to grip way too hard.
- “Hideki” - Helps me slow tempo down trying to pause at the top. I don’t really pause anything like Hideki, but the swing thought works.
I don’t really think much about the swing itself. If I do these three things, it’s pretty consistent.
If I’m overdrawing it a lot one morning, I first check my grip to make sure my right hand is on top of the club rather than behind it or sometimes even underneath. Another swing thought that helps is to imagine a 1-square-foot box located about 4 steps ahead of me and 1 step to the right, and I need to hit the ball through that box. In other words, if I’m drawing the ball, my ball flight needs to go to the right a little before it draws back, and that little mental note usually gets me back on track somehow.
If I’m blocking it right, it’s usually because I’m not getting my hips through on impact. A little drill someone told me one time is get in your normal setup and have a friend put the foot right in front of your club. Put the club against their foot (or a wall, or something that won’t move) and turn your hips and shoulders toward your “target” like you would finishing your swing (but your club is still on the ground in the “contact” position). You’re effectively doing a resistance training exercise to teach your body to get closer to that position at impact, and your body will more naturally do it when you swing.