Any Baseballers or Softballers out there?

I've been working with a new coach for 14 months or so now. I have a lesson every two (2) to three (3) months with him.

During a lesson in December 2005, we were talking about stuff and my softball background come up. I'd played softball for around about 15 years. Strong upper body, hit a big ball and had a great arm - was centre outfielder.

Coach twigged and said he knew why I had an out to in swing (casting/looping whatever you want to call it). At impact my shoulders were open. I should be behind the ball at impact with square shoulders.

Coach suggested I create this thread for discussion. He has worked with other baseballers and softballers who have this same problem.

We've finally found a key for me to stop casting at the top - being first movement of the down swing. The swing looks great. It's amazing that feel v real do not equate.

If you have the same problem as I, were you a baseballer or softballer in your day?

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VP

I find the key for baseballers is to make the same baseball turn, but with passive arms. We're talking about a one plane swing, here.

I was a baseball player all my life. I took up golf in college. I was able to get down to a 7.5 handicap with just athletic ability and handeye coordination. My problem has always been a slight pull ie coming over the top a little. My miss is still a pull. What I found out is that I needed to get my lower body more involved. By doing that I have dropped my handicap to a 4.5 and actually won my club championshiop in 05. I know what you are going through but if you can get the lower body to start the downswing you will be on the right track.

Lowpost I understand where you're coming from.

My talking point is, softball background is possible reason for an out to in path.

This month I finally found a key that works for me and I was wondering if anyone else who had the same problem, played this sport.

I agree. As a baseballer, I hit with my arms - causing seperation, and an outside-in swing.

First of all, very good question. I've been playing softball for the last 10 years and counting. Before that I played baseball through college. When I first started golf I was still playing baseball in college and state amateur level. I had a totally self-taught swing and my golf ball flight was primarily a fade with a massive duck hook tucked in there at times. I was able to get my game down to a 7 with a little practice and lots of confidence. Cut to ten years ago and I started to play softball full time. Because of the slower ball speed I was constantly pulling balls foul. I taught myself to hit to the opposite field without a major shift right with my body. This is now my primary pattern. When I came back to golf (about 4 months ago) I had a huge problem with a push or wide slice or not being able to get the ball into the air with any club. My golf instructor suggested using a two by four and placing it along side the ball just far enough from the club so that it can pass by without collision. This does seem to help. I also noticed that my best shots come from letting myself swing hard. This can still be done smoothly and in control. Remember this, in order to develop the swing you have in softball you have repeated this pattern thousands, tens of thousands and possibly hundreds of thousands of times. You have an advantage of above average to very good eye hand coordination and muscular control. Use those and don't get discouraged if you are not as good in golf as you are in softball. At least not yet.

Hi Tony,

I'd been working on many things to fix my casting (out to in) at the top of the back swing, including your suggestion of the 4 by 2. I still found I had the problem but I got the club in position at impact without hitting the objects put in place to fix it.

Shoulders need to be square at impact with golf. I was open - as in striking the softball.

I no longer have the casting problem and my shoulders are square at impact. The trajectory of the ball directly after impact is straight or slightly to the right (I'm a r/h).

This is what I do - and on video the swing is spot on. Having said this though I'm feeling something totally different to what is actually happening.

At the top of the back swing my first movement is my hands move across my body - horizontal to the ground, so I'm feeling that they are outside my body (understand so far).

Then I swing the butt of the grip at the ball.

Give it a try if you understand.

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VP