Outside the line

At the end of last year, my ball striking had got very erratic (more erratic than usual!!). The "orthodox" swing just doesn't seem to work for me. I lack the flexibility, at my age, to make a full shoulder turn, in the way recommended by teachers and most instruction books.

I decided to try an idea from the book "Swing Like A Pro", which entails taking the club back way outside the line and looping back to the inside on the downswing. I was able to make a full turn and, get back to the ball on the inside track and started to strike the ball very well.

Not having played much during the winter, I decided to have a lesson, recently, and the first thing the pro did was to "cure" my outside the line takeaway. As a result, my ball striking has gone to pot again. I'm blocking, pulling and a whole load of other poor shots

Using this extreme outside the line takeaway really worked for me. Has any member successfully used this unorthodox takeaway? I believe this was the way that Lee Trevino swung the club and he is one of the best ball strikers ever.

hi
yes your right that Trevino did take the club head back on a plane that his feet set but on the downswing he slid his hips to the target and brought the swing down in an in to out swing and he pushed his hand away from the body.
i would only think this would work if you had an open stance like i use, if you did it with a normal square stance you would have to stretch to push the club back and out and you tend to want to pull it in to much on the down swing.
the Trevino system does work and works well. try and get his book "Lee Trevino Swing My Way." one other swing to look at is Mindy Blake as he used an open stance and very like Trevino but don't take it back outside.
if i can help you any more just ask, i started playing Trevino's system in 1978 so i do know it really well.
cheers
bill

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Hi Bill,

Thanks for your reply.

In fact, I did have Trevino's book a few years ago and tried his method. It didn't work for me as I found I sliced like crazy using it.

With the current method, I stand square. I do have to stretch out a lot and get a pronounced disconnection between arms and body. However, this really helps me get a wider arc and full shoulder turn. There's no doubt that I'm well above plane on the backswing but, I seem to get into the correct position at the top. I don't pull the ball and most shots have a slight draw with good distance.

I've, actually, just bought Joe Hagan's book "Nail it with 3skills golf". I like his ideas on the golf swing. He compares several top players who have different grips and swings. It's reassuring to know that I'm not trying to reinvent the golf swing

hi again Alan
with Trevino you have to use your left knee and that has to break to the target before you start your downswing. if you don't use your legs and hips you slice. i don't know to much about 3SK but Brian W is always very helpful about any questions asked about 3Sk and there and many more on her that use it and it has help there game.
you can't use 3SK with the Trevino system as you don't turn the wrists using Trevino's system.
cheers
bill

Sounds like Jim Furyk to me - a swing coaches' nightmare. Low and outside takeaway with a 'sudden jerk to the top' then a loop inside.

This is a coincidence! I have been using the 3sk and done really well with the irons. Then, I lost it altogether. I was swinging back far too much inside the line. I could not seem to cure it. But I have been 2 days down the range now. I seem to be doing something like you have been (I am a bit stiff also) and hey presto, I am hitting the ball nicely again. Hope it lasts.
Bri

Thanks for all the replies. Go Low I found your description very informative.

If ever there was a game that demonstrates "cause and effect", then golf is, surely, the ultimate example. I played, this morning, and tried to incorporate the 3Sk principles into my swing. Unfortunately, after a couple of holes my outside the line takeaway, combined with 3sk. started producing severe pull hooks. As I was playing in a team, I was in danger of wrecking our chances of posting a good score. In desperation, I reverted to the orthodox takeaway and started striking the ball well. My team managed to finish 3rd overall, after I got rid of the pull hook.

Back to the drawing board (again)