Where do you think the hands should travel during the forward swing? Should they move inside out, or inside square and back inside? During a recent lesson with a new student I asked this very question. I was told he had been taught to swing the hands down the target line towards the target post impact.

Most golfers fail to realize what should happen or mislead when they begin moving towards impact. You should imagine the swing pattern rotating around a fixed point, which is your spine. When this happens the club will make contact with the golf ball when it reaches the apex of the circle and will then continue to exit around and on the circular path. When pressure points of upper arms and torso are maintained you should feel arms and body are working as a unit. If you attempt to swing the golf club towards your target the golf club will then be thrown out of its natural orbit around the body causing speed reduction and also requiring a great deal of timing to square the golf club upon impact.

I suggest you try this drill. Set up to the ball just like you would if you were making a golf swing. From this position turn the torso and arms until your hands are directly in front of your right pocket. Keeping both elbows straight, make the same rotary move back towards the golf ball and over the left pocket. Notice how the hands seem to travel around the waist ( or beltline) . I think you will understand the correct hand path when performing this drill and why you should not swing down the target line during the forward swing. Give it a try !