How to Fix an Out-to-In Golf Swing

That weak, high slice that disappears into the trees on the right? The pulled iron shot that misses the green left? For so many golfers, these frustrations stem from a single, deeply rooted issue: the out-to-in swing path. This common fault not only makes it nearly impossible to hit a powerful draw but also leads to the kind of inconsistency that can turn a good round into a struggle. In this article, we’ll break down exactly what an out-to-in swing is, a few of the core reasons it happens, and most importantly, give you a practical, step-by-step game plan with drills you can use today to fix it for good.

What Exactly is an Out-to-In Swing Path?

Imagine a straight line running from behind your golf ball, through the ball, and directly toward your target - this is the "target line." In an ideal golf swing, your club head approaches the ball from slightly inside this line, makes contact with the ball squarely at the line, and continues back to the inside of the line after impact. This is called an “in-to-out” or “in-to-square-to-in” path, and it’s what allows you to hit powerful, controlled shots.

An out-to-in swing is the exact opposite. Your club head approaches the ball from outside the target line, cuts across the ball at an angle, and finishes to the inside of the target line. This "over-the-top" motion, as it’s often called, puts a glancing blow on the golf ball.

The result? It almost always leads to one of two undesirable shots:

• The Slice: If your clubface is open relative to that out-to-in path, it creates sidespin that sends the ball curving weakly to the right (for a right-handed golfer). This is the most common result and the bane of many amateurs' existence.
• The Pull: If you manage to get your clubface square to the path (but still left of the target), you'll hit a pull - a shot that starts left of the target and stays there.

Essentially, the out-to-in path robs you of power and control. Instead of delivering a solid strike, you're wiping across the ball, making a consistent, powerful impact incredibly difficult to achieve.

The Root Causes: Why an Out-to-In Swing Happens

To fix the problem, you first have to understand why you’re doing it. An out-to-in swing isn't random, it's a compensation. Here are a few of the most frequent reasons golfers develop this habit.

It All Starts at the Top

For most golfers, the out-to-in mistake happens in the first fraction of a second of the downswing. The natural, but incorrect, instinct is to generate power by firing your arms and shoulders at the ball from the top of your swing. This sudden, aggressive lurch from the upper body throws the club "over the top," pushing it outside the ideal swing plane and onto that dreaded out-to-in path. The body's proper swing sequence - hips, torso, then arms - is reversed, and from that point on, a slice or pull is almost guaranteed.

Your Setup Might Be Setting You Up for Failure

Your swing path often just follows the lines you create at address. A very common setup flaw is aiming your shoulders open to the target line - meaning your left shoulder is pulled back and your shoulders are aimed well to the left of the target (for a right-hander). While your feet might be aimed correctly, your body is effectively pre-set for an out-to-in swing. Without realizing it, you’ve told your body to swing "across" the ball before you even begin.

Ball position can also contribute. Placing the ball too far forward in your stance for an iron shot can encourage you to reach for it, which in turn can lead to that over-the-top motion as you try to get the club back to the ball.

Your Hips Aren't Doing Their Job

A powerful and on-plane golf swing is initiated by the lower body. The downswing should begin with a slight bump and rotation of your hips toward the target. This movement creates space for your arms and the club to drop down into the "slot" - the perfect inside position from which to attack the ball. However, if your lower body remains passive or "stalls," your arms and shoulders have nowhere to go but out and over the top. Without this lower body lead, there simply is not enough room to make an inside-out swing happen.

The Fix: Your Step-by-Step Guide to an In-to-Out Path

Now for the good part: actually fixing it. Changing a swing a path is about retraining your brain and body with new feelings and intentions. These drills are designed to do exactly that, helping you replace the "over-the-top" feel with the correct "from-the-inside" feel.

Drill 1: The Headcover Gate

This is one of the most effective and time-tested drills for fixing an out-to-in path because it provides instant, unmissable feedback.

1. The Setup: Address a ball as you normally would. Now, take an extra object - a a headcover works great, but a rolled-up towel or even an empty water bottle will do - and place it on the ground about a foot behind and three inches outside your ball.
2. The Goal: Your mission is simple: swing and hit the golf ball without hitting the headcover.
3. The Feedback: If you come over the top, you'll slam right into the headcover on your downswing. To avoid it, you are physically forced to shallow out your club and approach the ball from the inside. This drill makes the correct path unavoidable. Start with slow, half-swings, just to get the feel of missing the headcover. Gradually build up to full, smooth swings as you gain confidence.

Drill 2: The Exaggerated Stance

Sometimes, the best way to fix a fault is to feel its complete opposite. This drill uses your setup to basically eliminate the possibility of swinging out-to-in.

1. The Setup: Get into your normal stance with an iron. Now, drop your trail foot (your right foot for a right-handed player) straight back about 6 to 12 inches. Your feet will now be in a very "closed" position, pointing to the right of your target.
2. The Feel: From this stance, go ahead and hit some shots. It will feel almost impossible to come over the top. Your body is now positioned to make a very rounded, in-to-out swing.
3. The Takeaway: The goal here isn't to hit perfect shots, it’s to engrain the feeling of the club swinging around your body and "out to the right" toward your target. You might even hit some big hooks - and that's a good thing! It means you are successfully swinging from the inside. It’s a powerful feeling to latch onto when you return to your normal stance.

Drill 3: Feel the Sequence (No Club Needed at First)

This drill is all about reprogramming the start of your downswing, putting the lower body back in charge.

1. The Setup: Get into your golf posture, but you don't need a club for this. Cross your arms over your chest.
2. The Move: Make a full backswing turn. Now, pause a the top. To start the downswing, your very first thought should be to gently rotate your lead hip (your left hip for a righty) back and toward the target. It’s not a violent spin, but a smooth unwinding motion.
3. The Sensation: Feel how this initial hip move encourages your torso and then your arms to follow in sequence. The mantra is Hips -> Torso -> Arms. This is the exact opposite of the “Arms -> Torso -> Hips” sequence that causes the over-the-top move. Practice this slowly and repeatedly until the feeling of the lower body initiating the downswing becomes familiar. Then, try to replicate that same feeling when you have a club in your hands.

Bringing Your New Swing to the Course

Transferring a new swing feel from the driving range to the golf course can be a challenge. The key is to keep it simple. Don't bog yourself down with a dozen mechanical thoughts. Instead, choose just one swing key or feeling from the drills. Maybe it’s the thought "swing out to right field" that you picked up from the exaggerated stance drill, or "wait for the drop" to remind you to let the club shallow. Trust the work you’ve put in and focus on making a free, confident swing with your chosen thought. Be patient with yourself. A swing path is a deep-seated habit, and it takes time and countless repetitions to build trust in a new one. Stick with it, and the results will follow.

Final Thoughts

Fixing an out-to-in swing path comes down to replacing a rushed, upper-body dominated motion with a patient one that's sequenced from the ground up. By understanding why you're coming over the top and consistently practicing drills that force you to approach the ball from the inside, you can say goodbye to that persistent slice and start hitting solid, powerful draws.

While these drills build the correct muscle memory, getting a second opinion in real-time can accelerate your progress immensely. That’s a big reason why we created Caddie AI. As you practice, you can ask questions about why a certain drill feels odd or describe a shot to get immediate, personalized feedback on what to adjust. When you’re back on the course and old habits sneak back in, our app can give you a quick, objective opinion to help you get back on track without the technical overload.