How to Swing Out to the Right in Golf

If you're tired of watching your golf ball tail off to the right in a weak slice or starting left and staying there, you’ve come to the right place. That frustrating shot shape almost always comes from an over-the-top swing that moves from out-to-in, cutting across the ball. This article will show you the fix: learning to swing from the inside, or out to the right, to produce powerful, straight shots and even a desirable draw.

Understanding Your Swing Path: In-to-Out vs. Out-to-In

Before we can fix the problem, we need to understand what's actually happening during your swing. Think of your swing path as the direction the clubhead travels as it approaches and moves through the golf ball. There are two main paths, and they are the root of most peoples’ good and bad shots.

The Dreaded "Out-to-In" Path

This is the slicer's swing. For a right-handed golfer, the clubhead aporoaches the ball from outside the target line (further away from your body) and then cuts across the ball to the inside of the target line (closer to your body) after impact. It’s like a glancing blow. This path is often called "coming over the top" because the golfer's right shoulder and arms lunge forward at the start of the downswing, throwing the club onto a steep, outside track.

The result? Two common misses:

• A slice, where the ball starts left of the target and curves dramatically to the right. This happens when the clubface is open to the out-to-in path.
• A pull, where the ball starts left of the target and flies straight left. This is what you get when your clubface is square or closed to that same out-to-in path.

This path robs you of power and consistency. It feels like you are chopping wood instead of swinging a golf club.

The Powerful "In-to-Out" Path

This is the path of a well-struck golf shot. For a right-handed-golfer, the clubhead approaches the ball from inside the target line (closer to your body) and moves out toward the outside of the target line through impact. In other words, you are swinging “out to the right.”

When you swing from in-to-out, you approach the ball from a shallower angle of attack. The club isn't chopping down, it’s sweeping the ball away flush with rotational force. This path gives you the potential to hit two much better shots:

• A push, where the ball starts right of the target and flies straight. This will occur If your clubface is square to your in-to-out path at impact.
• A draw, where the ball starts a bit right of your target but then gently curves back toward sit. This shot is the result of havling your a clubface that's closed relative to your swingpath. The ability to hit this intentional shot signifies an high level of ownership of your swing.

Swinging your club on a in-to-out-path an isn't a trick shot, it’s the foundation of a powerful and repeatable golf swing, It all aows you tou use rotationall energy instead just thearm and shouldeer s, so can genera te the ki ndof solid conteact that you can feelll right up your arms.

Why Am I Swinging 'Over the Top' in the First Place?

Understanding the cause is the first step toward finding a cure. People don't swing over the top on purpose. It generally stems from a misunderstanding of how power is created in the golf swing. H ere thee commonn culprits :

The Over-Eager Upper Body

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A Poorly-Sequenced Downswing

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How to Groove a Proper In-to-Out Swing Path: Your Action Plan

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Shifting your swing path from out-to-in to a more powerful in-to-out motion is a fundamental change that leads to dramatically better golf. It’s not about hitting one perfect shot, but about grooving a repeatable movement. By focusing on the correct sequence - leading with your hips and letting the club shallow in the transition - and practicing with the focused drills above, you can leave that weak slice behind and start compressing the golf ball with authority.

While these drills are great for building new habits on the range, applying them under pressure on the course is another matter. We created Caddie AI to be that expert partner for you in those moments. If you find yourself in a tricky spot and the old "over-the-top" move wants to creep back in, you can get instant, objective advice. Snap a photo of a tough lie or ask for a smart strategy to play a hole, and our system gives you a clear plan. That clarity takes the guesswork out of the shot, freeing you up to make a confident swing based on the new, correct feelings you've been working on.