Golf Swing

Question
Dear Mr. Smith,

Im a right-handed golfer with a handicap or 17. for the last several years I have been working hard at coming into the ball from the inside to square on my downswing.  I still notice though (at the driving range), that all my divots from my iron shots point somewhat to the left of my target line...so I think Im still going from outside to in on my downswing.  Oddly enough though, I almost never slice the ball and my shots are usually fairly straight (but straight left) of where I'm aiming (on a 150 yard shot, my ball will land about 10-15 yards left of my target ...my long irons though (4 and 3) will often fade.  My driver will often fade but never slice.

If Im coming into the ball from the outside, I dont understand why the ball isnt slicing.  I would just like more accuracy.  Is there a drill you can give me that I could go practice at the driving range to perfect this inside to square downswing.  Its so frustrating that I still cant hit straight to my target line even after all these years.  Thank you so much.

Germain
P.S.  What I often do is simply aim right of my intended target line but this doesnt always work as sometimes I do hit it straight and then Im in the woods.

Answer
germain,  I am sorry for the long delay but i have been on vacation and i forgot to suspend this account while i was away.  

Let me first start out by telling you that the golf swing is really really a simple thing and a natural thing to do.  Most every teacher you find makes it so complicated that you will never find what's right by listening to them.  I will first tell you a probable reason why you can swing and hit the ball without slicing with you divot and it is as simple as the club face is square at impact.  Slicing comes from either using your shoulders actively or using your right hand with more force than your left hand at the top of the golf swing.  your grip and your swing probably found a good match which allows you to have success with your particular swing which has allowed you to have some success hitting the ball straight with your swing path.  That is what the body will do every time if you allow it too.  The only way you can ever attain perfect control is to learn to hit the ball on the clubface low and inside.  I have spent many many many years learning how each of the greatest golfers of the past have hit the ball.  you can achieve perfectly controlled shots every time but you have to learn for yourself how they are done.  

I am going to tell you a couple of things to work on that will give you some success instantly.  These are things that you absolutely must have to obtain your best swing no matter what you do with your swing for consistency.  In no particular order,  you absolutely must choose whether you will swing as easy as you can or as hard as you can.  anything in between will cause fits and you will always worry about your timing.  by swinging as fast as you can you eliminate the need to time your swing and you will actually find it real easy to control.  This is the same as swinging as light and easy as you can.  both of these when learned right will automatically yield an inside out swing. The inside out swing which is what you are after will happen if you follow some simple rules and i will give you two that will put you on the right path.  When you have a decision and tell me whether you will swing slow or fast i can give you advice along the way but for now i will tell you that no matter how you swing you absolutely positively must learn to take the golf club straight back and as low to the ground for as long as you can without moving your right leg or rightside to the right as you take the club back.  If you are trying to copy anyones swing this will be difficult to get down.  If this is the only thing you think about during or before you swing you will improve by a lot.  In fact, you can try to drag the club back.  You see this automatically sets your body up so that you will never slice again and as long as you don't interfere with the rest of the swing will assure you of never hitting from the outside again.  The goal in the golf swing is simply this KEEP YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GOLF SWING.

The golf grip and stance will go along way to determine your swing and the grip is so crucial to your success that it cant be overstated from the proper pressure to where you place each hand but i must make a strong caution that you must NEVER ever think about this or it will ruin your swing.  90% of all of your problems come from setup and improper use of your right hand.  the left hand is power and the right is turbo and direction. think about driving a car if you gas it too hard at the start you spinout (right hand) don't over power the left and don't under power it but under power is far better than overpowering the left.  Basically it is better to learn to not use the right hand than to use it improperly.  You can hit the ball straight without the right hand and very far and shoot par or better very easily but you will have trouble with pulls or weak right shots especially in the woods at times.  the goal on the grip is simply this--to have a grip where both hands act as one hand and also allows the wrists and arms and shoulders to act/move as they were intended too.  

This is plenty of stuff to think about and work on anymore and it will not be as effective.  they are very simple things to learn as long as you think that they are.  The golf swing is simple you just have to learn to get out of the way.

Enjoy golf, think positive, and forget what you think you know and let it happen because it will. Remember long and low back and think nothing else.
         thanks for the question and let me know how it goes Jay