How to Fix Push-Draws and Improve Contact by Tracing the Forward Arc

/ Dennis Sales Golf Academy /

If you're struggling with solid contact and your ball flight tends to be a push or a big draw, you're not alone. One of the most common causes is a hand path and swing arc that exits too far outward often paired with excessive thrust from the lower body.

In this post, I’ll walk you through a series of six key concepts, each supported by a video that demonstrates what to feel and how to train it. These concepts are designed to help you:

  • Improve your hand path

  • Control your swing arc

  • Eliminate unnecessary thrust

  • Create a more repeatable and efficient swing

Let’s break it down.

1. Trace the Forward Arc for Control

Video 1:
Backswing = back, in, and up
Downswing = down, out, and forward
Forward swing = forward, in, and up

This is one of the most overlooked parts of the golf swing. Many players focus heavily on the backswing and downswing, but few understand how critical it is to trace the front side of the arc during the follow-through. Doing this helps reduce curve and control ball flight, especially for those with a high exit.

2. Improve the Arc Around Your Body

Video 2:
This drill improves how the club moves around your body by:

  • Training the arms to work back down through transition

  • Keeping your body centers (head, spine, pelvis) stable and athletic

A overly outward arc often leads to compensations through impact. This drill helps you eliminate those.

3. Stop Thrusting Toward the Target Line

Video 3:
When players thrust the pelvis aggressively toward the target line, they lose control of the exit and swing direction. This move is a killer for consistent contact and direction.

Learn how to identify and control this movement with the help of simple feedback and structure.

4. Lead Shoulder Retraction Drill

Video 4:
Lead shoulder retraction is a crucial move that helps your body open without early extension or sway. It also promotes proper hand path and keeps the upper center rotating efficiently through impact.

This drill shows you how to feel it and rehearse it the right way.

5. Blending the Feels Into Real Swings

Video 5:
Now that you've worked on the individual components, it's time to blend them. This video shows how I combine the feels while hitting actual shots, helping you transition from drills to real play.

6. Add a Trail Leg Check-Rein

Video 6:
This drill adds a feedback station behind the trail leg to:

  • Reinforce the feeling of the arms working properly

  • Prevent early extension or thrust

  • Emphasize lead-side control

It’s a simple but powerful tool to refine your path and posture through the ball.

Want Personalized Help?

If you’re in the Argyle, Texas area (including Denton, Flower Mound, Lantana, and Southlake), I offer private golf lessons, assessments, and advanced training programs at my indoor golf academy.

Not local?
I also offer remote coaching with personalized swing breakdowns, custom drills, and consistent check-ins to help you build a better swing—no matter where you live.

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