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Putting hard work and effort into fine-tuning your backswing is an investment every aspiring golf player should be willing to do.

There are many tips and tricks that can help you develop better form and aim.  But the best overall advice is to stick with the basics, especially if you are a beginner
or even an amateur golfer.

Every golfer wants to hit the ball with as much power and
accuracy as he or she can possibly muster up, of course
without sacrificing form and balance. So in order to accomplish
this, you must be able to give the ball everything you’ve got,
but without “coming over the top”, as it is commonly referred to.

This term describes a swing flaw which causes the clubhead to
veer off to the outside of your target line during the downswing.
The result of such a shot? A horrendous slice.

Come From The Inside

To avoid such a terminal shot, you must learn how to avoid
coming over the top and keeping your clubhead from moving
outside of the target line. This can be accomplished by simply
working on a technique which is opposite of coming over the top:
come at the ball from the inside.

The most accurate and powerful of golfers can accomplish this
each and every time they try, but coming at the ball from the
inside may be easier said than done for the beginner golf player.
Practice is key and once you get the hang of it, you can rid
yourself of that terrible slice shot by making impact with the
ball from a downswing which comes from the inside of the target
line ever so slightly.

How To Train Yourself

There are drills that you can practice which will help you train
yourself so that you can come from the inside on your swing whenever
needed. Below is a simple training procedure known as a swing path drill:

1. Take 3 tees and placed them into the turf approximately 3 to 4
inches apart from one another, and in a perfect line at a 45° angle
with your target line. If you are a right-handed golfer then the
line should be pointing to your left foot. Make sure that you have
enough room in between each tee so that you can swing the club through.

2.  Now it is time to find your swing path. Take out your 5-iron
and initiate a few swings by attempting to hit the top portion of
the middle tee. In order to do so, your clubhead must pass between
the outside tees in a pathway best described as “in-to-out” in order
to avoid contact with them.

By practicing this technique and hitting the middle tee in this
fashion on a consistent basis, you are making contact correctly
from the inside. If you happen to hit the outside tees then you
are still coming over the top and need more practice on your swing.
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Hit ‘em straight

Ben

I know, it sounds like a Steve Miller song: Swing Plane”

But it’s not. The swing plane is a term used to describe the path that your
club travels in when you make your swing.

Here’s how to visualize it - The next time you are on the course playing with a friend, take a look at the angle in which his club shaft meets with the ground.

Have your friend then make a practice swing in slow motion.
You’ll notice that the angle of the club shaft goes behind, down, and through, all in a relatively constant motion.
That would be your friend’s individual swing plane.
Every golf player has his or her own unique swing plane.
What Is The Best Swing Plane To Have?

There is no right or wrong swing plane. Some golfer’s angles come in steep, while others are shallow. Although not set in stone, you’ll notice that shorter people whom use standard length golf clubs will have a shallow swing plane. And taller men and women who use standard length clubs tend to show a steep swing plane in comparison.

Of course these are just generalities but you’ll find them to be true with at least 75% of those playing golf.

Here’s another thing that which may affect a person’s swing plane -  Joint stiffness and flexibility.  ( I have alot of the first and not much of the second )

In general, older men and women who have tighter joints will also have a steeper swing plane, even if they are considered short, as compared to younger players or older persons who are very flexible.
The Type Of Club Also Makes A Difference

A golf player’s swing plane may also be affected by the size and type of golf club being used. For example, when a player is using a sand wedge (a very short club as compared to a driver), they will have a considerably steeper swing plane than when
using the driver. In fact, the driver is the longest golf club in your bag and will always have the flattest swing plane.

You can use different swing planes, each with good success, but here is the key:
Never allow your swing plane to vary too much during the swing.
I mean, it’s OK if your backswing tends to be a little steeper than your downswing, so long as they have exaggerated differences.

Here a “Last Minute Tip”:

Achieving  the right swing plane will be determined by your position, or setup. Try not to stand too close to the ball and never tilt your upper torso too far to the left (right-handed golfers), or too far to the right (left-handed golfers). Doing so will make your swing plane
a bit too steep.

Hit ‘em Straight

Ben