making swing shorter and more upright

[mitchdoc]

I am realtively new here and have really been gaining insight into the swing. Thanks for such a great forum Brian!!!!
That said maybe you all can help.

2 critical flaws in my swing are:

While I start my backswing ok I end up having the club follow my shoulders to the inside and end up with a swing that is flat and ultimately also crosses the line.

Additionally it would sem that at the top I get narrow and my hands get way too close to my head causing the club to dip much past parallell.

What can I do to address and work on these 2 problems?
Any drills training aids......

 

[Eminem]

Think of the right arm like a lever..... to set it right it must point at the ground at address so that it can fold without rotation....This way you wont go inside....

Aside from that your level turn of your torso muscles should do the rest....

At the top of the swing the elbows should point towards the ground.

 

[hue]

Use a plane board to stop yourself getting the club inside too early. The club stays on this plane until it is parallel to the ground from here swing your arms up as you complete the shoulder turn. Draw a line as seen from behind from the ball through your trail shoulder and extend that line above and behind you . The butt of the club/hands should sit on that line at the top / . So use the plane board until the club is parallel then aim to get your hands to the point described and make that your goal. Check your address first to make sure that there is not anything setting you up for your round backswing.

 

[McDuff]

Another option if you don't have a plane board is a laser. Keep the light on the plane line in both directions.

 

[mitchdoc]

Planeboard unfortunately is not a reality, might put together a laser thing but am afraid it wont give me adequate feedback.

I like the piston concept, but dont quite grasp image of elbow down at address. I thought it usually points towards the body around the hip bone

 

[hue]

mitchdoc: Get yourself a sheet of Gyproc and prop it up at the lie angle and you have a plane board. Set the bottom edge on the base line and maybe cut out a bit in the top edge with a Stanley knife and fix up the rough edges with tape. The whole lot should only set you back a few bucks.