Inside-aft Questions
 

After some experimentation, I've discovered that I'm making my best contact when I'm aiming extremely inside-aft, way more than the 2-3 dimples that's often recommended, seemingly at the the dividing line between the inside-aft and inside-fore portions of the ball. The ball goes straight, and I'm making good contact (these are on chips, but I've encountered the same thing in the full swing as well). Aiming this far inside of the ball, how do I ensure that I don't swing overly inside-out? And out of curiosity, how the heck can I hit a cut aiming this far inside of the ball? I'm a swinger, BTW.

In TGM terms, there shouldn't be a problem. Aiming point is really up to you, and can only be found by experimentation.

As for hitting fades, look at 7-2. For swingers, it recommends to open the plane line. In the golf magazine world, one would be told to open the clubface, but I like the TGM way of explaining it. Sole the clubface aiming down your target line, lined up your normal way. Then without moving the club, rotate your stance line counter-clockwise. You would also rotate the plane line that you want to swing along. BTW the ball position will be more towards the rear foot. Then swing with normal hinging.

Or you could change to vertical or angled hinge action with your normal stance and clubface alignment for a cut shot.(2-C-2)

But do I still aim at the same inside-aft portion of the ball when trying to hit a fade? Thanks for the reply, BTW.

You still aim at the inside-aft. That gives a straight-away initial line of flight, which since the stance and plane lines are rotated counter-clockwise, is left of your target. Then the open clubface will not let you to close the clubface entirely, letting the ball fall off to the right.

if you want it to go straight and then fade yes.

If you want it to start left and then fade, no.

Is there a definitive answer on how to shape the ball?
 

Some say clubface determines initial path, others plane moreso

If i want to hit a fade i.e. starts slightly left of the target and fades back onto the target how do i setup? aim the clubface at the target and open plane or other way around?

Confused :???:

(my natural shot is a draw tending towards a hook BTW so would like to be able to learn how to fade the ball)

Can't you just move the ball forward for a draw and back for a fade?

It will go left, because you opened the plane line first(rotated counter-clockwise) and then hit on the inside-aft quadrant to make it go straight left and then curve to the right due to the open clubface.

If you follow the procedure in 7-2, first setting up to the ball with regular ball position, then rotate the line of your inclined plane, the ball will move towards your rear foot if you pivot about the right foot. Conversely to draw, if you rotate clockwise about your forward foot, the ball will move towards your forward foot.