[comdpa]

Ok. This is an interesting drill. Your going to think I am dumb with this question though.

Do you try and hit it 30* right by changing the angle of attack? Or by holding the clubface open? The first would make more sense to me as it would be teaching the hitters angle of attack. But I could see some value in the other as it would teach you to feel various clubface manipulations.

This is not a dumb question.

For clarification of Angle of Attack and Angle of Approach, please see attached diagrams below. Diagrams are courtesy of Rob Noel,GSEM.

The whole point of doing the drill prescribed is to exaggerate the inside out path that the clubhead and hands take. This is done by changing the Angle of Approach and not the Angle of Attack.

In TGM, such a drill is called an Inside-Out Cut Shot per 3-F-7-A and is usually done with a Vertical Hinge or as you have termed 'holding the clubface open'.

As with all geometrically correct downstrokes, make sure that you still hit D-O-W-N.

It also teaches the Hitters' "Angle of Approach" not "Angle of Attack" as you have posted.

The "ramification" of executing the first part of the drill is that your right shoulder will be forced downplane in order to put the hands and clubhead on the correct 'inside' route. The vertical hinge will ensure that the ball goes off on an angle to your target line.