[O.B.Left]

To get the Down and Out along the plane, it seems that I have to have the "feeling" of across. When I have the feeling of "down the line" it results in a big pull. Of course, too much across (like you've described above) and big hook (that starts down the line and turns over like a top spin forehand in tennis!).

You have to get into the geometry of chapter 2 . It aint easy but its worth the effort.

The clubhead does approach the ball from the inside , assuming the ball is positioned back of low point. Its not a optical illusion or anything it literally does as it comes down the slanted, Inclined Plane. Down and OUt towards the base line. It should feel like this too. So yes, to feel like you are swinging straight line towards the target.......Steering in the book.......is to bend the plane line to the left.

Contrary to what the golf magazines at the time were saying (and the PGA) Homer thought that the ball started at right angles to the clubface at Separation. That the ball curved in accordance with any divergence between face angle and clubhead path. The opposite of what we thought , but now confirmed by Track man etc etc.

So.....if your hooks are starting down the line and then hooking left like you say .........your face is square at Separation and your clubhead path is Crossline , bent to the right. Pretty close to being good. But if you flip the face over you've got more work to do, it'll take you longer to fix. But join the club , its the golfers afflicition.