[O.B.Left]

O.B. I don't even have the book yet BUT I think I see what you are saying about down and out as opposed to hitting the back of the ball with a square club face. I can not say that I know how to do it right now, but I am sure willing to learn.
I am a brand newbie here, but I am very excited to dive in to this.

It might feel like a cross line stroke out to right field first but it probably isnt. Your divots can guide you.

Think of the inclined plane from a down the line point of view. For any ball positioned before low point, the clubhead will strike it on the way down, right? But on the inclined plane to go down is to go out as well. The delivery path of the clubhead is going down and out prior to low point then up and in post low point. An attempt to hit a ball back of low point with a delivery path of the clubhead that goes straight towards the hole is "Steering" and ruins the clubs orbit. Contrary to popular opinion the path of the clubhead does not dictate the balls initial line of flight. An inside out approach path associated with a square plane line will not create a push. The ball leaves at right angles to the face at separation. Which also means that at contact it needs to be open slightly. Combine the inside out approach with the slightly open but rolling to square by separation clubface and you have a straight divot , a straight shot , total compression. This is Hogan's "inside aft" of the ball.

Try it out. Let your divots guide you. Keep trying to swing down and out until your divots straighten out. Cut shot therapy as Homer called it. A straight divot and a pushed shot indicates an open clubface. The need to work on Hinge Action or take a look at your grip. Most people , given an incorrect understanding of the cause and effect, correct a push with by pulling the clubhead path to the left. A two wrongs kinda deal. Fix the clubhead path first then the face as needed. The ball leaves at right angle to the face at separation and curves according to any divergence between the clubhead path and clubface angle.