FAST FIXES

Ok, here we are again in the Fast Fixes section looking for the magic bullet to knock 10 strokes off your next scorecard. Sounds a bit too optimistic, but if a closed or open clubface is your problem you just might be able to do it!

If your club face is open or closed at the top of your back swing you've gotten yourself into a position that you'll be hard pressed to get out of before impact. A square clubface at the top of the backswing will allow you to fully release the club without hooking or slicing. Here's a quick way to check if you're club face is open or closed so you can make the necessary adjustments.

 

Picture you are taking your stance under the above club(s), facing us, and any one of the above clubs is your 3 iron as we look at you face on at the top of your back swing. If the toe of the club is pointing at the ground ( figure #1) the face is "open", resulting in slices and pushed slices. The second image with the club FACE pointing at the sky means you're clubface is closed and you are likely to pull or hook. (unless you block the shot by not releasing your hands fully at impact. This will help cut down or prevent a hook but rob you of lots of power.) The bottom figure at a 45 degree angle between the two is where you want to be....square.

DRILL

If you have trouble telling where you club is pointing at the top of your swing have a buddy or pro stand behind you as you stop your swing at the top. If the toe is pointing between the two extremes (45 degrees is perfect!), you're good to go. If not, you need to adjust.

To correct either problem (open or closed) and get the feel for where the club head should be, try this. Start you back swing by keeping the club head low and straight back without any rolling of the wrists left or right. (fanning the club open or closed.) Keep it low and square to the target for the first 18 inches. When the shaft of the club is waist high. (parallel to the ground midway in your back swing.), stop your swing and see that the toe of the club is pointing straight up. (at the sky) This is square to that point in the swing. From there you should be able to naturally take it to the top and be in the correct position to start your downswing.

Insuring that your club is square at the top is the only way to be able to fully release your hands at impact and still hit it straight. If you have the feeling now that you "know" you are going to slice or hook as you start your downswing chances are you've got yourself an open or closed club face. Fairly easy to fix once you know what's happening.

Practice this at the range, being sure to release your hands hard at impact. It may take a little time to groove this into your swing, but once you do you'll be in a much more powerful position to give it a good STRAIGHT rip!

see also "fix my slice" to make sure you're not gripping the club open or closed to begin with. (good images and video of proper grip.)