How do i use an impact bag to cure the flip?

title is self explanatory.  I have a nasty habit of flipping at the ball, i.e., club head before hands at impact.  Once it was pointed out to me it's gotten better, but still creeps in and causes some mishits (chunks).  Seen a lot about using an impact bag as a drill to fix this, but not sure how.  Am I supposed to hit the bag (don't see how that would help)? Am I supposed to put it behind the ball to make sure I keep the angle (seems like a towel would serve the same purpose)?

My suggestion is rather than get an impact bag - simply get a Tourstriker .

The reason is that an impact bag will help you with forward shaft lean - and teaches you how to hit down on the ball with a flat left wrist.  But the Tourstriker club is designed to do the same exact things, but you actually hit a golfball.

You can see from the leading edge - you have to have a forward shaft to even hit the ball.  So you can't flip at the ball and hit it - because you would never hit the grooves of the Tourstriker.

Good luck in your decision on what you decide to order/buy to help eliminate the flipping or casting of the golf club.

Definitely been looking at the Tourstriker.  Good chance I'm going to give it try.

Re the bag though, I'm still curious HOW exactly it teaches you how to hit down on the ball with a flat left wrist.  I completely understand the concept of maintaining lag, forward shaft lean at impact, etc.  I just dont' how hitting a bag promotes and ingrains the proper impact.  How is that different than practice swings in the air? Or with a ball for that matter.

I was curious too but how tough is it to you tube it? Looks to me just hitting shaft first.

Because when the clubface comes in contact with the impact bag - the hands and shaft will press forward.  This is the feel that instructors want their students to have at impact - the hands in front of the club head.  As stated in your original post, you are trying to eliminate the casting or flipping of the club at impact.  An impact bag should help reduce the effects.

Understand what impact looks like:

Your goal if you are flipping should be to

1.) Hit down on the ball (descending blow with your irons)

a.) Hands will be forward as shown in the model above... Promoting forward shaft lean.

b.) Flat left wrist at impact.

Understand that you should hit the ball - then the ground.  Your low point is past the golf ball.

But even if the bag is there, won't I just flip and hit the bag with the club head? Or is valleygolfer correct that the point is to make sure the shaft hits the bag before the club head?

I guess what I'm saying that the bag doesn't seem like it will STOP the flip, it will just tell you when you do it.  Makes something like the Tourstriker seem a bit more useful.

Tour Striker doesn't stop the flip either. But like the impact bag it will tell you when you have been flipping.  If you are just doing air swings it can be hard to figure out what exactly the shaft and club look like at impact. There are also a couple of other drills you can do with the impact bag  to help with release.  The impact bag is a 20-30 dollar training aid or you could just make one out of old canvas bag which is about 1/3 the cost of a tour striker. Personally I like the bag because I can do swings in my garage. Not optimal but better than nothing.

First youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRuo6FY0tDs   There are a bunch more if you don't like or understand that one. I only watched it really quick but it seemed about what my instructor recommended.

Going to be getting an impact bag for my basement, any recommendations for a quality one?

The original Impact Bag:

http://www.intheholegolf.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SEARCH&q;=impact+bag&x;=0&y;=0

The best way to cure your flip is simply with half shots. No impact bag needed. Flipping only happens when the hands go away from the body. The best feeling is that the grip hits you in your left thigh, assuming you are right handed. The drill is to hit half shots feeling this and hold your finish. When you look up after you have hit the ball, you should see the toe up just like in the takeaway. If you have flipped it you will see the toe down and the clubface closed. I struggle with this and got rid of this using this drill. The key is rotation and left. That is my swing thought.

Can you explain what you mean by "the grip hits you in your left thigh?"

It's fairly difficult to simulate good impact with an impact bag and then carry that over to the golf ball.  Certainly better than doing nothing though.  I would recommend simply making divots further forward with out a ball.  After you can do that several times add in a golf ball.  This is also a good drill.

What I mean is you want to feel the butt end of the grip hitting you in your left thigh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSG6kaiP6nQ

Watch how duf really pulls the butt end of the grip toward his thigh. It is impossible to flip it from this position. When you look at it on video when your hands and club are about parallel your hands should be hidden by your hips. Take note in duf's swing how you cant see his hands right before you can see the club exit around his rib cage.

I have had a real big problem with flipping my hands with my driver, I have found out  that my grip was to strong (left Hand only) preventing me from having a flat left wrist. once I weakened it I had more chance of creating a flat left wrist. I must admit it is still something I am working on and it's not right but it is a lot better.