Open Clubface at Impact

**Uncle Peter** · January 27, 2015

After a few years of swing problems, I've finally figured out what's wrong with my swing. On my downswing, I've noticed that my clubface (for all my clubs) is open just before impact, which I'm pretty sure is what's causing my shots to start out left of my intended target (I'm a lefty) and slice away even farther left.

Does anyone else struggle with this problem and if so, how can I fix it?

-Uncle Peter

**billchao** · January 27, 2015

@Uncle Peter , your clubface being left of the target at impact is not necessarily a bad thing, but your swing path to the right makes it an issue. Even if you get the face more right, you'd end up hitting pulls, pull-slices, and hooks. I'd start with the path. You should start a swing thread so we can see what the cause of the problem is.

**Uncle Peter** · January 28, 2015

Thanks for the advice Bill. I actually do get the occasion bad hook, but I'd say when I'm not slicing my ball flight is actually a mild left to right pull hook (which I'm perfectly fine with). The slicing is more prominent with the driver too now that I'm thinking about it.

I'll try to get a swing video up as soon as I can, weather permitting.

-Uncle Peter

**mvmac** · January 29, 2015

@Uncle Peter, your clubface being left of the target at impact is not necessarily a bad thing, but your swing path to the right makes it an issue. Even if you get the face more right, you'd end up hitting pulls, pull-slices, and hooks.

I'd start with the path. You should start a swing thread so we can see what the cause of the problem is.

Yep well said. @Uncle Peter , golfers that draw the ball will typically have an "open" (face aimed left for a lefty) club face at impact. If the golfer is curving the ball left to right, they have to start the ball left of the intended target. That means the face needs to be aimed some amount left at impact.

**Uncle Peter** · January 30, 2015

Okay that does makes sense. Thanks Mike. One question though:

What makes the difference between a push hook (like my mild left to right ball flight) and a push slice? The way I understand ball flights, both of those shots start out left because of an in-to-out club path, but what differentiates the two? Isn't the club face open in both shots?

I've got a few swing videos, but none of them are of me hitting the ball, just swinging, so I'm not sure whether I should post them or not or if they'll be helpful at all.

***iacas*** · January 30, 2015

What makes the difference between a push hook (like my mild left to right ball flight) and a push slice? The way I understand ball flights, both of those shots start out left because of an in-to-out club path, but what differentiates the two? Isn't the club face open in both shots?

You understand ball flight incorrectly.

Please read this: Ball Flight Laws .

The ball starts generally where the face is pointed and curves away from the path.

**Uncle Peter** · February 1, 2015

You understand ball flight incorrectly.

Please read this: Ball Flight Laws.

The ball starts generally where the face is pointed and curves away from the path.

Wow, I had no idea I was looking at it wrong and following the wrong ball laws all this time.

Thanks for sharing that link Erik, I understand everything crystal clear now! It looks like swing path is definitely the way to go (as Bill said), if I want to fix my slice, mainly trying to swing more in-to-out than how I'm swinging now. Will definitely try to post a swing video now.

**mvmac** · February 1, 2015

Wow, I had no idea I was looking at it wrong and following the wrong ball laws all this time.

Thanks for sharing that link Erik, I understand everything crystal clear now! It looks like swing path is definitely the way to go (as Bill said), if I want to fix my slice, mainly trying to swing more in-to-out than how I'm swinging now. Will definitely try to post a swing video now.

Correct, change the path and you'll be a happier golfer

hlca · February 4, 2015

After a few years of swing problems, I've finally figured out what's wrong with my swing. On my downswing, I've noticed that my clubface (for all my clubs) is open just before impact, which I'm pretty sure is what's causing my shots to start out left of my intended target (I'm a lefty) and slice away even farther left.

Does anyone else struggle with this problem and if so, how can I fix it?

-Uncle Peter

I just solved this problem over the weekend. For my swing, I was rotating my wrists towards the top of the backswing. This made the club face at the top really open (notice how face is not parallel to left arm):

After I noticed this, I tried to get the face to be parallel and realized it was from rotation of the wrists:

Let me know if this works for you too!

**Uncle Peter** · February 4, 2015

I never thought about rotating my wrists @ hlca. I'll try it out next time I'm at the range. Hopefully it works for me too!

**boogielicious** · February 5, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Peter

After a few years of swing problems, I've finally figured out what's wrong with my swing. On my downswing, I've noticed that my clubface (for all my clubs) is open just before impact, which I'm pretty sure is what's causing my shots to start out left of my intended target (I'm a lefty) and slice away even farther left.

Does anyone else struggle with this problem and if so, how can I fix it?

-Uncle Peter

I just solved this problem over the weekend. For my swing, I was rotating my wrists towards the top of the backswing. This made the club face at the top really open (notice how face is not parallel to left arm):

After I noticed this, I tried to get the face to be parallel and realized it was from rotation of the wrists:

Let me know if this works for you too!

I never thought about rotating my wrists @hlca. I'll try it out next time I'm at the range. Hopefully it works for me too!

Just for clarification, I assume the motion @hlca is talking about is what is called palmar flexion, the palm is flexed inward toward the forearm. It is the same feeling as revving a motorcycle throttle with your left hand. It will cause the club face to close with respect to the swing plane.

**Uncle Peter** · February 5, 2015

Thanks for the diagram @boogielicious . Since I'm a lefty though I would be rotating or "revving" with my right hand (I think). I'm planning on heading out to a range this weekend to try out this new technique and hopefully make a swing video. Will let everyone know how it goes and hopefully I'll be able to put up a video!

***iacas*** · February 5, 2015

To be clear, since a motorcyclist corrected me one time, it's actually the opposite of revving the motorcycle. :)

**billchao** · February 5, 2015

To be clear, since a motorcyclist corrected me one time, it's actually the opposite of revving the motorcycle. :)

Isn't extension of the right wrist the exact motion of revving a motorcycle?

**Uncle Peter** · February 5, 2015

I think motorcycle revving is counter-clockwise rotation (so extension I guess), whereas palmar flexion is clockwise rotation.

Whichever one it is, the direction of "revving" became clear to me when I tried it out on my club, i.e. revving so that the club face becomes closed.

**14ledo81** · February 5, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

To be clear, since a motorcyclist corrected me one time, it's actually the opposite of revving the motorcycle. :)

Isn't extension of the right wrist the exact motion of revving a motorcycle?

Right wrist would be similar to revving... Left wrist opposite. For a righty. I think???

**billchao** · February 5, 2015

Right wrist would be similar to revving... Left wrist opposite. For a righty. I think???

Right, so for @Uncle Peter , who is a lefty, he'd want to feel like his left hand is revving a motorcycle throttle.

**14ledo81** · February 5, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by 14ledo81

Right wrist would be similar to revving... Left wrist opposite. For a righty. I think???

Right, so for @Uncle Peter, who is a lefty, he'd want to feel like his left hand is revving a motorcycle throttle.

Correct... (I think)..

OTOH, the throttle on a motorcycle is on the right side??... Blasted lefties, always confusing things..

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Open Clubface at Impact

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