Club path just beyond impact

[titaniummd]

I had feedback from a fellow player that my club's swing path (on the driver) hits the ball at is apex and then proceeds to curve back towards me. He recommends, instead, to extend the club head path beyond the ball along the target line. I use a one plane swing, if that makes any difference.

[grantc79]

Either way I try to extend out and through the ball.

If you can imagine looking straight down on a ball and seeing 4 quadrants I try to hit the quadrant that is closest to my right foot (as a right handed golfer) and push it out and away from me.

That is where my club head travels through at impact though of course when the arms can't extend any further the club head snap around.

So basically the club head is traveling down and out at impact.

[MiniMoe]

Everything should be moving toward the target with full extension. I try to swing on one plane as well (I taught myself). My swing thought during my learning process was always extend toward the target. I am always target oriented.

[kc8kir]

There is a HUGE debate on the correct path following impact. I believe both are viable, but which is more efficient or effective remains for consideration.

You can:

A) Release down the line.

or...

B) Release low left.

Both options are completely ruined by slinging or flipping the clubhead. Cupping the left wrist destroys the impact alignments. Finally, the path of the club after impact should be a result of the pivot and arm-body motion, not a contrived result. Lateral, or halted body rotation, encourages dtl. Full rotational encourages low left.

Interestingly enough... the two greatest ball strikers used both methods. Ben Hogan released low left. Moe Norman released down the line.

Both however had flat left wrists at impact.

If you want to know more about how to release low left, check out slicefixer on golfwrx.

MiniMoe, it's neat to see someone doing well practicing the Moe Norman swing. I often wondered if Graves and his academy was full of it or not. Question answered.

[MiniMoe]

kc8kir - Those guys did not teach me... I taught myself by watching Moe in person and asking questions and on Video. I have been to one of their golf schools. They are great teachers, but very technical.. too much so for me. I learned through feel and imagination. I am not exactly like Moe, but pretty close.... And loving every minute.

[yygolfnb]

I thought you don't have to worry about club head path because the face will natually be closing without you doing anything, or whatever you try to do. Except of course you grip it tight and try to manipulate the club.
I believe that is the reason they make head offset from the shaft center. This is a dynamic behavior I learnt from other design experience.

[grantc79]

I thought you don't have to worry about club head path because the face will natually be closing without you doing anything, or whatever you try to do.

Path matters a whole lot dude.

Imagine if you yank your club head way inside of your target line with a close club face......... dead pull left.

[yygolfnb]

Path matters a whole lot dude.

Yes. I meant once you selected a path, no need to worry about how it closed. It will always be in a circular path. It is just a matter of long or short radius. However, if you snap the face closed or hold tight to leave it open relative to the path, you will have hook or slide.

[grantc79]

Yes. I meant once you selected a path, no need to worry about how it closed. It will always be in a circular path. It is just a matter of long or short radius. However, if you snap the face closed or hold tight to leave it open relative to the path, you will have hook or slide.

Are you talking about how flat or how upright a circular swing is?

That makes a big difference as well. Its near impossible to lag enough and compress the ball enough with a severely flat swing.

[Chas]

Yes. I meant once you selected a path, no need to worry about how it closed. It will always be in a circular path. It is just a matter of long or short radius. However, if you snap the face closed or hold tight to leave it open relative to the path, you will have hook or slide.

That's what I thought you meant, and I agree. It's a mistake to try and manipulate the club in a certain way in or after contact, the clubhead path is a natural consequence of previous actions.

I'm working on lengthening my radius by asking Tiger's question, "how far can I get my right hand from my right shoulder at the top?". A wide arc on the right plane with proper wrist action goes a long way to ensuring a good follow-through.

[yygolfnb]

The hosel is at the heel instead of other places so that the head will follow a natually closing path relative to the CG without you doing anything. A club has it real CG hanging in the air much like a boomerang so that you can predict it's natural flight path once you set it in motion. That's why the more you try to manipulate with your hands, the less accurate you will get.

BTW, I am working on connecting my right elbow with right hip as a mean of steadying the turn center and allow me to grip lighter in the left hand (i am righty). I seems to have a more stable swing form and gained yardage. Will see how that goes.

[Titleist Man]

He recommends, instead, to extend the club head path beyond the ball along the target line. I use a one plane swing, if that makes any difference.

I to have a one plane swing and i try

to go dead along my target line right after i make contact.

[jambalaya]

I have a small book called "Golf Swing Master Key Explained". In it the author, Noel Thomas, is of the opinion that a proper on plane golf swing will always result in a slight draw. He explains the path thusly:

For a draw, the correct path for the center of the clubface is from inside
the target line to impact to outside the target line to back inside the target
line. This is commonly referred to simply as an inside-out swing. To get the
correct picture of this clubhead path in your mind, you must understand that
the center of the clubface does not come back inside quickly. Even if you
swing inside-out only a little, the center of your clubface must continue on
that path, taking the entire clubhead outside the target line, and extending
toward a point to the right of your target. How much that point is to the
right of your target, of course, depends on how much inside-out you swing.
Your clubhead should come back inside the target line only when you are
well into your follow through.

It makes sense. The plane is at an angle to the target line so to actually follow straight down the line is not possible unless you do some contortions with your body and arms. But I don't think this explanation really contradicts the idea of keeping the clubhead following down the line. "Following down the line" is just a thought to keep one from making some kind of sharp turn to the inside.