What does offset "technically" do

[Sandtrapper]

To the average golfer, what does offest on irons or drivers actually accomplish in their swing mechanics and ball striking ability?

[Leftygolfer]

Makes it easier to square the face and not slice the ball.

[Keep It Simple]

An offset clubface is further back relative to the shaft. In a normal golf swing, the clubface goes from open at the top, to square at impact, to closed at follow through. Golfers who leave the clubface open at impact do so because they can't close it fast enough in the downswing. An offset gives that golfer more time to close the clubface and square it up at impact.

[iacas]

The "more time" argument is bunk. I know Tom Wishon and others have said you have "more time" but it's garbage. I did a calculation and it's in another thread and in the end the most offset gives you something like 0.000007 more seconds to "square the face" at an average 6-iron swing speed (or something like that).

I think offset's primary benefit is to trick people into setting up with the clubface more square. It also helps people to get their hands slightly ahead of the ball.

[Mexicanleprican]

I thought you square the face with wrist action?

[bwdial]

It also helps people to get their hands slightly ahead of the ball.

Bingo.

Better impact position. Same reason that the Ping Anser 2 has been such a copied design. It gets a player's hands in front of the ball.

[golfro]

I thought you square the face with wrist action?

what is this wrist action you keep talking about on every thread...?

what do you mean by "wrist action"? Turning your wrist over on time?

[Mexicanleprican]

its supinating the wrist, something ben hogan preaches in his book. Basically as you downswing, after the hips are turned, right before hitting the ball I focus on two things, hitting the ball and supinating my wrist so that it (to think of supination, think of your hand turned in order to hold a bowl, so the palms are facing towards the sky) is facing my target, this ensures that my left wrist is always ahead of my hands, and my hands are always ahead of my club, and that I am always hitting the ball square. Sorry that I don't understand golf terms, the only lessons I ever had were from ben hogan's five lessons.

[golfro]

its supinating the wrist, something ben hogan preaches in his book. Basically as you downswing, after the hips are turned, right before hitting the ball I focus on two things, hitting the ball and supinating my wrist so that it (to think of supination, think of your hand turned in order to hold a bowl, so the palms are facing towards the sky) is facing my target, this ensures that my left wrist is always ahead of my hands, and my hands are always ahead of my club, and that I am always hitting the ball square. Sorry that I don't understand golf terms, the only lessons I ever had were from ben hogan's five lessons.

i see...yeah i think what you're describing is getting your club face to be squared at impact... by saying wrist action, it makes it sound as if you're flipping the wrist which is a big no no.

[Mexicanleprican]

heres what my wrist looks like at impact, (left wrist only, imagining club is in my hand (I keep my clubs in my truck)) image was too big will repost in a second

[iacas]

heres what my wrist looks like at impact

No offense, but I

highly doubt it. I'd wager a lot of money it's not. Let's see some video. Let's stick to the topic here too (directed at myself as well, heh).

[GaijinGolfer]

Id agree with the others who said that offset helps you keep your hands ahead of the ball at impact.