Club Face Position in 5SK?

[scopek]

One of my problems recently has been hitting an occasional shank or right push when I work on getting my weight left and taking a divot in front of the ball. I remembered something a S&T instructor told me in the past which was that I need to concentrate on keeping the club face "more closed" through the swing. I started working on this feel recently and it seems to work. It takes a lot of effort to keep from not letting the club face rotate, though. I believe doing this keeps the club face square to the plane, however, and it's not literally closed. However, this seems like doing that "square to square" swing that I've read about and I'm hesitant to follow that type of a swing (no offense to the "square to square" guys).

My question is 1) Is concentrating on keeping the club head square to the arc (for me feeling like I'm keeping the club head closed and holding that position) OK to be doing? and 2) What does the 5SK approach recommend in regards to what the club face is doing through the swing?

I would appreciate any input or guidance. Thanks!

[saevel25]

One of my problems recently has been hitting an occasional shank or right push when I work on getting my weight left and taking a divot in front of the ball. I remembered something a S&T instructor told me in the past which was that I need to concentrate on keeping the club face "more closed" through the swing. I started working on this feel recently and it seems to work. It takes a lot of effort to keep from not letting the club face rotate, though. I believe doing this keeps the club face square to the plane, however, and it's not literally closed. However, this seems like doing that "square to square" swing that I've read about and I'm hesitant to follow that type of a swing (no offense to the "square to square" guys).

My question is 1) Is concentrating on keeping the club head square to the arc (for me feeling like I'm keeping the club head closed and holding that position) OK to be doing? and 2) What does the 5SK approach recommend in regards to what the club face is doing through the swing?

I would appreciate any input or guidance. Thanks!

Does the feeling actually keep the clubface square to the arc?

The clubface will rotate in the golf swing, usually about 90 degrees. This is because the left hand does so as well. That is why you see flat left wrists at the top of the swing are parallel to the clubface, usually.

Now how the club gets there depends on the golfer. There was this one golfer I just saw a view of, pretty young, I think his last name his Harmon. His clubface is nearly fully rotate 90 degrees at A2-A2.5. Some probably have very late rotations as well. Basically do what works best for you, just don't do something that is actually a hindrance. This is were seeing video of your swing is important.

If you are shanking the ball, then create your, "My Swing" thread and post a video. I would bet its something else besides clubface angle.

[scopek]

Does the feeling actually keep the clubface square to the arc?

The clubface will rotate in the golf swing, usually about 90 degrees. This is because the left hand does so as well. That is why you see flat left wrists at the top of the swing are parallel to the clubface, usually.

Now how the club gets there depends on the golfer. There was this one golfer I just saw a view of, pretty young, I think his last name his Harmon. His clubface is nearly fully rotate 90 degrees at A2-A2.5. Some probably have very late rotations as well. Basically do what works best for you, just don't do something that is actually a hindrance. This is were seeing video of your swing is important.

If you are shanking the ball, then create your, "My Swing" thread and post a video. I would bet its something else besides clubface angle.

All I can say is, Dayton?!? Really?

Seriously, thanks for the input. I know I'm a wimp, but I'm a bit hesitant to put my swing on the forum. I'm going to try evolvr again, but was just trying to work on things I know I'm supposed to work on before starting it up again. I suppose the fact that I have a question means I should probably just start evolvr again. But, yes, there might be something else I'm doing. One possibility is that I'm letting my elbows move apart.

[saevel25]

All I can say is, Dayton?!? Really?

Seriously, thanks for the input. I know I'm a wimp, but I'm a bit hesitant to put my swing on the forum. I'm going to try evolvr again, but was just trying to work on things I know I'm supposed to work on before starting it up again. I suppose the fact that I have a question means I should probably just start evolvr again. But, yes, there might be something else I'm doing. One possibility is that I'm letting my elbows move apart.

Live here, not a fan

Look at my Avatar man

[scopek]

Live here, not a fan

Look at my Avatar man

Oh, I was referring to your avatar and didn't see your location....I was referring to this http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=400546900.

[iacas]

There is no one clubface position.

What your arms and hands and wrists do affects keys 4 and 5. Many PGA Tour players are toe up at A2.

You should start a My Swing thread. If for no other reason than to serve as a practice diary for you.

[mvmac]

One of my problems recently has been hitting an occasional shank or right push when I work on getting my weight left and taking a divot in front of the ball. I remembered something a S&T; instructor told me in the past which was that I need to concentrate on keeping the club face "more closed" through the swing. I started working on this feel recently and it seems to work. It takes a lot of effort to keep from not letting the club face rotate, though. I believe doing this keeps the club face square to the plane, however, and it's not literally closed. However, this seems like doing that "square to square" swing that I've read about and I'm hesitant to follow that type of a swing (no offense to the "square to square" guys).

My question is 1) Is concentrating on keeping the club head square to the arc (for me feeling like I'm keeping the club head closed and holding that position) OK to be doing? and 2) What does the 5SK approach recommend in regards to what the club face is doing through the swing?

Could be a grip thing as well. Just recently helped a player that rolled it too much because the grip was too weak. The reason that position had to change is because it was leading to a problem on the downswing. I didn't just change it because it didn't fit the "model"

You generally see the toe slightly "down" at A2 with good players but like the other guys said, there are great players with the toe up. Point is, if it's a priority, then fix it, if not, don't worry about it.

In terms of 5SK and Key #4, generally it's good not to excessively roll the face/arms to the point where the club head gets very low and inside the hands because that will tend to complicate Keys 4 and 5. It's player and priority dependent. If Ray Floyd came to me for a lesson, I'm probably not going to change his A2

[Hazard Finder]

Durng a natural swing, your arm will rotate. I do try to limit that rotation. I set up how I want to make contact (square clubface, hands forward, flat left wrist) and then (try to) keep my left arm/wrist in a fixed position throughout my swing. But that doesn't completely stop my arm from rotating, and my clubface doesn't stay square. I'm not sure that it'd be possible to actually stop my arm from rotating and still take a full backswing. That said, I expect the issue here is much more communication than anatomy. Telling someone to keep the clubface "more closed" and to "concentrate on keeping the club head square to the arc," seems very confusing to me. By contrast, if your instructor had said: "you're out of control on your backswing, so keep your left arm and wrist fixed throughout your entire swing, and only take a 50% backswing for right now." you're probably not here asking whether you've got some quack teaching you a bogus swing.

[saevel25]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scopek

I remembered something a S&T instructor told me in the past which was that I need to concentrate on keeping the club face "more closed" through the swing. I started working on this feel recently and it seems to work. It takes a lot of effort to keep from not letting the club face rotate, though. I believe doing this keeps the club face square to the plane, however, and it's not literally closed.... My question is 1) Is concentrating on keeping the club head square to the arc (for me feeling like I'm keeping the club head closed and holding that position) OK to be doing? and 2) What does the 5SK approach recommend in regards to what the club face is doing through the swing?

Durng a natural swing, your arm will rotate. I do try to limit that rotation. I set up how I want to make contact (square clubface, hands forward, flat left wrist) and then (try to) keep my left arm/wrist in a fixed position throughout my swing. But that doesn't completely stop my arm from rotating, and my clubface doesn't stay square. I'm not sure that it'd be possible to actually stop my arm from rotating and still take a full backswing.

That said, I expect the issue here is much more communication than anatomy. Telling someone to keep the clubface "more closed" and to "concentrate on keeping the club head square to the arc," seems very confusing to me. By contrast, if your instructor had said: "you're out of control on your backswing, so keep your left arm and wrist fixed throughout your entire swing, and only take a 50% backswing for right now." you're probably not here asking whether you've got some quack teaching you a bogus swing.

What is considered a natural swing?

Do the arms rotate, yea. Does every golf rotate the same way, nope.

[Hazard Finder]

I think of a natural swing as whatever motion an individual would make if I gave her a stick and told her to hold it with two hands and hit something with it. Certainly individuals have different natural movements.

[saevel25]

Just curious, not going to get into a discussion on that, that would be off topic

[Ernest Jones]

I think of a natural swing as whatever motion an individual would make if I gave her a stick and told her to hold it with two hands and hit something with it. Certainly individuals have different natural movements.

A stick has no club face, it's just a stick. Lots of people's "natural swing" would still miss the ball with a stick swung at full speed.