Impact
Impact
Greetings Golfers,
My son Ryan just sent me a great photo of Cam Smith at impact. Here it is:
See how his hands are in front of the ball? Too many people have their hands even with the ball … or behind the ball.
Why are their hands behind the ball? Because they’re trying to scoop the ball up in the air … rather than to trust the loft of the club.
Some people think that if you do everything correctly during your golf swing … that good impact naturally takes care of itself. Wrong. Your golf swing should be built around good impact.
So, where do we start. Start with chipping. Place the ball off your back foot so that it’s easy to have your hands in front of the ball. Then when chipping, feel like you’re raking the yard. Pull the club through the forward swing … through impact … and finish with your hands well past your legs … and the hands STILL in front of the clubhead.
For many people this will feel crazy. However, they will have a solid type of contact that they’ve never had before.
This is the most important part of the golf swing. In fact it is the point of the golf swing. You make a golf swing so that you can hit the ball. Not miss the ball. And hopefully hit the ball to your target.
One evening about 30 years ago, a 40ish aged woman came into the Shop and asked if anyone could fix her swing. I offered my help. On the way to the Range, she explained that she’d moved up the corporate ladder and that they had sent her to a golf school so that she could play the game (both games).
So, I asked her to hit 3 shots at the 100 yard sign with her 8 iron. Her process to hit the shot probably took 1/2 hour. Maybe not. But it was at least 5 minutes. However, she was a good student and her set-up was very good … and she had a good swing. She would’ve looked good on video. But … she proceeded to cold-top the shot and then hit 2 more cold-tops.
My turn. I said “You think the golf swing is a series of steps … and my job is to identify what step was screwed-up … and that will fix your swing.” She replied with her arms crossed “Of course!” So, I then said “What if I told you that none of your process really matters?” And then I took her 8 iron and said that I was going to hit a ball at the 150 yard sign. As I set-up … I was turned directly facing the sign … my body was completely open. I got lucky and the ball landed near the sign. Then I did the opposite set-up … I turned my back and feet completely around so that I was facing the road - not the sign. I had to reach awkwardly and turn my head around to see the ball … and I swung and got lucky again and it landed near the sign.
She then said “Those were trick shots.” I replied … so what … they worked. Then I pointed at the center of the 8 iron club face and said “You hit bad shots because your hands don’t know where that is. That’s what you need to work on.” She wasn’t happy … and stormed out. However, one year later, she stopped by and with warmth and kindness told me that “she gets it.” Hurrah!
I wasn’t trying to be a jerk … but I felt like I was dealing with a cult member who’d been brain-washed … who needed a blunt wake-up-call.
That’s enough for today. Do I want to go on a rant about what is “impact” for Deer Run GC? Yes. But I’ll save that for another day.
Cheers!
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com