The secret to hitting great golf shots is to develop a consistent and proper impact position. Being in the proper impact position will greatly enhance our ability to hit solid golf shots. All my lessons are geared to get our students in the proper impact position. If you look at all the PGA Tour players, they may all have different backswings and different finishes, but they do have one thing in common: a consistent proper impact position.
Here are the characteristics of a proper impact position:
- Head position is in the correct position, just slightly behind the ball.
- Left arm and the shaft of the club form a line
- The back of the left wrist and knuckles feels “down and through” the shot
- Your weight is shifting properly to the left foot.
On the contrary, most amateur players produce golf swings that have poor impact positions.
Here are the characteristics of a poor impact position and the results:
- The head is either too far behind or in front of the ball, which can cause the ball to hook badly or hit a block shot which goes high to the right.
- The left arm and shaft don’t form a straight line, this throws away power and creates weaker shorter shots. Topping the ball is also a common result from an extreme breakdown in this position.
- When the left wrist breaks down the wrist becomes flippy, this will hit the ball high and weak, a definite distance loser.
- Improper weight shift and positioning is a big factor in losing distance. If your weight does not transfer and stays on the right foot, you are going to hook the ball or hit high shots to the right.
So in essence, the golf swing is not necessarily trying to find the perfect backswing or the perfect finish. Instead, we are in search of a consistent impact position. Being conscience of the above proper impact positions will allow you to hit a more powerful golf shot. Good luck and we’ll see you on the practice tee soon.
