Does the clubface have to match the left forearm at the top of the swing?

[johncdbass]

Ok so I am having an inner conflict with my swing. I have a problem where I fan the face open at the takeaway and then have to reclose the face to make impact. Problem with the driver is when I come back down the face is sometimes completely wide open. I have been thinking if I can keep the face square to the ball/target line, although I know it gives me the feeling of being really closed, I can usually hit it further and straighter. My dilema comes where I have read several times that the toe should be up and at the top the clubface the should match the left forearm. Now these two contardict eachother and that puts me and a 73 one day and 85 the next. I need to put this to bed and move on to the next thing. Any ideas? Thanks! John

[Ringer]

Re: Does the clubface have to match the left forearm at the top of the swing?

Instead of opening the face with your hands, open it by rolling the left forearm.

Also, check your grip to make sure the left thumb isn't getting too close to the knuckle of your left index finger. There needs to be a gap there. The reason is because at the top of your backswing, you want to have your left thumb under the shaft. That is the only way to balance the club... pinky and ring finger on top of the shaft and thumb under the shaft. Essentially your thumb is the balance point.

However, if the thumb is too close to the knuckle of your left index finger then you HAVE to cup your wrist in order to get your thumb under the shaft. It's probably the #1 reason I have found for people cupping their wrist at the top yet so few people even know it.

Here is a video I made explaining it.

[BrianW]

Re: Does the clubface have to match the left forearm at the top of the swing?

Try keeping the clubhead tracing along the extended ball-to-target line during the first two feet of your takeaway. Trace the butt end of the shaft along the line back to the ball in the downswing. This will assist in stopping you from fanning the face open and will keep you more on plane.