hand position after impact

[StevenT]

Hello,

I've been advised by a professional when having a lesson that in regards to my set up I stand too close to the ball, my head is not high enough to allow a full shoulder turn and I have a slightly open stance. She explained that as a result of this my hands come inside the target line after impact rather than down the target line. I'm wanting to know the reason why my hands do this.

Many thanks,
Steven

[ph_kingston]

Re: hand position after impact

Hi Steven, without pictures it's difficult to certain but I would suggest that the reasons are all of those given by your professional. Standing too close, not completing a full shoulder turn and having an open stance will encourage an out-to-in swing as you're simply not giving yourself enough room to hit the shot. Do you have a tendency to hit pull-slices? If so that would confirm the swing path and an open clubface at impact which could also be a symptom of the above.

Hope this helps.

[StevenT]

Re: hand position after impact

Yes I do tend to hit pull-slices and block the ball out to the left (I'm left-handed). Are there any drills for getting the club moving more towards the target after impact?

[Simon Woo]

Re: hand position after impact

Hi Steven,

One simple thing you can do is take note of your current finishing position. Do you come too round? I am not sure if trying to get a steeper finishing position might help you from coming less around the body, maybe someone more experienced can comment on the usefulness of this.

There could also be other reasons, like flicking your wrist at impact. That would explain why your pro says your hands in particular are responsible for the club coming too much inside after impact.

Imagine looking at the ball from behind, facing the target. You should feel as if you are hitting the ball from 7pm to 1pm. Currently you are probably feeling like you're hitting from 6pm to 12pm, but realistically probably hitting more like 5 o'clock to 11 o'clock. Hope this is clear?

(Disclaimer : I am only a beginner myself )

[ph_kingston]

Re: hand position after impact

I'm not sure it's a drill that you need but I'd suggest another lesson with the professional which concentrates only on your stance and posture at address. I think some work in this area is the place to start and once you feel comfortable with the adjustments made you can then start working on some drills to groove the new swing that will result.

From the lesson you will need to take a few simple techniques that you can use as you address the ball to ensure that you are correctly set up. Ask the pro to give you these at the end of the lesson and use them every time you practice.

[msklar92]

Re: hand position after impact

My suggestion would be to have your pro put your swing on a digital video if you instructor has that capability. You will be able to see easily see where the fault in your swing plane is. should be same plane back and through.

[ubizmo]

Re: hand position after impact

Definitely not a professional here, but here's a personal observation, based on my own experience....

It's easy to let the arms fold up too soon after impact, thinking that it doesn't matter, since the ball is gone. But trying for a different sort of follow-through changes the swing path before and during impact. If I try to think about keeping my arms extended after impact, the result is a feeling that my arms are pulling my shoulders around, ending in a higher finish, and I believe this helps me to square up the club face at impact. It's almost like throwing the club at the target, and I know there are teachers who recommend doing exactly that as a practice drill.

If I end up with bent arms and my hands near my left shoulder, I did it wrong. If my finish has my arms only partly bent and higher than my head, but over the left shoulder, I probably got a better shot.

[Simon Woo]

Re: hand position after impact

Thanks ubizmo that's exactly what I was trying to say - change your finish position and it will change what comes before too

Hope your game has been going along just fine! Cheers!

[ubizmo]

Re: hand position after impact

Thanks ubizmo that's exactly what I was trying to say - change your finish position and it will change what comes before too

Hope your game has been going along just fine! Cheers!

I don't get to play much this time of year, but we've had some mild weekends so I haven't been completely away from the game. My game is better than it was, I'm happy to say, but still terrible by any objective standard. But I continue to make small improvements. This business about the after-impact position is something that I've found helpful. For me, the most important swing thought is to make a Big Circle, so that the backswing feels very wide and extended. But I've often been a bit careless about the follow-through and finish. In fact, I'd say it's more than carelessness. I think I've even tended to be *inhibited* about it--as if making a big swing with a high finish is being showy. Silly, I know, but it's amazing how faulty self-perceptions can creep in...

[Simon Woo]

Re: hand position after impact

I can identify with that totally. In fact, if I don't consciously tell myself to do it before my takeaway, I will almost always not do a full finish. I think that's terrible because the body doesn't come around enough, and even in my practice swings if I don't do the full finish, I realise the only way to complete the swing is to flip the left wrist to get the club around. Definitely a no-no

[ubizmo]

Re: hand position after impact

I can identify with that totally. In fact, if I don't consciously tell myself to do it before my takeaway, I will almost always not do a full finish. I think that's terrible because the body doesn't come around enough, and even in my practice swings if I don't do the full finish, I realise the only way to complete the swing is to flip the left wrist to get the club around. Definitely a no-no

Yes, a "broken" left wrist and a chicken wing are the usual results--and hard to monitor without looking at video. But it I try to swing Way Out There at the target, it's better.

[shootin4par]

Re: hand position after impact

not enough space at set up means the hands, and rear elbow, will have to go out and around the rear hip on the way to the ball, especially since the hips will not be square, but opening. This makes the rear hip bone stick a little further out then address. Once they get out and around the rear hip then they WILL HAVE TO start coming in to the ball otherwise you would miss it. once that path has started it will continue all the way to the follow through position. Let me know if this is not clear enough and I will explain further.

[StevenT]

Re: hand position after impact

not enough space at set up means the hands, and rear elbow, will have to go out and around the rear hip on the way to the ball, especially since the hips will not be square, but opening. This makes the rear hip bone stick a little further out then address. Once they get out and around the rear hip then they WILL HAVE TO start coming in to the ball otherwise you would miss it. once that path has started it will continue all the way to the follow through position. Let me know if this is not clear enough and I will explain further.

Are you saying that with a stance that has more room I'm able to keep the hands out in front on my chest in the backswing and throughswing rather than the hands getting caught behind the body and cutting across the ball through impact? Are you also saying the hips are too open at impact?

[shootin4par]

Re: hand position after impact

Are you saying that with a stance that has more room I'm able to keep the hands out in front on my chest in the backswing and throughswing rather than the hands getting caught behind the body and cutting across the ball through impact? Are you also saying the hips are too open at impact?

first, more room between hands and body, but of course it can be overdone, will allow a freer backswing, instead of flipping the hands to clear the right side to initiate the backswing. Not saying the hips are too open at impact, the objective is to have enough room to clear through so we dont have to worry how much they are open. Look at some pros and you will see 30+ degrees open at impact, others are close to square, proper set up will accomodate for either much easier. As far as keeping the hands in front of the chest more, much of that is dictated by your move off the ball, but standing too close will dictate what that move MUST be, flipping hands first and then turning. Now you may still do that but you will have enough room to change when you put the work in on that. If you stand too close you might as well not even try to change, you will get no where and just more frustrated.
Hopefully I answered what you were looking for, if still not clear just shoot another question, I want you to understand