This might sound like a stupid question but do you want to hit the ball further? Well, there are many things that can go right or wrong during the golf swing, but one thing is for sure, the golf ball really cares about what happens at the moment of impact. It is at that precise moment the golf ball is given all its flight data from the golf club. It really doesn’t care about what your swing looks like. Even on the PGA Tour today there are different styles of golf swings. Some people might consider Matt Wolfe to have a very upright swing plane, Matt Kucher flat arms at the top of his swing, or Adam Scott just picture perfect. Is one swing better than another? To be honest, all the golf ball cares about is that the clubface angle is square to its intended target, the club is traveling on the correct plane, and that you make a divot after the golf ball with all your clubs except a driver and of course, a putter.
A lot of the golfers I see want to hit the golf ball further. More often than not they aren’t being efficient at impact. Common issues I see with amateurs at impact are: weight is on their back foot, their hands are behind the ball, and the left wrist (for a right handed golfer) is cupped. Not only is their ball striking not crisp, but the contact on the club face is not centered. Ultimately the club is ascending into the ball and there is a significant loss of distance.
In order to improve your ball striking and impact you first have to “educate the hands and arms” to be in the right position. If you are a right handed golfer your left hand specifically controls the club face. If your grip isn’t fundamentally sound you’re unlikely to have a square clubface at impact. Your right hand and arm influences the plane angle of the swing as well as shaft lean at impact. The right arm is a major sauce of power in your golf swing because of the levers in your right wrist and elbow. The concept of leading with the left arm and letting the right arm go along for the ride simply doesn’t hold true. You have to use your dominate arm as much as you can in the golf swing.
There are certain drills that can over correct a problem but this impact drill will have you hitting your shots better and maximizing your golf swings efficiency.
Before you proceed with the 2×4 impact drill, make sure that your setup fundamentals are in place and you haven’t cut any corners. Using a short iron, place the 2×4 approximately one foot behind the ball, perpendicular to your toe line. The golf ball should be positioned in the middle of your stance. Your setup should look like you are getting ready to make a full swing.
When you’re focusing on improving your impact position in the golf swing, start by making slow half swings. Take the golf club back until your left arm is parallel to the ground and the shaft is set at a 90 degree angle. To ensure that your clubface remains square, make sure that your left wrist remains flat and the right wrist is fully cocked. Your right arm should feel relaxed and soft like a wet noodle and you should have little to no tension in your left arm.
As you start your down swing you have to start transferring your weight toward your front heel. If you don’t shift you are likely to hit the 2×4 before you get back to the golf ball. Make sure that you are keeping your wrists fully cocked while at the same time making sure that left wrist is flat. All this will ensure that you avoid releasing the club head early and casting. Remember, your hands will lead the charge back towards the golf ball.
As the club continues to travel on a descending path towards the ball you should feel like your right arm is extending and driving the club head through the ball and into the ground. The most critical moment at impact is when the club reaches the low point in the swing arc and bottoms out. Your low point at impact should be in line with your left heel (approximately 4 inches past the ball) and will be identified as the end point of your divot. It is the only position in the swing that both left and right arms are fully extended at the same time. Other key points to recognize at impact are that your left wrist is still flat and right wrist is bent. The majority of your weight is on your left foot and your right heel is slightly raised.
As you continue to rotate your body into the swings finish position, maintain extension in both arms to avoid the dreaded “Chicken Wing Left Arm”. As long as your right arm pushed down through impact and your weight finished on your left leg, you should be able to maintain a balanced abbreviated finish position. Remember these two key points; if you hit the 2×4 on your down swing it was because your weight remained behind the golf ball. If you were unable to take a divot it is because your right arm didn’t drive the club head into the turf.
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