Impact for Consistency
By Tim Mahoney
As you watch golf on TV across all the different professional tours, you will see different grips, postures, swing shapes and ball flights. Regardless of the differences in all the unique swings, there is one constant in all good ball strikers – they look identical at impact. Perfect impact and your ball striking will improve.
Impact position consists of: a forward leaning shaft, hips open to the target line, shoulders square to the target line, left wrist flat and right wrist bent. Establish the angles and plane during the backswing and maintain these angles at impact. Anticipation of the strike or an in-correct mind-set will create impact misery and inconsistenctcy. Simply rehearsing impact or an isometric exercise will assist you with your impact goals. Start at address and move into impact
A drill that will assist you with the motion of impact and correct alignments is making small swings into an impact bag. Allow the power sources to accumulate on the back swing and turn into impact. As the club strikes the bag, note: a forward leaned shaft, flat lead wrist, hips open and shoulders square.
All golf swings are different: upright, flat, close faced or opened face. But all great ball strikers are perfect at impact. Work on impact and your scores will lower.
Ball-Flight Consistency
Consistency is the number one goal of all players from Jordan Spieth to Jack Nicklaus. Distance, Direction and Trajectory make up the elements of the ball-flight. Golfers need all three elements for consistent ball striking. I believe that the sequence of learning is: trajectory, distance and direction. The three components are interrelated and we cannot have one with out the other.
Trajectory is controlled by:
1. Club Selection- the club is designed to provide loft. Allow the manufacturer to get the ball airborne.
2. Angle of Approach- the correct angle of approach provides solid impact and the proper effective loft.
3. Set-up- consistency starts here. Grip, posture, ball-position, aim, mind-set and tension level are the fundamentals of the pre-swing.
4. Swing plane- a vertical swing shape will produce high shots and a flat swing shape will produce lower shots.
5. Swing speed- without swing speed the golfer has a difficult time producing loft. Golfers with a limited swing speed will produce the same trajectory for all clubs.
Distance is controlled by:
1. Club Selection- longer clubs longer shots.
2. Length of motion- increased range of motion will assist in distance.
3. Solidness of contact- hitting the ball in the center of the racket. Path and plane are significant influences. Vertical plane produces toe hits and a flat plane produces heel hits.
4. Swing speed at impact. Body rotation, arm speed and wrist movement are the biggest influences. Overall swing speed is a goal not club head speed.
Direction is controlled by:
1. Aim- parallel lines of the eyes, shoulders, forearms, hips, knees and heels.
2. Clubface alignment at impact. Clubface at right angle to your swing path at impact.
3. Swing path at impact. A swing path that is from the inside to along the target line to the inside.
Every golf lesson and group activity I participate in every golfer is in search of consistency. Ball flight has three elements: trajectory, distance and direction. You master all three in order to gain consistency.
Distance and Direction to better scoring
Direction
All gofers no matter what the handicap level should attempt to control distance and direction. An improvement in consistency is the effect of a compatible golf swing. When golfers attempt swing changes without regard to keeping a balanced or compatible swing, inconsistency is the result. Golf swings can be upright, Jack Nicklaus, flat Ben Hogan, shut face David Duval or an open face Nancy Lopez; as long as all the parts are compatible consistency is the result.
A weak grip should be balanced with a forward ball position, centered pivot, open face, swing path that is out to in and aggressive hand action through impact. A stronger grip should be balanced with a centered ball position, closed face, path from in to out and an aggressive body motion through impact.
There has never been a perfect golf swing, and probably never will. Keep your golf swing balanced and compatible and you will have consistent results.
Distance
Golfers are constantly striving for more distance. Trying out new clubs, improved physical conditioning and the latest secret in a golf publication in an attempt to add an extra 10-20 yards. All of these changes are good, but the number one influence on distance is a combination of club head speed and solid contact. One without the other simply results in short off line tee-shots.
Speed is the effect of wristcock, arm swing and torso turn. Maximize all power sources in a balanced manner will result in an increase in speed. Solid contact is the result of a path that is from the inside to along to inside. Swing the club on the manufactured angle with the arms in front of the trunk will produce the correct path, resulting in a square hit.
All golfers should be striving for balanced controlled distance for improved scoring. Club head speed combined with solid contact is a guaranteed means of increased distance.
Utilize Ground Forces for increased clubhead Speed
During my 20 years working with Bob Toski in the Golf Digest Schools, Bob would state daily during our sessions, “ The hands grip the club and the feet grip the ground.” As Player Development activity has improved with the utilization of Trackman, K Vest, Gears and 2-D video one area of development is lagging: understanding the force of the ground. As I instruct throughout the world, one simple ingredient is being utilized in increased club head speed for all golfers: using the ground throughout the dynamic motion of the swing. Golf shoe technology has greatly improved and the feet, ankles and toes have room to launch and grip the ground. Golfers slight in weight and leverage have found ways to increase speed simply by using the ground in the swing. A simple thought, “ are we more powerful with a cannon from a canoe or from a firm surface?”
Ground forces start at address with a firm ground and posture. Arms hanging freely, weight on the middle of the ankles, bending from hips and spine at a neutral position. Stability at address allows the body to load and unload throughout the swing. Feet and ankles must have the mobility to load and unload.
As you wind up into the backswing, allow the upper body to wind against the lower body and ground. Spine is tilt away from the target as the body is turned against the feet and ground. The gluts are lowered and activated as you wind against the ground. There should be a slight lowering of the head during the backswing as you wind up.
Explode during the downswing into impact. All muscles must fire as the trailing leg is extended and lengthens. This movement of thrusting upward creates a swing path and angle of approach upward through impact. Lead glut is turning behind as the trailing leg is straightening. Pushing off of the balls of the feet as the heels rise off the ground through impact. Low to high concept as the golfer explodes through impact. Using th3 ground on the backswing and downswing. Ground forces throughout the golf swing.
The most misunderstood concept in golf is the use and utilization of ground forces. Low to high as the golfers loads and explodes. Use the ground as the legendary golf instructor Bob Toski mentions, “ hands grip the club as the feet grip the ground.”
Ben Hogan’s Plane of Glass
The legendary golfer and technician Ben Hogan in 1946 developed the swing concept of an angle the club needs to swing: Swing plane or simply the shape of the swing. Throughout the years a debate has developed regarding the angle or plane of the swing: 1 or a 2 plane motion. Within the Mahoney and Troon Golf Academy we believe that it is not a 1 or a 2 plane motion, simply an on-plane swing that is determined by the club and your posture. The angle or plane that you swing the club on determines the centerness of the strike, the ability to square your club face at impact and the amount of divot. Swing plane is not a ball flight law, but simply, a golf swing preference.
The backswing plane can be viewed as an inclined angle taken at address running up the shoulders from the ball. The left arm controls the shape of the backswing, the shoulders, arms, hands and club should rotate and swing on this angle and not deviate from the intended angle. Swinging on this determined angle will allow the upper and lower body the ability to turn freely on both sides of the swing. Once golfers understand how to swing to the top of the backswing they will solve consistency problems.
During the downswing motion, the golf club MUST swing under and below the back swing plane. The shallowing of the club on the downswing is a significant power boost at impact. The slight lateral shift of the hips towards the target as the upper body is turning back, allows for a “flattening” of the downswing plane. As the hips are sliding laterally, the right elbow connects to the side as the left hips turns behind. Hands or shoulders starting the downswing establishes an over the top or steep angle. Steepness in the downswing causes toe hits, open club face and a decrease in club head speed. Create a flatter downswing as compared to the backswing results in greater power and consistency.
Drills that will assist in creating this angle: baseball swings above the ball and chip shots where the club stays below your hands on both sides. These drills will allow you to focus primarily on the shape of the swing and the intended plane.
Club face, angle of attack, centeredness of hit, club head speed and swing path are the ball flight laws that effect every shot from a putt to a chip, to a full drive. Ben Hogan’s plane of glass or swing plane is every gofer preference to golf excellence. Swinging the club on the intended angle, determined by the club and your posture will provide longer, straighter and more solid strikes.
Controlling Trajectory in the Short Game
In executing short game shots, inside 50 yards (pitches and chips), a player’s ability to control the ball’s flight trajectory can be just as important as controlling the ball’s direction and overall distance. A golfer has options to create consistent ball flight trajectory and as a result consistent shot patterns swing after swing.
Option One – Ball Choice:
A golfer’s choice of golf ball will have an affect on a golf ball’s flight characteristics. It is the dimples on a golf ball that are responsible for its flight characteristics. Their design (size, shape and pattern) will help dictate the ball’s trajectory. The size and depth of the dimples affect performance. Shallow dimples generate more spin on a golf ball than deep dimples, which increases loft and causes the ball to rise and stay in the air longer and roll less, which is advantageous when playing to elevated greens. Deep dimples generate less spin on a golf ball than shallow dimples, which decrease loft and causes the ball to stay on a lower trajectory, with less air time and greater roll, which is advantageous when playing to low elevated greens.
Option Two – Ball Position:
A correct ball position helps you contact the ball crisply and achieve the proper trajectory on the shot. Ball position affects the path and the angle of approach the club takes into the ball which ensures a consistent loft angle of the club at impact. With the ball positioned too far forward, your shoulders align left of the target, thus creating a swing path that is too steep and out-to-in. If you locate the ball too far back toward your right foot, your shoulders are closed, which creates a swing path that is too shallow and in-to-out. You will be able to produce consistent ball flight trajectories only if the ball is positioned correctly in your stance. For chip shots, position the ball about two inches back of center. You want to strike the ball with a descending angle of approach creating a low trajectory, running shot. For all wedges and pitch swings from normal lies position the ball in the exact center of your stance.
Option Three – Swing Technique:
To create a low trajectory chip or pitch shot, set your hands slightly ahead of the ball. A forward hand position will naturally de-loft the clubface, helping to start the ball on a low trajectory. Also, concentrate on making a rhythmic swing with a slightly slower tempo on the forward swing. A slower tempo will produce less spin, helping to keep the ball on a low trajectory. Stay level with your hips as you swing through impact. Feel as though the handle of the club leads the clubhead through the hitting area to prevent adding loft to the clubface at impact. A low trajectory shot means a low finish. The lower you want to hit it, the lower you want to finish, not only with the hands and arms, but with the clubhead as well. While it is okay to play the ball back in you stance to produce a lower trajectory, it is not advantageous to play the ball forward in your stance as a means of getting a higher trajectory. Playing the ball forward in you stance moves it ahead of the bottom of your natural swing arc. To hit a higher shot, the first choice should always be to take a more lofted club and make your standard swing. The second choice is to open the clubface, aim your swing line to the left of the target and keep the ball exactly in the center of your stance. Keeping the ball in the middle of your stance ensures crisp contact.
Option Four – Club Selection:
The easiest way to vary shot trajectory from a normal lie is to choose a higher degree lofted club or choose a lower degree lofted club. If you need a higher soft landing shot, choose a lob (60 degrees), sand (56 degrees), gap (52 degrees), or a pitching wedge (48 degrees). If you need a lower running shot, choose a 9 iron (39 degrees), 8 iron (34 degrees), 7 iron (30 degrees), or 6 iron (26 degrees). It is easier than creating a different swing or changing your mechanics. Clubs are designed with the clubface having different lofts. It is loft that makes a golf ball take flight on an ascending trajectory, not an upward direction of swing. The club actually hits the ball in a horizontal or slightly downward angle.
Choose the option that works best for your game. Your golf ball selection will be based on the design of the golf course that you’ll be playing. Under normal lie conditions, you’ll want to maintain a consistent ball position for crisp club to ball contact. Vary the length of your swing technique to produce low or high trajectories. And choose your club wisely. Practice with different lofted clubs and observe the ball flight trajectory patterns. Take your observations to the golf course.