Improve Your Ball Impact Position As we shift into the beginning of golf season, there are a few drills you can do to help improve your performance on the course. One of the biggest inconsistencies to impact your shot is ball impact position. Your shots are overwhelmingly impacted by the position of your clubface at impact – not your swing path. In fact, even if your swing is as unconventional as they come, you can still find success on the course as long as you’re finding a consistent, repeatable position at your point of impact. According to American Golf, two-thirds of golfers are happiest on the course when they hit their ball well, regardless of their score.

Finding Your Correct Impact Position

According to PGA Professional Todd Anderson, in order to find your correct impact position, you should first get into your stance. Then, take a slow half-swing. On your downswing, you should feel as though your left hip is turning out of the way. While doing so, the back of your left hand should rotate into a square position, so that it is looking parallel to the direction you’re trying to hit the golf ball. These actions should take place simultaneously. At impact, you should be in a square position with a flat left wrist, a bent right wrist, and a clubface that is staring down your target line.

Anderson says a common mistake he sees is golfers trying to spin their shoulders first. Repeating Anderson’s drill over and over can help you achieve a consistent downswing, so that you can find your ideal ball impact position.

The Credit Card Swing Drill

PGA Professional Andy Hilts believes in the Credit Card Swing Drill to help you with your point of impact. You can slide a credit card or a hotel key card into the golf glove that you wear on your left hand. Half of the card should be within the glove, while half of the card should be outside of the glove, touching your wrist.

When you take your initial stance, the card should be somewhat cupped. As you move to the top of your backswing, the card should become flat. The drill entails repeating a swing path from this point in which the card remains flat. This will ensure that your lead wrist is flat and that your club face is square at impact.

Don’t Delay Improving Your Swing!

It’s never too late to incorporate drills into your golf game. Your golf swing will always require work and fine tuning. Both of the drills listed above, while beneficial, require patience and repetition in order to ensure a repeatable impact point. For more tips, schedule an appointment with a Westlake Golf pro today!