Club face slightly open at address or square?

DFW15 · March 17, 2008

I read something somewhere that many good golfers have their clubface slightly open at address which lets them release the club a little harder without having to worry as much about hooks. I was trying this in my backyard and was making great contact much better than before especially on the driver. It was into a net so I have no idea where it would have gone.

Lake · March 17, 2008

I read something somewhere that many good golfers have their clubface slightly open at address which lets them release the club a little harder without having to worry as much about hooks. I was trying this in my backyard and was making great contact much better than before especially on the driver. It was into a net so I have no idea where it would have gone.

For player's that have a clubface that is constantly closing through impact (feeling of full left hand roll) and if their ball position is back of their left shoulder, than the clubface should be a few degrees open at address. The important thing is that when the ball leaves the clubface after the initial impact the clubface should be square for straightaway flight. The player must remember though that if the ball is played back of the left shoulder that the clubhead should be swung in-to-out until the club has reached the left-shoulder(low point in the orbit of the clubhead) in order to keep the swing circular and on plane. These type players will tend to hit draws if they move the ball up in their stance and fade if they move it back.

For player's that keep the clubface perpindicular to their swingplane through impact/separation than moving the ball up will encourage cut shots and moving the ball back will encourage draws. These players should have their clubface square to the target whether they move it up or back in their stance so that the initial path of the ball is straight before it curves.

For player's that manipulate their clubface by arching their left wrist they would fall into the 2nd category and for player's that bend their left wrist all bets are off :)

All player's must find their own personal straightaway/curve flight by experimenting!!!

Diesel · March 17, 2008

sounds like a bandaid fix for a swing flaw, but i guess whatever works...

the handsy players have to have an incredible amount of timing, otherwise their off days are WAY OFF...

shortgames · March 17, 2008

Depends on hand position. If you have mid body hands then club will sit closed. Forward hands equal square or slightly open....

DFW15 · March 17, 2008

sounds like a bandaid fix for a swing flaw, but i guess whatever works...

the handsy players have to have an incredible amount of timing, otherwise their off days are WAY OFF...

It is not really a bandaid but a quote from either Arnold Palmer or Jack N, it is the same reason many pro players have drivers that have a face that is open 1-3 degrees vs shut 1 degree like most drivers. Another reason is that your body and arms are not in the same position at address as they are during swing impact. I will try and find the article or tip but it might have been a quick tip in a magazine from a year ago for all I know.

Bay1524 · March 17, 2008

Here's a link to the article:

http://www.golfdigest.com/instruction/swin...7/jimflick_0707

To me it sounds right, but I can't imagine taking my grip and setting the face open for a straight shot. Then again, I'm a teen handicap whose miss is a hook so maybe I should...

DFW15 · March 17, 2008

Here's a link to the article:

http://www.golfdigest.com/instruction/swin...7/jimflick_0707

To me it sounds right, but I can't imagine taking my grip and setting the face open for a straight shot. Then again, I'm a teen handicap whose miss is a hook so maybe I should...

I do not think that you move the grip within your hands but more of a shoulder or forearm shift that opens the club.

Lake · March 17, 2008

http://www.medicusgolfinstitute.com/forum/...read.php?t=1025

TDPearl · April 8, 2008

I agree with having an open clubface. I have fought hooks my whole life and when I am hitting it really good I have a pronounced open clubface. I thought that might have been unique to my own swing, but I guess if Nicklaus can do it, I can.

DGMVW · April 8, 2008

http://www.medicusgolfinstitute.com/forum/...read.php?t=1025

How funny that he's using rackets to demo...I used that analogy the other day to describe how I taught myself to hit a draw.

PurePursuit · April 8, 2008

Its good to have the club face slightly open for some...As where you address the ball is an inch or more before where you make contact with the ball. With the driver I like to open it up and aim left...bust the powerfade :good:

Stallion89 · April 8, 2008

Open definitely works better, not much just a little, helps you get a full aggressive turn in, which leads to more solid hits.

TEConnor · April 8, 2008

I played a match against a fairly accomplished amateur in our area over the weekend. He lined up every shot with the face about 5 - 10 degrees open. He fanned the clubface open on the backswing too (the clubface was about 10-15 degrees open to the plane at the top). For the first 15 holes he hit the ball pretty well. For the final three he hit three of the shrimpiest snappers that I've ever seen.

I asked him after a few beers how he hit those shots from such open positions and he said that is the only way he can draw the ball. Color me confused. If he sees a closed clubface, he said that he'll hit a cut every time. With the open face, he said that he can really, really go after it with the right side. However, he said that on the final few holes he opened the face up too much, thereby his mind wanted to close the face too much on the downswing. Doesn't totally make sense to me, but there you go.

Tim

phil75070 · April 8, 2008

I played a match against a fairly accomplished amateur in our area over the weekend. He lined up every shot with the face about 5 - 10 degrees open. He fanned the clubface open on the backswing too (the clubface was about 10-15 degrees open to the plane at the top). For the first 15 holes he hit the ball pretty well. For the final three he hit three of the shrimpiest snappers that I've ever seen.

I asked him after a few beers how he hit those shots from such open positions and he said that is the only way he can draw the ball. Color me confused. If he sees a closed clubface, he said that he'll hit a cut every time. With the open face, he said that he can really, really go after it with the right side. However, he said that on the final few holes he opened the face up too much, thereby his mind wanted to close the face too much on the downswing. Doesn't totally make sense to me, but there you go.

Tim

For some reason, if I set up with the club face closed I have it is in my subconscious to attempt to square it at impact causing me to have it actually open. If I set up square and rotate the hands and arms to open the club face slightly then the subconscious tendency for me is to square it up at impact.