Swing Direction

In the last two issues we discussed the impact of the clubface and the attack angle at impact. The other of the big three impact factors is what is commonly referred to as swing path. Club path is a little tricky, but we’ll keep it simple. Trackman defines it like this: 

“Club Path is the direction the club head is moving (right or left) at impact and is measured relative to the target line.”

Most golfers relate this to hitting the ball “in-to-out” or “out-to-in.” This dynamic is partly responsible for the shot shape or curvature. A club face open to the direction of the club will slice, and one closed will hook. Professionals, when attempting to hit deliberate fades or draws, will use this club direction to create those shots. Most amateurs do this unintentionally causing big slices or hooks, and, for that reason, it helps to know the real direction of the club. A golfer MUST know the root cause of poor shots. That is the value of this (and all of my previous articles) - raising your swing IQ can save you strokes! The following dynamics are responsible for the swing direction:

• Because we stand aside the ball, the club cannot be swung in a straight line. 

• The rotation of the torso and the lower body creates an arcing motion of the golf club. 

• That arc creates a swing direction. 

• To allow ourselves the best chance to swing the club in a proper direction, we should aim there. 

• Lack of proper rotation will create a poor swing path. 

If our goal is to have the impact directed at the desired target, we start by aiming at the target. This seems fairly straightforward, but it is actually more difficult. The problem starts with aim. Most amateurs do not aim at the target. They think they do but, very often, they are not. Here’s why: All golfers have a “miss.” Slices, hooks, pulls, pushes, whatever…because they get used to that shot pattern, they AIM AWAY FROM THAT MISS! Slicers aim left, and so on…that golfer will swear they are aiming directly at the target but often they are not even close! The ONLY way to get over this hump is to practice with clubs on the ground and get a feel of what aiming at the target actually feels like. Then, and only then, if you pull or push, slice or hook, you will know it was NOT your alignment. It always amazes me that the best players in the world practice with clubs on the ground but club golfers do not?

Once you have actually aimed at the target, the backswing begins with a rotation of your torso. Think of golf as a “side on” game, not a straight-line game. The only way we could golf with a straight-line swing would be if we played with the ball between our feet!

 As we rotate, the golf club arcs to the inside, and as we rotate coming through the golf club arcs back to the inside. The swing is only straight for a very, very brief time - at impact! Without a swing path that is on an arc, we are flirting with disaster! Golf is very baseball-like in this sense; they too hit the ball from standing aside and the bat is swung around; golf is baseball on the ground!!!So, the rotation of the body is necessary for a good swing arc in your swing.

The last point to consider is swing “bottom.”  You have heard me refer to this in many articles and it is critical to understand. All things being equal, an in-to-out swing path tends to “bottom out” early and an out-to-in swing path tends to bottom out too late. This is not an absolute law of physics but is very often the case. So we can see the importance of swing direction as well as attack angle and club face.