Greetings Golfers,

We all know that golf is frustrating. But I think what is most frustrating is not knowing where the ball is going and not knowing why or how to fix it.

No matter how you swing, the shot is a combination of club face and swing-path. Sure, the movements of your body affect the face and especially the path … but no matter what, your shots are a result of face and path.

To get a handle on this concept, it’s best to test this out at the chipping green. The chipping motion is so short that not much can get in the way of face and path.

If the club face is open at contact, the ball will go high and right like a slice. If the face is closed at contact, the ball will go low and left like a hook.

So, if you want to play a low, running hook chip-shot, you need to send the ball on a path right of the hole so that it come back to the hole.

Conversely, if you want to play a high, soft cut chip-shot, you need to start the ball on a path left of the hole.

Full-shot hooks and slices are just bigger versions of these two shots.

Obviously, it gets trickier with a full swing.

On the backswing, many people take the club back to the outside and put themselves in a position to slice the ball. If you take the club back with your right-hand in control, you most likely will take it back outside and up. If you take it back with your left-hand in control, you most likely will take it back to the inside and low … leading to an inside-out swing path.

But remember, the path alone doesn’t control the shape of the shot … the club-face especially does. I believe it is easier to rotate the club-face closed with your left-hand. Try it and see. And, I believe it is easier to open up the club face with your right-hand.

So, practice chipping with your left-hand in control on the backswing … and also in control as you hit the ball while rolling over your hands to close the face and hit a low, running hook.

And, practice chipping with your right-hand in control on the backswing … and in control as you hit the ball while sliding the club-face under the ball to give you a high soft shot that will spin right like a slice.

After you get the feel of those two distinct shots while chipping … go to the range and try those same shots on your full swing.

Then you will know how to shape your shots. And you will know why your shots go left or right … and why they spin like a hook or a slice.

Will this knowledge end your frustration on the golf course? Have you ever had the putting yips?

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com

Deer Run Golf Club
8661 Deer Run Drive
Victoria, MN 55386
(952) 443-2351
www.deerrungolf.com
www.facebook.com/DeerRunGolf
www.twitter.com/DeerRunGolfClub