Wondering how to square the clubface without a grip change? Do this
Follow these tips for better contact and longer shots - without changing your grip.
YouTube/DurlandGolfSchoolNaples
Every golfer wants to know how to square the clubface more frequently, as it will help control each shot and add more length.
Why squaring the clubface is so important, according to the ClubTest robot
Problem is, in the hunt to find that consistency, many players end up either changing their grips or their entire swings, which adds confusion and frustration while trying to hit the golf ball.
Lucky for all of us, GOLF Top 100 Teacher Mark Durland recently posted a YouTube video showing how to square the clubface without adjusting anything on your grip.
To see the suggestions from Durland, take a look at the video below.
How to square the clubface without changing the grip
Change your wrist conditions
In the video, Durland says that squaring the clubface has “more to do with the wrist than it does with the grip.” However, he also adds that a player’s grip could impact the way they use the wrists in a shot.
“If I go to the top of the backswing and that clubface is square, if I want to close it, I’m not going to change my grip; I’m going to change my wrist conditions,” Durland says. “I’m going to create a little bit more flexing of my lead wrist, and bowing of my trail wrist or extension of my trail wrist. If I wanted to open it, I’d go the other direction.”
The clubface should mirror your lead arm
Regardless of being a right-handed or left-handed player, Durland says that, to keep the club square through the backswing, the clubface must mirror the lead arm. For a righty, this means the left arm (and vice versa for a lefty player).
“When I get to the top of the backswing, and [as a righty] that clubface mirrors my left arm, when they’re parallel, that’s a very square position,” says Durland. “If I bring that back down to impact, you can see it’s pointed right at the camera [which is square].”
When using a strong grip, open the clubface 5-10 degrees
For players who use a strong grip and struggle with hooks, Durland suggests opening up the clubface just a tiny bit in order to try and keep it square through impact.
“What you can do is open the clubface at address,” Durland says. “I’m not saying open at 30 degrees. I’m saying open at 5 to 10 degrees.”
What’s the difference between a strong, weak and neutral golf grip?
By doing this, Durland says it will keep the hands neutral, resulting in a square clubface as it contacts the golf ball.
“As I get my golf grip, my hands are actually neutral to the clubface. So I find it much easier for students to absorb changing the clubhead end versus changing the grip end.”
When using a weak grip, close the clubface 5-10 degrees
Contrary to opening the clubface when using a strong grip, Durland says to simply do the opposite for those with a weak grip, which will help square the clubface.
“If I’m a little more weak, I can now close the clubface a couple degrees,” Durland says. “My hands are now stronger, or closer to a neutral position, and they’re not weak anymore.”
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