Instruction
Are you properly managing your club face? Try this experiment
Recently, I performed an experiment on how golfers manage their club faces. I was curious to see how I could instinctively resolve the problem of executing a straight shot with an extremely open-face grip, as well as an extremely closed-face grip. Although both “golfers” are me, we will refer to the golfer with the extreme open-face grip as Owen and the golfer with the extremely closed-face grip as Chuck.
To perform the experiment, I used three different forms of measurement (video, FlightScope and BodiTrak) to capture and analyze data and make observations about how innate athleticism unconsciously solved the problem. My hope is that some of these observations might prove to be missing links to your quest to control the golf ball better — and that you might learn to trust your inner “athlete” on the course more often.
*Remember that these observations are not absolutes. They are simply one man’s way of resolving a problem. I do believe, however, that some of the observations I make will be useful images to help others resolve their stray ball flights.
Let’s start off with the FlightScope data. Note the obvious differences between Owen and Chuck’s use of the face-to-path relationship. Chuck instinctively swung the club head well out to the right to manage his club face that was pointing so drastically to the left. Note the exact opposite tendencies with Owen.
Note the rightward swing direction and closed club face for Chuck.
Note the leftward swing direction and open club face for Owen.
Now take a closer look at the BodiTrak information. Note how Chuck has less pressure on the backswing leg at the top of the swing and significantly more pressure toward the target leg at impact. Chuck instinctively recognizes that the more lateral his motion is toward the target, the golf club will be delivered into impact sooner than normal, and result in more of an open-faced position.
Note how 63% of Chuck’s pressure is on the trail foot at the top part of his backswing.
Note how 73 percent of Chuck’s pressure is on his lead foot at impact.
Note the exact opposite tendencies with Owen, who applies more pressure on the backswing leg at the top of the swing and makes less of a move laterally toward the target at impact. Owen recognizes that the hands and arms need more time to square up a club face that is so open, which can be achieved by making a later, smaller lateral move towards the target.
Note how 66 percent of Owen’s pressure is on the trail foot at the top part of his backswing.
Note how 53% of Owen’s pressure is on his lead foot at impact.
Finally, let’s take a look at the Video, starting with the set up. Chuck (right images) has the trail arm lower at the address position compared with Owen’s (left images), simply due to the different grips.
Chuck is on the right. Owen is on the left. The different grips changes their arm positioning at set up.
When the lead arm is parallel to the ground, Chuck has made a bigger turn away from the target and flattened his shoulder plane in an effort to set up his body to deliver the golf club on a more shallow downswing plane. He has started to cup his wrist in an effort to get the club face into more of an open-faced position.
Owen, on the other hand, is doing the exact opposite. He is trying to bow his wrists in an effort to make the club face more closed. He is not making as big of a turn on the backswing and his arm swing is more in front of his chest because he instinctively knows that he must prepare his body to swing left on the down swing to help manage his very open club face.
It is interesting to note how each “athlete” is preparing himself early during the backswing to help manage the drastic club face positions. Most backswings take approximately three times longer than the downswing. They are trying to maximize the additional time of their backswing motion.
Chuck’s bigger turn results with visually seeing more of his left leg and a deeper arm swing.
At the top of the backswing, the characteristics of the previous position have continued their evolution. Chuck continues to make a bigger turn and cup his wrists. Owen continues to bow his wrists and make a smaller turn. Both positions are ultimately trying to give each respective golfer a better chance of succeeding by delivering the golf club on a path that will help them match up or manage their club face position.
Note the different wrist conditions of each athlete, trying to neutralize their drastic club face positions. Note Owen’s smaller turn, resulting in more upright arm plane.
Now each athlete hopes to reap the rewards of their preparation. The downswing delivery of the golf club is producing a very different path for both Owen and Chuck. Owen is unwinding his body sooner, and delivering the golf club with a more upright shaft position. This should lead to a path that is more left of the club face at impact. Chuck is unwinding his body later and delivering the golf club with a more shallow shaft position. This should lead to a path that is more right of the club face at impact.
Note the different club face and shaft positions of each athlete. Even with bowed wrists, Owen’s club face is still open, and the shaft is on the lead arm. Note the exact opposite characteristics for Chuck. Also note Owen’s earlier unwind of his body.
The athletes have completed their mission, just past impact. Chuck continues to unwind his body later in the downswing sequence. This later unwind was instrumental in helping Chuck swing his golf club more right through impact. Owen has turned his body more towards the target at impact. This earlier unwind helped Owen swing the golf club more left through impact.
Both athletes succeeded! Chuck’s club face is still pointing to the right, past impact, for less of a hook. Owen’s club face is still pointing left, to help produce less of a slice.
In conclusion, because a primary goal of each golfer is to hit straight shots, managing his or her club face is an extremely important component to that execution. My hope is that each measuring device gave you clues to help solve the problem of managing your club face and hitting straighter shots.
There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” on RG.org each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more Tips!
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Joe Carrow
Jul 23, 2017 at 7:53 pm
I love these type of DATA driven article 🙂
Tim Schoch
Feb 28, 2017 at 8:26 am
I just found this article and read through the comments. I would suggest that no one has to duplicate the science and methodology employed to make the author’s conclusions in order to apply the knowledge to his/her own game. The joy of these articles is that in golf very simple things can make all the difference. For me, I yank the ball left every now and then, and this piece reminded me that turning too early in the followthrough could be the problem, or maybe it is my grip to begin with.
At any rate, I’d much rather have a well-organized article like this, full of photos and actually visual proof, than to hear some teacher on the radio tell me to strengthen my grip to get rid of my slice. For me, trying this method and “feeling” the swing and results reinforces my subconscious to step in and help me out if I go astray. If my subconscious does not help me out, it isn’t because the article is flawed, it is because I didn’t practice enough, and practice correctly.
Bob Pegram
May 16, 2016 at 2:16 pm
This article illustrates why learning to intentionally hit crooked shots helps your golf swing. If you learn how to hit the ball crooked on purpose, you then know how not to swing on the course. You also learn swing path and wrist/grip control. The way you use your wrists can make the ball go in different directions depending on which way you use them. You will have way more control of ball behavior.
Shankmaster
Dec 5, 2015 at 6:47 pm
You guys hurt Tim’s feelings, hope your happy!!!
Bob Jones
Dec 3, 2015 at 10:07 am
What I get from this article is that your swing a grip have to fit. You can’t have a strong grip and swing like you have neutral one, and vice versa.
Chris C.
Dec 1, 2015 at 12:25 am
First, I would like to thank Mr. Mitchell for sharing his insights. Second, I hope that my own observations are not met with Jack Nicholson like tirades. I respectfully submit that the swing manipulations demonstrated by Mr. Mitchell are far from instinctual. Instead, they are the result of Mr. Mitchell’s skill as a golfer. It is obvious that some have found this article instructive. Alas! I fail to grasp the point of this article and that is probably on me. Some years ago I was lucky enough to attend a demonstration put on by Bob Brue. He would strike balls alternating lay standing only on right leg then his left leg. He would use a ridiculously strong grip and a ridiculously weak grip. It did not matter how he started the swing. Every shot was a tight draw. Instinct had nothing to do with the results. The shots were the end result of a lifetime of honing his skill to insure that the bottom of each and every swing made solid square contact with the balls. Again, the point I am trying to make is that the various accommodations demonstrated by Mr. Mitchell are the polar opposite of instinctual. I much prefer tutorials assisting me in perfecting my grip; improving my swing and making it easier drop into the slot. Sadly, this article is not one to be saved.
Travis Saxton
Nov 29, 2015 at 10:06 pm
This is a great article. I’m attempting to make a transition from Owen to chuck and I’m nearly there. This reinforces several of my swing thoughts.
Louie
Jul 15, 2016 at 3:31 am
I think most amateurs would prefer Chuck over Owen….and even low handicappers turn into Owen from time to time….Tim is a very good player and just has better control over it…lol
Mad-Mex
Nov 28, 2015 at 10:56 pm
ATTENTION TIM!!!!!!!
These are the type of articles which made me stop buying Golf Magazines!!!
Tim the average player does not have access to the equipment you used!! How can US the general public who does not play in Private and $200+ green fee courses perform the same tasks WITHOUT SAID equipment!!!
And a little tip, next time you want to publish something to help golfers think of the average muni player and maybe of something which has not been tried.
prime21
Nov 29, 2015 at 7:28 am
1st of all, do you pay to belong to Golfwrx? 2nd, did ANYONE hold a gun to your dome and make you read the article? I bet SOMEWHERE at a local muni, there is a closed face Average Joe, as well as a open faced Average Joe, and Tim just helped show them how to square up their faces at impact, so that they could play better golf. What was also GREAT about the article was that he included PICTURES which showed the positional differences of how each player is able to find “neutral”. These pictures could be taken on a free app or GASP….one may have to shell out $100 for a high speed camera. This price can certainly be justified by anyone SERIOUS about getting better, especially considering an Instructor who probably receives $200/hr just laid out a detailed “how to” game plan to do it. So instead of making this an unwarranted attack involving socioeconomic undertones and ridiculous commentary, why not just say THANKS FOR THE FREE ARTICLE TIM, IT WAS GREAT! I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE EQUIPMENT THAT YOU USED, BUT BECAUSE YOU GAVE US A DETAILED PLAN ON HOW TO OVERCOME OUR ISSUES, I NOW HAVE SOMETHING TO WORK ON WHEN I GO TO THE RANGE NEXT. USUALLY FOR CHRISTMAS, MY MOTHER WAVES MY MONTHY RENT FEE, SO I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET TO THE RANGE AT LEAST TWICE NEXT MONTH. IF SHE LETS ME USE HER SMARTPHONE, I WILL BE ALL SET! THANKS AGAIN & MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
ungratefulPOS
Nov 29, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Mex, you are a piece of work. Why do you need a bodi trak, or a flightscope to measure this yourself. He provided the results of the differing actions so that the “average muni player” can relate to the positions. Moving weight vs. pressure in the swing, arm position in p5 and how that relates to p7. P1 reference point of grip and the effect that has on the swing.. He broke this article down into such safe terminology that the average person should be able to understand what he is saying. You need to calm yourself, people like you are the types that don’t come and get lessons from a professional, and then you complain that you can’t break 100. Give your head a shake and thank the man for his time. Golf professionals don’t exactly get the luxury of 8 hour work days, so you should be thankful that he put together the extra 2 hours of writing, formatting, and editing. That’s time away from his family and it is to help the average golfer.
You are selfish, and I am disgusted by your ignorance.
Tom
Nov 28, 2015 at 10:27 am
I’ll work on this as soon as I loose the ten pounds I’ve gained this holiday season
Mat
Nov 28, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Lose? ¯\_(?)_/¯
Tom
Nov 30, 2015 at 11:43 am
Awww thank you..that too.