Instruction
The most difficult swing fix to make without an instructor
People often ask if it bothers me when I see members on the range working on their golf swing without my help — or anyone else’s for that matter. My job is to be an employee first, a friend second and an instructor third when it comes to my interaction with club members. Thus, I never “walk the line” in an effort to solicit lessons.
I talk to the members about all sorts of things, but I’ve learned that if they really want my help they will ask for it. That’s why I have never solicited lessons and I never will. The range is not a used car lot; it’s a practice facility — a place to relax and work on your game.
There is one swing flaw, however, that makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs so that the affected golfers will stop and take notice. It’s a shut clubface at the top of the backswing — the one where the grooves of the clubface are pointed toward the sky, or “getting a sunburn” as I call it.
It’s one of the hardest swing flaws to fix without an instructor because so few golfers are even aware of the flaw — and it causes the ball to go everywhere!
Photo 1
Above: Here is a perfect example of a shut face at the top. The clubface is pointing toward the sky.
Pushes, pulls, slices, and hooks — those are just a few of the shots that a shut clubface at the top of your swing can cause. It all depends on how you manipulate the face relative to the path on the way down.
Photo 1 shows a golfer whose clubface is shut at the top. I’ve found that average players who have a shut clubface at the top also tend to have a shut clubface on the way down. Let’s take a look to see what this player does at the halfway down position below in Photo 2.
Photo 2
Yes, the face is turned down a touch in this belt-high condition, but will it continue to be an issue at impact or did this player “repair” it during impact?
Photo 3
Photo 3 shows this player’s impact position. I have put this player’s target line on the screen as well as his face angle at impact so you can see what his face is doing at the point of contact. He has the face -9.0 degrees left of the target (shown by the red arrow), which makes the ball mostly begin in that direction as you can see by the ball flight line.
The shut clubface position at the top exacerbated the probability that the face was going to be shut at impact. Obviously, there are many players who play from this condition and do extremely well. Dustin Johnson has won eight PGA Tour events with a very shut clubface, but he has a swing that works with that position. It’s very hard to play with a shut clubface if you don’t know that you are shut at the top, during delivery, and/or at impact. So if you are shut and want to change, what can you do to alleviate this issue?
First you must find out why your face is shut at the top of your backswing. Three popular reasons include:
- A faulty grip — one that is too strong — at address.
- Losing the cup of your stronger left hand* at the top, so when the wrist flattens the face is shut.
- An improper left wrist position* at the top of the backswing. When it bows the club will tend to close.
Once you have figured out why your clubface is shut, you can get to work on fixing this flaw. Here’s a few things to try, and they correspond with reasons 1, 2 and 3 above.
- Weaken your grip.
- Try keeping a slight cup in your left wrist* throughout the backswing.
- Practice in a mirror while swinging a club with only one hand. Try both your left and right hands. This drill will help you to feel what you are doing to shut the face and what hand is most likely the culprit.
Note: Each fix is for a right-handed golfer. If you’re a left-handed golfer, simply reverse the body part mentioned (left wrist becomes right wrist, etc.).
What fix is the best? I let the student decide, because it can be any of the three. I usually find that most people cannot cup their wrist enough at the top, so I have to slightly alter their grip as well as their top wrist condition so the face is square and the left wrist isn’t as flat at the top.
Another fix for a shut clubface is to have a golfer “hold off” his release, but I would only recommend it if he is on the course and is imploding. I’d tell him as a caddy to aim left and hang on so he could have a repeating ball flight until he could get to the range. His shots might go 50 yards right, they won’t go both ways!
Take the time to audit your grip, wrist and face condition at the top. Remember, the key is for the face to be at a 45-degree angle at the top of the backswing and based on your grip sometimes you will NOT have a flat left wrist at the top as the instructional books say. If you have a neutral grip, then you can have a flat left wrist and a square face, but if you have a stronger grip and you flatten the wrist at the top, it will be shut. Death!
Photo 4
Photo 4 shows a square face at the top — not toe down, and not a “sunburned” face either. Use your mirror and a make a few practice swings. You’ll get the hang of it in no time.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
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 “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, 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!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
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 “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, 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!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
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” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, 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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Bill
Dec 10, 2016 at 12:00 pm
I play wedges through nine iron with a shut club face…so accurate. Eight and lower, I open it.
Brian
Oct 10, 2015 at 10:52 pm
Tom,
This is one of the few articles I have bookmarked because it was one of the most helpful I have ever read for my swing. I do have a question for you:
I have had a problem with losing balls to the left on bad hits and it was because I would come over the top “randomly.” It took me a while to find out why (I do not live near a credible professional). After finding this article and and videos of my swing I self diagnosed my problem as an shut clubface at the top of my swing and my very initial move on my downswing was “higher” than my plane on my backswing.
In order to correct this I have made a more conscious effort to turn my club in the backswing and then a focus on bringing the butt of the club back down on the same path. Since making that correction, I have not lost balls to the left, been more consistently straight, but my elbow has started hurting after rounds or sessions on the driving range. There was no problem until this correction but now I am stuck, I have a better swing but it seems to be hurting my elbow. Does that sound correct or is it extremely coincidental? Any ideas on how to move forward?
Thanks!
Josh
Jan 28, 2015 at 10:09 pm
Tom,
What’s the deal if you have a neutral grip, slight cup at the top and a slightly shut face? Still think weakening the grip would work?
Josh
Dec 21, 2014 at 6:19 pm
Click Here!
Craig
Dec 13, 2014 at 8:44 pm
Tom, I know I am late to the party but I would really appreciate it if you could help me. I have had a shut face at the top for a very long time. I’m a 5-7 handicap and I’ve noticed in many videos I have that it is already shut when parallel to the ground in takeaway. Could this lead to inconsistent contact on the heel or toe (right now its mostly heel) on my misses? What can I do?? Thanks Tom!
Jeffcb
Nov 30, 2014 at 10:52 am
An interesting article Tom. It most definitely depends on the individual for sure. I was told that Dustin has the perfect release for his swing. Makes sense given his ability. I was taught/ told that what a closed clubface as most describe it is actually pretty square to the plane and that square is actually 90 degrees open. It seems more logical to me if you trace those positions back to the impact position. Many ways to skin a cat but yes, a tough thing to change for sure.
Tony
Nov 26, 2014 at 5:45 pm
Tom. Great article. I tend to shut the clubface at the top as well as the pointing the club across the line. As much as I try not to, I tend to start the takeaway with my hands by bowing the left wrist which pulls the club inside. Any advice on what I should concentrate on to overcome this?
Bagger
Nov 26, 2014 at 3:35 pm
So would you rather see amateurs have an open face rather than closed? I get that square is the goal but if there was going to be a flaw, would you rather it be an open face or closed face?
TheFightingEdFioris
Dec 3, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Surely, he’d rather see it open. Open clubface is one step closer to a draw. Closed is one step closer to that ugly, low, pull-slice.
Jared
Nov 20, 2014 at 7:19 am
Interesting this article is published as I am dealing with the same issue. I can slice it, hook it, hit off the toe, ground it, etc… Got frustrated and went in the clubhouse yesterday and asked the assistant pro what I was doing wrong. He looked at my swing and said clubface was closed at the top. We then worked on opening it up and doing 9 to 3’s for a while. Took me some time to feel comfortable with it, then I started hitting flush and couldn’t believe how much easier it was to hit, ball flight, contact, everything improved. Wish I would have known this sooner. I’m excited to practice, but alas, the season is about done.
Tom Stickney
Nov 21, 2014 at 12:13 am
Thanks j.
Chris
Nov 21, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Tom —
My backswing has gotten too long so that I go past parallel. I’ve lost sense of where the clubface is at the top… and I’ve been missing both ways.
Can you provide me with some thoughts to help tighten my backswing back up, so that I can get back to feeling where I am at the top of my swing?
Thanks!
Tom Stickney
Nov 22, 2014 at 2:21 am
Chris– check the angle of your rt arm at the top. If it’s less than 90 degrees then you’re in trouble.
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Magnus Viken
Nov 20, 2014 at 6:25 am
Hi Tom, Great article!
I´m just curious, what if the problem was the other way around? Your club face would point straight down att the top of your back swing, in my opinion could that be “the same problem” but your cup at the top will be to concave? Will this make the ball go way right? This happen to me some times out of the blue and think my grip is pretty neutral. Actually my club head points about 45 deg as it suppose? but i still hit a few shots like this when i miss.
It would be great to hear your point of view on this. My hcp is 0 (swedish) and on a bad day i can shoot almost 80 on my home course but on a good one I’m down to -5 or something. I think this is to big of a gap.
Best regards Magnus
Tom Stickney
Nov 21, 2014 at 12:14 am
Magnus…toe down is an even harder position to play from.
Rick Fehr
Nov 19, 2014 at 11:44 am
I won tournaments at every level (except a Major) from a shut clubface position at the top with a relatively weak grip. I never intended to do this but feel that it can actually make proper impact dynamics far more repeatable than needing to “release” the hands. All that was necessary was to turn the body through and the clubface was where it needed to be. Fewer moving parts, etc. Then I decided (because so many said the position was “wrong”) to employ the services of a Golf Digest Top 50 instructor who insisted that I fix my backswing and clubface position at the top. Six months of hard work and my backswing looked like Hogan’s. It destroyed my game. All I needed from an instructor was to tell me that many great players have played from that position at the top. All I needed from that “expert” was to let me know that they all played predominantly from left-to-right.
Tom, I appreciate where you’re coming from and am aware of the hazards of an extreme clubface position at the top. That being said, all that really matters is where the clubface is delivered at impact. The Moment of Truth is not six feet away from the ball. I’m sure you agree.
Tom Stickney
Nov 19, 2014 at 2:12 pm
Could not agree more for the professional player. It’s not about aesthetics but function at that level for sure. I’d never change Dustin.
other paul
Nov 19, 2014 at 1:24 am
Playing a neutral grip, I just do a few back swings in front of a mirror once in a while. If things dont look right I make some back swings until I got it and then practice the adjustment for a bit. Onto the next thing. Grip mistakes feel easier to make then this.
Tom Stickney
Nov 19, 2014 at 2:12 pm
Agree
SAM
Nov 18, 2014 at 2:13 pm
Really impressive that you’ve answered all these comments Tom.
tom stickney
Nov 18, 2014 at 3:29 pm
Thanks Sam…if you are nice enough to read my articles and write a sensible comment, I will respond in kind.
Daniel
Nov 18, 2014 at 3:35 am
What about excessive Right forearm rotation in the backswing causing this?
Tom Stickney
Nov 18, 2014 at 10:18 am
Could for sure
Mike
Nov 17, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Tom, what about Dustin Johnson and Ryan Palmer and so many other great pros? My wrist and club head looks just like Dustin Johnson at the top and I hit the ball solid.
Jack
Nov 17, 2014 at 10:43 pm
Then you’re just fine! Why fix something that’s not broke.
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 11:35 pm
Agree jack
Kurt Wahl
Nov 18, 2014 at 7:25 am
The beauty of the left hand position Dustin, Lee Trevino and many other fine ball strikers have is that it presets the supination of the left hand at impact which saves these professionals several milliseconds of trying to do it the other way. Vijay Singh was trying to model this movement late in his career on tour. This can ignite all of your irons and create a boring penetrating flight with good spin. It is a shame this bowed left wrist is being denounced when it encourages a good left shift on the downswing, wonderful impact position, and takes the hands out of play. Go to YOUTUBE and look up TREVINO down the line….COPY HIM
Tom Stickney
Nov 18, 2014 at 10:20 am
Not denouncing it at all just saying it can be an issue if it’s undetected
Perfect
Nov 18, 2014 at 10:42 am
It’s not an issue at all, it’s a powerful hitting position. If you take it away from all the guys who use it as a power position, they will spray it every which way as their grip will get weak, their control will get weak, and they will have no power to hit with. It also forces you to engage your arms more than the weak grip position where you rely too much on body rotation, which all goes away as you get older, and it is a much better way to stay tuned into using your hands and arms to time the hit which will let you sling the club at the ball better than hoping that the body will do that for you, because it gives you a much better feel for the flat space down at the bottom of the swing that these guys are so great at finding.
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 11:34 pm
Mike- didn’t say you couldn’t play from there but it can cause issues if undetected.
mike
Nov 19, 2014 at 9:54 pm
I just think that like almost every pro on TV or in Golf Digest or any other magazine that you are just regurgitating the same stuff that has been keeping golfers from getting better for 70- 80 years.
A strong grip is the easiest way to become a good golfer with the right coaching and yet every single PGA pro goes the opposite way.
Do you assume like politicians that every golfer is stupid and can’t be taught or is it that you just don’t know what works best? It is a fact that you can play from there and that the average golfer can play better from there than with a weak (anything less that strong) grip. Learn to be better Tom. I’m not optimistic w/o even knowing you. Golf channel is unwatchable
because of this fact.
Tom Stickney
Nov 20, 2014 at 2:22 am
Mike– this could be the dumbest post I’ve ever had in the years I’ve written on wrx!
Max
Nov 17, 2014 at 5:57 pm
Tom, don’t a lot of pros have strong grips? How do they avoid the shut face?
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 6:18 pm
Either playing around it or cupping the left wrist slightly at the top
nikkyd
Nov 17, 2014 at 5:27 pm
Tom, i wish i had instructors around my neck of the woods like you. I wish i had instructors around my neck of the woods period!
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 6:19 pm
Thx nik
Steve
Nov 17, 2014 at 5:23 pm
One of the hardest? Take the club back. Stop. Turn and look if it’s shut. If it is, and you want to fix it, open it.
Like most things golf, it’s only hard if you make it hard.
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 6:19 pm
What if it’s slightly closed but during transition it closes more? Hard to feel.
Dave S
Nov 17, 2014 at 5:22 pm
Hi Tom – great article!
I sometimes battle this issue. I like to use a forward press to trigger my backswing and tend to hold that forward position throughout my swing. Typically, this helps me return the club to the same impact position, but sometimes I can literally feel the club being very shut at the top and everything goes haywire. I’ve tried weakening my grip and that worked wonders for a few rounds, but recently I’ve had trouble shutting the clubface through impact, resulting in a lot of pushes and push slices. Seems like every band-aid I put on my swing will work for a few rounds magically and then it’ll flip all the way to the other extreme. Rinse and repeat all season! Any suggestions?
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 6:25 pm
It’s your exaggerated address position forcing the left wrist into a flat/shut condition. Fix that.
Daniel
Nov 17, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Great article Tom, any tips for keeping balance, starting to fall off it. Thanks
tom stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 5:12 pm
If you have a lack of balance you have a pivot issue…check how you twist and turn to displace weight
TR1PTIK
Nov 17, 2014 at 3:26 pm
I used to have a shut face at the top that was largely due to the way I took the club back. After a lesson or two with my local pro that problem has pretty much disappeared. My biggest issue right now is getting my weight to the left side properly – I tend to slide my weight with little-to-no rotation and wind up using my arms way too much on the downswing which creates a weak impact position for me. Even if I’m taking a divot at or after the ball, video analysis shows that my shaft is straight up and down at impact in the best case scenario.
tom stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 5:13 pm
Sound like your legs are running out from under you moving your low point backwards…post up on the inside portion of your lead leg and you should find some relief.
JJ
Nov 17, 2014 at 3:11 pm
Great article Tom. I tend to get the club shut on the way back and loop it to the inside on the way down. My grip is a weak one. Any thoughts on rotating the left forearm to fix this?
tom stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 5:14 pm
jj– you can but be careful
Craig
Dec 13, 2014 at 9:53 pm
what would be a better solution than rotating the left forearm? I used to rotate alot and made myself stop but now my face is closed
Andy H
Nov 17, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Why are golf swing theory arguments so childish and spiteful? The swing is full of variables and pointing out something that someone else may not have formerly assessed can only attempt to help a player improve. You would think that you are reading political posts sometimes with the stinging commentary from the dissenters. It’s GOLF!!
tom stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 5:15 pm
Andy– people often criticize what they don’t understand…easy to hide behind a keyboard. I’ve been teaching for 21+ years…know the drill. Don’t have to prove my worth to anyone. Thanks.
Ben
Nov 17, 2014 at 2:11 pm
Tom any thoughts on someone who is battling the opposite? I tend to have an open club face at the top. My grip is neutral to slightly weak but I don’t believe it to be the culprit.
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 2:25 pm
Ben- is your wrist cupped at the top? Are you across the line or laid off?
Ben
Nov 17, 2014 at 8:15 pm
It’s cupped VERY slightly from the video I’ve taken. I’m across the line at the top ……
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 11:35 pm
Then those contribute to your open face.
Ben
Nov 18, 2014 at 10:17 am
Any drills I can work on that will promote a flatter wrist at the top. I’m working on stopping short of parallel as that seems to help eliminate the move across the line.
Tom Stickney
Nov 18, 2014 at 10:22 am
Ben. Check your rt Arm angle at the top.
Jafar
Nov 17, 2014 at 2:05 pm
Good Article Tom,
My clubface used to be in the “sky” position, but a I changed my grip and I am more on plane.
Fixing my backswing and body rotation is where I’m at now.
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Awesome j
cb
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:57 pm
love your articles tom, I’m a big fan. just had a quick question about feel. should i feel more of a natural/more active release of my hands if I’m going from a shut position to square?
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Yes. You can actually release it from a square condition.
Joe
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:28 pm
Ive always been proud of my flat left wrist at the top. The clubface was always a couple degrees closed but I didnt think anything of it.
I started cupping the left wrist a bit a couple months ago after hitting hooks for too long and its been a giant help for me. Strong left hand and a good cup at the top and my misses are WAYYYYY more playable, especially with the driver.
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:48 pm
Square is an “easier” position to play from.
SS
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:25 pm
Or hit the outside of the ball with an out-to-in swing and fade it.
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:28 pm
You could unless the shut face tends to make you doublecross your shots
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Shut tends to exaggerate the face to path ratio. Swinging more in to out only makes the problem worse.
Mickey Harris
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:36 pm
Yeah hitting the “inside” of the ball makes that shut face really mismatch path creating nasty snappers
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Mick. Nothing like left to left
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 11:36 pm
Yes
SS
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:22 pm
This is bogus. Regardless of the grip, the ball seems to “go everywhere” as evidenced by all the missed shots on Tour by the Professionals. They literally hit it left, right, long and short, regardless of their perfect grip and swing, so this article makes no sense. As mentioned below, so many players have had the strong grip/shut face set up and didn’t seem to really bother them. Yes they were athletes and therefore were able to work out a way to hit it that way as great athletes always do, to make it work. Also Stack & Tilt should be called a swing flaw for Drivers or for hitting a consistent fade, but you guys are too afraid to say so.
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:27 pm
ss…shut faces mean both types of misses not just one but the issue is that it’s hard to detect without help. There is no one fix for everything. Your comments are senseless within the context of my article.
gvogel
Nov 17, 2014 at 12:38 pm
Among players who play from a shut face at the top, besides Dustin Johnson, are Tom Watson, Brooks Koepka, Lee Trevino, Bruce Lietzke, Paul Azinger and Arnold Palmer.
So what’s wrong with playing from a shut face again?
Josh
Nov 17, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Nothing is wrong with it. “Shut” is an extremely relative term for the most part. Mostly what Tom is saying is that in general most Am’s who have a closed club face at the top end up with a closed face-to-path at impact or have zero control over the face of the club at all due to the position they get the club in at the top of the swing. Big difference from guys at the highest level who have completely control over the club face. DJ for example has a “shut” face at the top but swings from the inside and the face actually ends up more square to his path/slightly open. The only thing that is “wrong” is the inability to get the club face pointing in the same direction (within a few degress) 8/10 times. Which for most people is very hard without proper guidance. The feelings that Tom provides are great for finding the problem and then learning how to control it.
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Agree josh. Thx.
Mickey Harris
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:29 pm
I agree 100% with the point that the club face position at the top has relative value and in some cases has little to nothing wrong with it. Often times a “shut” club face can produce more shaft lean out of neccessity or grip which we can all agree to have a commonality with better ball striking. While “more shaft lean” doesn’t guarentee better golf I also think that labeling any preferential component as the “hardest” to cure or make correct without an instructor is nearly impossible. I’ve found that changing path within certain golfers is damn near impossible which leads to attempting to fix club face and initial launch direction to help golfers play better. One instructor may find another. While many sort through a phony hierarchy of instructors to find laws within preferences, I’d like to see us agree that the hardest thing to correct or change is something that has become habitual. We must then learn to either work with or against this mountain.
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 2:24 pm
Mick– you must find someone whom you agree with…100% agree
Tom Stickney
Nov 17, 2014 at 1:24 pm
I didn’t say you couldn’t play with a shut face but for every one of those players there are 10000+ who can’t play dead