Square Clubface at Address a Must for Square Alignment

Thu, 03/13/2014 - 12:00 -- Don Trahan

If you want to hit a golf ball straight and with any sort of consistency, you need to have a square club at impact. But, impact isn't the only spot in which the clubface should be square. The setup determines the motion, so your clubface had better be square when you're in your address position.

Along with having a square clubface at address, you need to have a firm grip on the club. If your grip is too relaxed and loose, it's possible for the clubface to turn when you make contact. This will obviously have a bad effect on the flight of the ball.

Take a few practice swings and stop the club at the impact position. How does the clubhead look? Is it open or shut? Use the feedback to work on getting it to be square every time you swing the club. 

Starting with a square clubface is half the battle. But, it's an important part of the battle. Remember to always setup correctly in the Master Setup Position with a square clubface and you'll start hitting your target more often than not.

Keep it vertical and square!

The Surge 

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Comments

jon.lucenius's picture

Submitted by jon.lucenius on

Surge - thanks for covering this topic - especially closer to some nice weather so I can put it to use! Late last year I was gripping the club with a much firmer grip than before as you have taught. As a result, my impact position was much more dependent/related to the set-up - which makes sense. I'll pay more attention to the square face at set-up when I practice/play next and look forward to even straighter shots. Still working on alignment too!

Keep it square on and down the middle!,
Jon

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Hi Jon,
Glad golfing weather is coming your way soon. Cindy and I are blessed to be able to play year round here in Las Vegas. We just played nine this evening. Even though I play year round I find that I often need to refocus on the basics and important areas of set up and swing including alignment and a square club face.
My area needing attention now is once again the short game and putting. Seems just when you think you have some consistency it waves good bye for a minute again. I do get into a habit of just playing and not practicing. I am once again going to be spending some evenings after work chipping and putting till dark. Long, late Summer nights are coming. Love it. We are planting our veggies and seeds tomorrow as Spring is in full bloom here. Lots of peppers and tomatoes so fresh hot salsa and hot sauce soon:)

jon.lucenius's picture

Submitted by jon.lucenius on

Hi Rober, thanks for the encouragement - glad you can play there a lot although I know it gets very hot in the summer.

I get out to Vegas a few times a year, generally during the BlackHat and DefCON security conferences in the summer and other occasions. If I do get out there, I'd like to say hi & play a round if available. I'll likely not have my own clubs, how are rentals out there?

Thanks and eat well! (Hot sauce always = well :)

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Jon,
yes it gets really hot for about two months- July and August. Compared to 4-5 months of brutal winter weather many suffer back east, along with hurricans, tornados, blizzards, freezes, hail those two months are over rated as a problem.
Fortunately my sister owns a cabin up in the 10,000 ft mountains of Utah (3 hour drive) and the 40* less heat provides relief. Actually our nearby (30 minutes away) mountains above Las Vegas are usually 20-30 degrees cooler too. Many think our bad heat is 10 months a year or something so keep it quiet....shhhhhhhhh.....! Don't tell em how nice it is most year round or they'll all start moving here again. Better to enjoy your "seasons" there and just visit us once in a while thanks, lol! No weather, no pot holes and no rust here. Occasional dusty wind and rain three times a year. Right now it's 55* and will be 75* this afternoon.
Rental clubs are okay although if we play togother I have a couple of extra sets you can use. Let me know when your coming out some time:)

jon.lucenius's picture

Submitted by jon.lucenius on

Robert - Vegas sounds nicer than most people think most of the time. Thanks for the invite and the info on the rental clubs. Not sure when I can make it out there next, I usually come out for the last week in July (UGH) for the BlackHat and DefCON conferences. As soon as I know firm dates we'll see if we can shoot a round together.

Maybe some golf here next weekend!

SeniorGolfer73's picture

Submitted by SeniorGolfer73 on

Spring is almost here and the weather is starting to get nicer. Reread Don's book "How to Make A peak Performance Golf Swing". Took time to follow his instructions, good set-up, club back and up. Felt good to get back in the groove. Best investment I ever made was to attend Don's school. The instruction book brings all of the great instruction back to front & center. Looking forward to playing golf this year.

Ron Wincek, Hermitage, Tn