Positioning Hands at Impact

By Rob Knights

Do you have trouble playing golf when it's windy? Are your shots high and weak, easily affected by wind? Do you feel your ball flight is high compared to other golfers?

Well, you're not alone; many of my students come to me with similar afflictions. Usually, these problems arise because of the position of the hands at impact.

Many club golfers over-use their hands in the golf swing, causing the face of the golf club to be altered upon contact with the golf ball. The most common alteration is one where the top hand on the golf club (left hand for right-handed golfers and right hand for left-handed golfers) becomes cupped, adding loft to the club, producing a scooping action and a high trajectory to the shot.

The hands should remain passive throughout the swing and the top hand should not breakdown at impact. If this is achieved, a more consistent, low-trajectory shot will occur.

The following drill will force the hands to remain low at impact and should prevent "scooping" the golf ball. The result will be lower, more consistent golf shots.

First, stand your golf bag upright and place a golf club across the top of the bag so it extends a couple of feet beyond the bag towards you. Next, place a golf ball on the ground under the golf club, address the ball and hit it. Hitting balls in this manner will help the golfer reduce the cupping action of the top hand, keep the hands passive at impact and produce more consistent results.

Remember, this is just one component of the golf swing and if you continue to have problems with your golf game consult a qualified CPGA instructor for further information.