Proper Hand Position at Impact

There is a misconception in golf that if you have your hands forward of the clubface at impact you will hit the ball farther.

I witness many golfers as they attempt to accomplish this “impact position” by setting up to the golf ball with the hands already pressed forward.  That does not necessarily mean you will achieve the same position as you actually strike the ball.

Let me share with you with what really happens at impact with the clubs in your bag!

Since you normally start your round on the course with your driver, let’s begin there.  The ball should be positioned forward in the stance therefore you DO NOT start with your hands ahead of the ball at set up.  Because the ball is on a tee, the driver will hit the ball on the upswing and your hands will be in the middle of your body at impact.  Your hands will not be forward at impact with the driver!

The ball position is also slightly forward in your stance with fairway metals. Once again, don’t position the hands forward of the ball at setup, and at impact, the hands will remain behind the ball.

The irons are naturally set up to have the ball position in the middle of your stance.  And, because the irons have a slight, built in offset, the hands will look forward of the ball at set up.  In doing so, make certain the club face is square to your intended target. At impact, the hands will return to “normal” which is what it looked like at set up.  The only difference is your left knuckles begin facing up at set up and the knuckles point downward at impact, without opening the clubface.

If you slice the ball, do not try and press your hands forward at set up or impact.  For straighter and more consistent shots, try and return your hands back to “normal”, which is where they started!