Tip 7. Impact

Impact … the moment of truth
By Tom Talbott

Impact is often called the moment of truth. This is because no matter what you've done previously in your swing the ball is about to get a message from the clubface. The ball will respond to this force based on universal laws of force and motion. Three things to consider are:

1) The direction of the force
2) The angle of the clubface when the ball leaves it
3) The amount of force applied to the ball.

Let's first consider the direction of the force, often called the path of the club, and the clubface angle. One of the ways for golfers to get better is to improve their concept. Technically the moment of truth is NOT impact (when the clubface touches the ball) but separation (when the ball leaves the clubface). Therefore, it can be important to understand in golf that you are not trying to hit the back of the ball. If you did, and the force is great enough to flatten the ball on the clubface, at separation (when the ball leaves the clubface) the ball would start left of the target. This (poor concept) can be one of the biggest reasons for the over the top downswing motion which can result in a slice (if the clubface is open) or a pull (if the clubface is square to that path). Another result of trying to hit the back of the ball can be a bent left wrist at impact resulting in a loss of power and consistency. Because the ball flattens (distorts) on the clubface, the direction of the force should be to the INSIDE back quadrant of the ball and the clubface should be slightly open at impact so that it can be square or perpendicular to the target line when the ball leaves the clubface. One more time … the club head strikes the INSIDE quadrant of the golf ball.

Now let’s consider the origin and amount of the force necessary. Think of a basketball dropped to the floor from 5 feet in the air. Now think of the same basketball slammed to the floor. In the second scenario the ball bounces much higher off the floor due to the increase in applied pressure. The flatter the ball becomes on the floor, the higher it bounces. The only difference in golf is that instead of the ball hitting the floor the clubface hits the ball. It will be dictated by the situation at hand. Are you trying to hit the ball ten yards or 100 yards. After all, the bottom line in golf is to get the ball to go where you want it to go. This force (pressure) comes from the power sources and there are four of them for you to mix and match. Number one is the pivot (your body) and how fast you turn it. Think of holding a string with a weight on the end. The faster you turn your hand (the inside) in a circular motion the faster the weight (the outside) goes. The turning (centripetal force) creates centrifugal force. Number two is the folding and straightening of the right arm. Number three is the release of the angle between the left arm and the club shaft which produces velocity power. The fourth power source is the rotation of the forearms. Go outside with a golf club and make several baseball swings to experience these four power sources. The golf swing is about the loading, storing and release of these power source angles. A big part of impact is the proper release sequence and many missed shots are due to improper sequencing.

Let’s take a look at some pictures to help illustrate what you just read. Picture number one shows the club head approaching the inside back quadrant of the ball. Picture number two shows the storing of the four power sources until the right elbow clears the right hip. Picture number three shows that they are being released into the ball at impact and the clubface is slightly open at impact. The hips are turning, the right arm is straightening, the left wrist angle is releasing and the bones of the forearms are transferring (turning). PLEASE take special note that the left wrist is flat and the right wrist is bent. Picture number four shows that they are not fully released until the follow through position. Remember the release is not at the ball but through it. The longer the ball is on the clubface the farther it goes. To hit it far you are trying to drive the cover of the ball into its core. This is done by technique NOT effort. No amount of effort can produce more power than your maximum turning speed.

As the top teachers in the state and contributing writers, Tim Odegard, Dana Smith, Tom Talbott, and Trent Wearner from the Meridian Golf Learning Center would like you to call with any questions you may have regarding this article or anything about your golf game. They offer golf schools, private lessons, after work clinics, the most successful junior golf programs, as well as custom club fitting.

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