Golf-FAQ.com

why do golf clubs hang toe down

by Aidan Gusikowski Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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If the two are perfectly aligned, the result is a face balanced putter

Putter

A putter is a club used in the sport of golf to make relatively short and low-speed strokes with the intention of rolling the ball into the hole from a short distance away. It is differentiated from the other clubs by a clubhead with a very flat, low-profile, low-loft striking face, and by other feature…

. However, as the axis of the putter shaft gets closer to the golfer in relation to the putter’s center of gravity when addressing the golf ball, more toe hang will be the result.

The more toe hang a toe-balanced putter has, the more the clubface will open and close during an arcing putting stroke (also known as an inside-to-inside or swinging gate putting stroke).May 11, 2019

Full Answer

Why does my putter have so much toe hang?

However, as the axis of the putter shaft gets closer to the golfer in relation to the putter’s center of gravity when addressing the golf ball, more toe hang will be the result. What that means from a feel perspective is that more toe hang will place the weight of the putter farther away from your hands as you swing the putter.

What is toe hang in golf?

(By the way, the amount that the clubface of a putter opens and closes during a putting stroke is called "toe flow." The more toe hang a putter has, the more toe flow it will have. So there's one more term to keep track of.) Toe Hang is Also Known As ...

Why do golfers hit the ball off the toe?

Some golfers, however, have a tendency to release the club early which can lead to hitting the ball off the toe. You should be able to see this on video by watching the position of the club face in the final few frames as it approaches the ball.

What does toe up mean in golf swing?

Addressing the golf ball ‘toe up’ is when the golfer places the clubhead behind the ball with the toe slightly off the ground. Doing this allows the club to arrive back to the ball square with the turf, as the shaft will naturally be slightly more upright at impact than address due to the forces being placed on the club throughout the swing.

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What does slight toe hang mean?

If the toe is drooping slightly, that means you have some semblance of toe hang in your putter. If the toe/face point towards the sky, you have a face-balanced putter. The neck design (slant, plumber's, etc.) and shaft bend directly affect the amount of toe hang in a particular putter.

How does toe hang affect putting?

0:336:40Toe Hang VS. Face Balanced Putters | TaylorMade Golf - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf i move it hold the toe down release it see how it bounces back that pure roll 2 insert going backMoreIf i move it hold the toe down release it see how it bounces back that pure roll 2 insert going back to perpendicular to the sky. The other extreme. That we have on offer is this example in the soto.

How do I stop my toe from hanging on the putter?

0:392:37Putting Solutions With Phil Kenyon: Toe Hang Putters - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe actually start to apply a force in the opposite. Direction to slow the club. Down. So if i wereMoreWe actually start to apply a force in the opposite. Direction to slow the club. Down. So if i were to apply like an in-plane force towards the target we can see how that toe wants to lag.

How do you tell if you have a toe hang putter?

These are the two basic putter types. Here's how to tell the difference: Place the putter on a countertop or table, with the clubhead hanging off the edge. If the toe points down to any degree, it's a toe-hang model. If the face points straight up, it's face-balanced.

Is a blade or mallet putter better?

While most golfers traditionally start off with a blade putter in their bag, mallet putters have gained popularity with advancements in control and stability through the stroke. Players with an arc stroke tend to perform better with blades because of the weight distribution between the heel and toe.

What is a lot of toe hang?

The toe hang on this style putter usually averages around 35° and coincidently most golfers have a slight arcing path. Golfers who have a pronounced arcing path or more of an exaggerated inside-square-inside stroke generally prefer heel-shafted putters, which will have a large amount of toe hang (60° and higher).

What is mid toe hang?

"Toe hang" is a quality of toe-balanced putters. The clubface of a toe-balanced putter will, when the shaft of the putter is balanced lengthwise across a golfer's finger, be angled toward the ground. In other words, the toe of such a putter will hang down, pointing toward the ground.

Do PGA pros use face balanced putters?

Golfers on the pro tour use a wide range of putters; everything from face balanced to toe hang in both mallet and blade styles. While many golfers like Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm have opted for face balanced putters at times, others like Phil Mickelson swear by a toe hanging blade.

Why do I push and pull putts?

0:122:22A Cure for Pulling and Pushing Putts - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd so often what i see with people is they don't grip the club. So that they only apply pressure onMoreAnd so often what i see with people is they don't grip the club. So that they only apply pressure on the sides. They grip the club. So they put pressure under pressure on the top of the bottom.

Which putters have the most toe hang?

Here are the 3 best toe hang putters:Odyssey Stroke Lab Tuttle Flow (best overall putter)Cleveland Huntington Beach #1 (best budget-friendly)Taylormade Spider FCG L-Neck (Odyssey alternative)

Can you putt with the toe of the putter?

If you find your ball up against the fringe or even rough, using the toe-putt technique (it's perfectly legal, by the way) can help you pass the putter through the thicker grass and make better contact with the ball.

Why do I aim right when putting?

Your eyes should be on the same vertical plane as the ball and your aimline or marginally inside. This orientation will deliver your line of sight in a straight line to your target. If your eyes are too far inside the ball, your perception of your target will shift to the right.

What is a toe flow putter?

In order for the putter head to move squarely along the proper arcing path, the toe of the putter must "flow" throughout the stroke. How and where the neck or shaft of the putter joins the head determines its toe flow.

Can you putt with the toe of the putter?

If you find your ball up against the fringe or even rough, using the toe-putt technique (it's perfectly legal, by the way) can help you pass the putter through the thicker grass and make better contact with the ball.

What Is Toe Hang In Golf Putters & Does It Really Matter?

An area that Fraser focused on was the difference between face-balanced putters and those with toe hang.

Why does my putter hang?

We now know that toe hang occurs when a putter has more weight in the toe than the heel. The setup causes your putter face to open more at impact than a face-balanced putter and best suits those of us with an arced stroke.

How to find out how much toe hang a putter has?

The quickest way to find out how much toe hang your putter has is to check the manufacturer’s website . You will find the toe hang details on the specifications page of your putter.

What is the difference between a putter and a toe hang?

To find out which design you have, balance the putter on your fingers. If the toe of the putter is facing downwards, then your putter has toe hang.

What does a toe hang putter promote?

According to Andrew Tursky from Golf.com toe hang putters promote an open face at impact.

What does an open face at impact do on a toe hang putter?

An open face at impact starts the ball off to the right of the desired line reducing your chance of draining the putt.

What happens if you don't square your face up?

When you can’t square your face up at impact, it leaves the putter face open and causes you to push your putts. As a result, you start your ball off on the wrong line and never have a chance of draining it.

What does "toe hang" mean in golf?

So you know what toe hang means in a putter: more toe hang is needed for a golfer who has a strong arc putting stroke ; less toe hang for a golfer with a slight arc and no toe hang for a golfer with a straight-back-and-through stroke.

What does it mean when a putter has more toe hang?

The more toe hang a toe-balanced putter has, the more the clubface will open and close during an arcing putting stroke (also known as an inside-to-inside or swinging gate putting stroke). What that means is this: If you have a more pronounced arcing putting stroke, you'll want a putter with more toe hang; If you have more of a subtle arc in your ...

What is the clubface of a putter?

The clubface of a toe-balanced putter will, when the shaft of the putter is balanced lengthwise across a golfer's finger, be angled toward the ground. In other words, the toe of such a putter will hang down, pointing toward the ground.

How to make sure your putter's toe hang matches up to your stroke?

But the fool-proof way to make sure that your putter's amount of toe hang matches up to your particular type of putting stroke is to get a putter fitting. Clubfittings are much better known - making sure your driver, irons and wedges are fitted to the specifics of your swing - but putter fitting s are also available and can be very helpful. A putter whose properties are not well-suited to your style of putting is a putter that is costing you strokes.

What is a toe-balanced putter?

Toe hang can also be called "toe droop." A toe-balanced putter can also be called a toe-weighted or toe-down putter.

What is a toe hang?

"Toe hang" is a quality of toe-balanced putters.

Do putters have toe hang?

So that's the first thing: If you see a putter advertised or marketed as face-balanced, you know it has no toe hang.

How to swing a golf club in each direction?

The club should stay parallel to the ground as you turn in each direction. Now, move into your golf stance , bending at the hips (not the waist), with the club across the shoulders in the manner described above. Rotate the shoulders slowly right, then left , as though hitting a golf ball.

Why is it important to hit the sweet spot on a golf club?

The center of your club face is going to be the best possible place to strike the ball because it provides the greatest transfer of energy from the club into the ball – meaning maximum distance on your shots. If you were able to make contact with the ball on the sweet spot for every shot that you hit, you would be amazed at the improvement in performance that you would experience.

How to hit a punch shot in golf?

Try to hit the ball lower than usual by placing it back in your stance and hitting down through the shot into an abbreviated finish position. Punch shots are useful on the course for avoiding trees or even wind, but they are just as good on the driving range for sorting out swing problems. Why do they work so well? Because they go after both the swing issues highlighted earlier – early release, and standing up out of the shot. You can’t make either one of those mistakes and hit a good punch shot, so it is the perfect drill to solve your golf swing toe hits problem.

How to keep your spine angle on the backswing?

Rotate the shoulders slowly right, then left, as though hitting a golf ball. Keep your shoulder level consistent and level from setup to follow-through. Watch yourself perform this drill with a mirror to your right. This will show you if you’re maintaining the spine angle on the backswing.

How to do a backswing with a golf club?

Stand upright and place a club across your shoulders, behind your neck, and hold it in place with the wrists or hands. Turn your shoulders to the right as you would when making a backswing; rotate back to the left in the same manner, all while remaining in an upright position. Repeat several times.

How to make better contact in driving range?

Simply set a goal to make better contact and hit a higher percentage of your shots on the sweet spot. After you put in more practice time on the driving range, you will get more comfortable making good contact and you can turn your attention to making sure those shots are flying in the right direction.

How to know if your hands are releasing too early?

You should be able to see this on video by watching the position of the club face in the final few frames as it approaches the ball. If it looks like the club face is turning down too much as it gets near impact , you can be sure that your hands are releasing too early. This error is often accompanied by shots that are pulled to the left of the target line. So, if you are hitting shots that frequently come up short and left of the target, an early release is a very likely culprit.

What is the best way to balance a putter's toe?

The putter’s toe will fall midway between horizontal and the ground when you balance it on your index finger. This style of set-up is better for slight arc strokes.

Why is it important to get the right putter?

Getting the right putter model to suit your individual stroke is absolutely crucial if you’re to optimise your putting potential. Make the wrong decision and there’s a real possibility you’ll end up with a putter that’s weighted to fight your natural stroke, which leads to inconsistency on the green.

What is the closing angle of a straight stroke putter?

Ping says: If you take the putter back and through on a relatively straight path with a closing angle of 3.5° or less, then you’ll putt most consistently with a face-balanced model. Ping identify straight stroke putters with a blue (straight) shaft label.

Which finger is better for toe down?

Balanced on an index finger, the toe of a toe-down model will naturally point more downwards towards the ground. This set-up is a better fit for stronger arc strokes.

Why does ping go to lengths?

That’s exactly why Ping goes to such lengths (with its fitting programme and iPing app) to make sure you get it right. So if you’ve ever loved a putter’s shape, but found you’ve never really putted well with it, there’s a good chance the set-up wasn’t right for your stroke.

What does it mean when a golf club strikes the toe?

Mis-hits that strike the toe of the golf club will often cause a ‘rattling’ sensation that travels up the club shaft and can be felt in the golfer’s hands and arms, and often produce a draw or even hook ball flight.

Where is the toe of a golf club?

The toe of the golf club is the outermost part of the clubhead, located at the opposite end to the hosel on the other side of the ‘sweet spot’. It is the section of the golf club that is farthest away from the golfer when addressing the ball. Mis-hits that strike the toe of the golf club will often cause a ‘rattling’ sensation ...

How should a golf club lie on the ground?

You should be able to fit a small coin under the toe of the club at address, with the heel remaining in contact with the ground.

What happens if the golf club is too upright at address?

If your golf club is too upright at address, it can lead to the toe of the club digging into the turf at impact. This is because during the golf swing, your hands – and hence the club shaft – naturally become more upright due to the forces created. This will negatively affect your ball-striking.

Should I have the toe up at address with irons?

Yes. When hitting i rons, you should always address the golf ball with the toe of the club slightly up. This will ensure the clubhead arrives at the ball square at impact and will lead to better interaction with the turf, resulting in straighter shots.

What does it mean to set the club with the correct amount of toe up?

Setting the club with the correct amount of ‘toe up’ will prevent the toe or heel of the club digging into the ground at impact, and allow the clubhead to interact with the surface in the most efficient way.

Why do golf clubs address the ball?

Addressing the golf ball ‘toe up’ is when the golfer places the clubhead behind the ball with the toe slightly off the ground. Doing this allows the club to arrive back to the ball square with the turf, as the shaft will naturally be slightly more upright at impact than address due to the forces being placed on the club throughout the swing.

Why do golfers fixate on their head shape?

Golfers tend to fixate on the head shape when they begin the search for a new putter — and rightfully so. It’s important to have something that passes the eye test. But there’s more to a new putter than dashing good looks.

What does it mean when your putter is balanced?

Once the putter is balanced on your finger, take a look at how the “toe” — the part of the putter where the neck isn’t connected to the head — is positioned. If the toe is drooping slightly, that means you have some semblance of toe hang in your putter. If the toe/face point towards the sky, you have a face-balanced putter.

What is the goal of a putter?

The goal with any putter is to get the face square to the target at impact. The path you take to get there varies. For some golfers, a straight-back-straight-through stroke with minimal face rotation produces consistent results. Then you have those golfers who rotate the face open-closed but still manage to get the face relatively square at the impact position, Tiger Woods included.

How to balance a putter?

Now adjust your finger position until the putter is perfectly balanced. Once the putter is balanced on your finger, take a look at how the “toe” — the part of the putter where the neck isn’t connected ...

Can a putter take a stroke?

Unless you’re a good putter who has a strong handle on putter mechanics and what works and doesn’t for your stroke, you’d be best suited getting a certified club-fitter involved to have them take a look at your stroke.

Why do putters have toe hangs?

Due to increasing demand for toe hang options in both the market as a whole and in the professional game, putter makers have increased the amount of hosel options that lead to differing degrees of toe hang. In the most basic sense, more toe hang will better suit golfers who have arcing strokes; these players tend to rotate the face open and shut more throughout the stroke. Face balanced designs, on the other hand, typically suit golfers who have a more straight-back and straight-through stroke with little or no face rotation.

How to tell if a putter is toe hang?

You can figure out the toe hang of your putter by balancing the shaft on your finger, as illustrated above. When the club is perfectly balanced and sits horizontal relative to the ground, take a look at the club head. The more the toe of your putter head droops toward the ground, the more toe hang it has. If the face of your putter points toward the sky, then it’s face balanced.

Why do putters have to square their faces?

As you change direction to make the forward stroke, the putter head continues to lag, causing the putter head to remain open. Therefore, as the putter head moves more toward impact , the golfer must close the face to square it. Without squaring the face up, golfers may have a tendency to leave the face open and push the ball. For righties, that means missing the target to the right (lefties who “push” will miss left).

What is a toe hang putter?

One particularly important ( yet often misunderstood) ingredient in finding a putter that fits your stroke is something called “ toe hang .”. Essentially, toe hang helps describe the relationship between the axis of the putter shaft and the head’s center of gravity (CG).

Why do putters fit different strokes?

Factors such as putter length, grip size, grip shape, overall weight, swing weight, lie angle, loft, head shape, face design, shaft material and hosel configuration all play an important role in how a certain putter marries up with your particular stroke . That’s why a putter fitting is so helpful if you’re searching for comfort and confidence on the putting green.

What is the point of Rife's point?

Rife’s point, though, is that those who struggle with squaring the face may want to opt for face balance. “We have good players that can handle [the release of toe hang putters],” Rife said. “For those who are not highly skilled in squaring the face up at impact, then those people need more face balance.

Which is better, toe hang or face balanced?

In the most basic sense, more toe hang will better suit golfers who have arcing strokes; these players tend to rotate the face open and shut more throughout the stroke. Face balanced designs, on the other hand, typically suit golfers who have a more straight-back and straight-through stroke with little or no face rotation.

Why does my golf club dig into the ground?

It can be practiced throughout the bag. If the toe or heel of the club also dig into the ground, there are two likely causes. Either the swing paths are excessively out-to-in or in-to-out respectively or the club is either too upright or flat for the afflicted golfer.

How to know if a golf club is going in too deep?

Toe going in too deep. When the deep side of the divot is out toward the toe of the club, your club face will likely be open to the target at impact. Players who have trouble with this mistake will notice that the ball starts right and then continues to fade even farther right from there. Also, you are likely to feel an uncomfortable twisting of the club in your hands when you strike the ball with the toe heading down into the ground. As the toe of the club dives into the turf, the club face will be rotated open, and the grip may even turn in your hands. Nothing about this kind of impact will feel 'solid', and you will likely know something is wrong even before you look at the divot. When you feel something is off with your contact, check your divot to confirm your feelings. The divot is physical evidence that can support what you are feeling in the swing – giving you everything you need to go ahead with the necessary swing changes.

Why are my divots so deep?

Divots which are too deep are almost always a sign of a steep angle of attack. All iron shots have their own swing arc which bottoms out just after impact with the ball.

How to tell if a golf club is digging in too steeply?

In addition to the path, also look to see if the toe or heel of the club is digging in too steeply after impact. This can be evaluated by looking at the depth of the divot. Ideally, the depth of the divot will be even from heel to toe, meaning the club went into the ground with the sole flush against the turf.

How to get rid of deep toe divot?

Following are three easy fixes that just might be able to remove the deep toe divot from your game. Stay down in your posture. It is important that you maintain your posture throughout your golf swing. You should be starting in a comfortable, athletic posture with plenty of knee flex and good balance.

How to make a perfect golf swing?

In a perfect swing, the sole of your club would match beautifully with the turf when you contact the ball. Your divot would be even all the way across, and you would take a shallow strip of grass out of the ground on each shot. As you should already know, a perfect golf swing doesn't exist. However, you can strive to make your swing as close to this standard as possible by watching the progression of your divots. If you can get to a point where you are taking an even, rectangular divot on every swing, you can be confident that the club face is in a great position at impact.

Why is there no standard set of clubs?

Because everyone is physically different, in some cases drastically different, there is no such thing as a 'standard' set of clubs. Being correctly measured for a set of clubs is essential to achieve the most from your game and will help stop divots featuring too much heel or toe dig. Cause and Cure of Deep Toe or Heel Golf Divots – Golf Tip.

Why should a putter not have a toe up?

A properly fitted putter should not have the toe up at address, because the address position is how the putter will present itself to the ball at impact. There are practically no additional centrifugal forces -- other than those associated with the forces of gravity-- on the putter when making a stroke compared ...

How did Wilson fill the cavity of the golf club?

To make the club conform to the rule, Wilson filled the very bottom of the cavity where it exited at the sole, with a hard rubber like substance. This did not affect the movement of the face but did prevent dirt from accumulating inside the cavity ' something they hadnt thought about.

What is the C.G. of a shaft?

The c.g is forward of the shaft and approximately in the center of the head and because it is away from the shaft axis, the centrifugal force will bend the shaft down (droop) and align the face properly (or almost properly) at impact. Glad you are enjoying the column and thank you for your kind comments.

Should drivers always have their toes up at address?

Drivers should always have the toe up at address ' if the hands return close to this position while impacting the ball -- because during the last portion of the swing there is a centrifugal force of up to 70 pounds just before impact, acting at the center of gravity (c.g.) of the head.

Is the putter toe line horizontal?

So you should have the putter toe/heel line horizontal at address. A radius on a sole of a put ter is generally a good thing so the center of the sole should be in contact with the ground in the set up position.

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