Golf-FAQ.com

why is my golf club closing at the top of my swing

by Lula Stehr III Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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When the right elbow flares out like a batter hitting a baseball, the club tends to go across the line at the top of the swing. A flared right elbow also causes steep angles in the swing. This position at the top of the backswing and the steep angles can cause major issues in the rest of a golfer’s swing.

A closed clubface at the top of the swing is when the angle of the clubface is facing more towards the sky. Often times the fix to one or all three swing flaws above begins with creating a slightly closed clubface position at the top of swing.Aug 30, 2011

Full Answer

Why is my club stuck at the top of the swing?

The club has crossed the line at the top of the back swing and is far from the ideal plane. This means that the golfer is forced to compensate during the down swing in order to be able to hit the ball straight and cleanly. Many player tend to get ‘stuck’ on the way down to the ball.

Why do golf clubs cross the line at the top of swing?

By over rotating the arms the club head moves behind the feet long before the shaft is parallel to the ground. The natural hinging of the wrists now takes place and causes the club to a point far to the right of the player’s target. The club has crossed the line at the top of the back swing and is far from the ideal plane.

Why do golf clubs work steep in the takeaway?

Vise versa, if the club works steep in the takeaway due to arms lifting and poor body rotation, it will want to shallow in the downswing. This causes a lot of side bend instead of rotation in the downswing. This side bend also promotes early extension and a flip of the hands at impact, which promotes a swing path that is too far from the inside.

What happens to the clubface during the golf swing?

If the left wrist cups during the golf swing, we–in turn–open the clubface. Now, if the left wrist flexes (opposite of cupping) the clubface will close. If the hands roll over so that the top of the left hand is facing the sky, the club opens. But if the top of the left hand stays pointed towards the ground, the clubface will close.

How to hold a golf club in position?

Which finger did Hogan use to grip golf clubs?

Why does Michael Connell keep his grips dry?

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Why is my clubface closed at the top?

1:073:24Clubface open or closed at the top of your backswing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if the player's club face is closed at the top of the backswing. What it means is the club faceMoreSo if the player's club face is closed at the top of the backswing. What it means is the club face is pointing straight up and towards the sky.

How do you fix a closed clubface at the top?

1:154:18What to Do if You Closing the Clubface Too Much in the DownswingYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFace close more we should use the arms. Last we should use the body. First you can see. If my armsMoreFace close more we should use the arms. Last we should use the body. First you can see. If my arms and hands go first my arms and hands leaves my chest. And starts working out towards the ball.

How do I stop closing the clubface?

1:033:54Identify Your Clubface Closing Pattern - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNot just the quick fix. So when we're looking at the clubface. Control. We want to break the swingMoreNot just the quick fix. So when we're looking at the clubface. Control. We want to break the swing down into a couple different phases. I want to see at roughly parallel to ground like this so we'll

Why is my club face closed at impact?

The palm of your right hand essentially mimics your face angle – if your palm is open to your target line at impact, the clubface will be open. If your palm is closed to your target line at impact, the clubface will be closed.

How do you keep the club face open?

6:427:52Open Face At Impact Golf Square The Clubface Easily - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipReally keep an eye on what your your wrists are doing in particular that lead wrist. Make sure it'sMoreReally keep an eye on what your your wrists are doing in particular that lead wrist. Make sure it's more. Down. Now it won't be quite as down for your driver.

What does a closed clubface look like?

At address, a closed clubface is one where the line of the face of the club is pointing towards the left of the target line (for right handed golfers). What is this? This is in contrast to a square clubface which sees the club pointing directly at the target or an open clubface which sees it pointing to the right.

How do you play golf with a closed club face?

0:282:21Ryan Palmer: Closed Clubface - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPeople call it a push cut well my hands are leading the whole way yeah you know one thing we work onMorePeople call it a push cut well my hands are leading the whole way yeah you know one thing we work on is Rainey says feel like you're putting the butt of the grip in your pocket.

How do you hit the center of a clubface?

2:424:09How to STRIKE golf shots from the centre of the club face EVERY TIMEYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd on the heel as you come in and very simply all you want to do is take up your stance. And thenMoreAnd on the heel as you come in and very simply all you want to do is take up your stance. And then as you swing through and hit you want to make sure that you're not striking either of the poles.

How do I keep my club face square?

3:527:33Keep the clubface Square through impact. Learn the Secret! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd keep the angle intact there and to drag it along the ground you see the puppy staying prettyMoreAnd keep the angle intact there and to drag it along the ground you see the puppy staying pretty square through impact there is a slight arc around the body.

Does a closed club face cause a slice?

The most common cause of a slice is an open club face. This open club face will give you contact that isn't square and often feels like a “side swipe.” The most common cause of an open club face is an incorrect grip as your hand position will directly reflect in the face.

Which hand controls the clubface?

The left hand (the right for southpaws), is responsible for the rotational movement of the golf club, which, in turn, controls the direction of the clubface.

How to Stop Losing Golf Grip During Swing (Left/Right Hand)

How To Stop Losing Golf Grip At The Top Of The Backswing. Playing golf requires a great deal of skill and practice. Despite practicing hard, there are several problems which are faced by the players.

Gripping down on the club - a huge difference? - The Sand Trap .com

the past week, my ball striking's been crappy. With my back starting to give way to the pain after the oxycotton's magic goes away, I haven't been able to control much of anything. I've also noticed that I've been gripping down A LOT on the club. It's to the point where you can have a good inch t...

Why do golfers get stuck on the way down?

This means that the golfer is forced to compensate during the down swing in order to be able to hit the ball straight and cleanly. Many player tend to get ‘stuck’ on the way down to the ball. This means that the club head is behind the line of the feet shortly before impact.

How to swing a golf swing?

Make sure that the shaft points only slightly to the left of your belly button (as described above) and hinge again. Only this time, turn your shoulders as soon as you can and as fully as you can. Keep the hands close to the body and make sure that the left arm stays straight. Now stop at the top of the back swing.

How to hinge your wrists correctly?

This is how you hinge your wrists correctly: Right from the start of the back swing, hinge your wrists upwards at a 90 degree angle. You will feel that, by doing this, you are your lifting the club away from the body. Do not worry about swinging too steeply.

What does "top of the backswing" mean?

By over rotating the arms the club head moves behind the feet long before the shaft is parallel to the ground.

Why do golfers bend their hands to the right?

This causes many problems such as closing and opening of the club face AND causing the shaft to be crossed at the top of the back swing. Think thumbs up and then you’ll be Ok!

How to counter a cross position in golf?

The easiest way of countering the crossed position at the top of the swing is by stopping the arms to rotate to early to the right at the start of the back swing. After correctly starting the back swing the golfer needs to hinge the wrists in a 90-degree angle while completing the shoulder turn. This will allow the club to arrive in ...

Why does the shaft stay on plane?

The shaft will stay on plane because you are actively turning your shoulders at the same time. To get used to a proper hinging of the wrists, try doing the following exercise: Stand upright and hold the club in your hands with a proper grip. Now hinge your wrists.

juliette91

Anyone else out there in golfland ever experience this? Feel like I'm losing the club,

Timanator

Post a video, I had a similar feeling a few years back, it was from an inconsistent grip, and not knowing how/when to set the wrist as I'm going back.

juliette91

Thanks for taking the time to reply. My grip hasn't changed since the time I wasn't having this weird sensation but I'll recheck it. Yes, I do hit awful hooks because of it. What makes most sense is the post describing the cupping of the wrist.

KYMAR

Sometimes when I let my left elbow get a little bend in it I get this feeling of losing the club (and it's too far inside) and that makes it harder to start the downswing with any confidence and it's oh good, two way miss all day, yay me.

Exactice808

Thanks for taking the time to reply. My grip hasn't changed since the time I wasn't having this weird sensation but I'll recheck it.

juliette91

Thanks for taking the time to reply. My grip hasn't changed since the time I wasn't having this weird sensation but I'll recheck it.

juliette91

Thanks for taking the time to reply. My grip hasn't changed since the time I wasn't having this weird sensation but I'll recheck it.

Is a closed club face bad?

We’re often told that a closed club face is a bad thing, and it is sometimes. Then again, it can be a good thing if other swing conditions fall into place. Let’s take a look at wrist action during the swing and what happens when you change conditions from address to the top, and how it affects the club face.

Should golfers play from a more square condition?

The average golfer should play from a more square condition at the top rather than one that is radically shut (i.e., Dustin Johnson). Not that the average player could not play from a slightly shut condition, but remember, compensations have to occur if you get much past slightly shut.

How to position a club shaft vertically?

The correct way to position the club shaft vertically at the top of the swing is to put it parallel to the ground. It doesn’t need to be exactly parallel to the ground but it should not feature either the aimed at the sky or to the ground errors. Such a position encourages the right amount of shoulder and hip turn as well as the correct amount ...

What is a laid off golf shaft?

A club shaft said to be in a laid off position is one that points to the left of the target at the top of the swing. In most cases the shaft will be pointing towards the sky also. It occurs whenever the wrists were lazy in getting into a full hinged position, which they ultimately never do reach. It can also occur when golfers adopt ...

What is the first error in golf?

Indeed, the first error is to position it past the point where it is parallel to the ground, to where it is aimed at the ground. This can occur whenever golfers over rotate their upper bodies and is usually associated with golfers that rise their left heel from the ground. It can also occur when golfers allow their left arm to bend at the elbow.

What is the opposite of the laid off shaft?

Opposite the laid off shaft position is the one referred to as across the line. In this top of the swing shaft position the club will be aiming to the right of the target, or across the line towards it. It can occur when golfers rotate their upper body (hips and shoulders) too much, or when they allow their left arm to bend at the elbow.

The mistake

Golfers have heard by now that they need to turn on the backswing — and indeed, they do. A big turn creates more power in your golf swing. The problem is what gets lost: You can’t just turn. It’s about how you turn.

The magic move

Lower handicaps have more shoulder tilt: About 7 degrees more of it on average, according to GOLFTEC, and usually more. Why is shoulder tilt a good thing? For a bunch of reasons, but among them:

Keano26 said

I am having a major issue. I use a neutral grip, but before I begin my take away, I always loosened and re-tighten my hands. I've always done this, and now when I undo and redo my hands just before I swing, I am closing my club face and hitting a low hook with all of my irons off the toe and my driver is absolutely HORRENDOUS.

Keano26 said

I golfed again yesterday and found that every single ball I hit, albeit with my driver, irons or wedges, was off the toe. When I was playing the best golf of my life just a month ago, one thing I was doing that I knew I have not been doing lately is my head has not been still. I didn't realize it until yesterday that my head has been swaying.

Keano26 said

I too find that if I keep my head still and focused on the ball during my backswing that I can make better contact with the ball. I've also had some issues with a low hook with my hybrid and FW wood. My driver has been very iffy lately. Two weeks ago I was hitting the ball with a very high flight dead straight or with a slight fade 260-270.

How to hold a golf club in position?

In fact, you can hold the club in position if the butt of the club is under the heel of your left hand and your left forefinger cradles the shaft. From this position, simply wrap your fingers around the club.

Which finger did Hogan use to grip golf clubs?

Hogan noted that the last two or three fingers of the left hand – the pinky, ring and middle fingers – provided most of the pressure, and they didn't need to grip too tightly if the club was held properly. He warned – as Bobby Jones did in his book – that a too-tight grip was just as bad as a too-loose one.

Why does Michael Connell keep his grips dry?

Golf professional Michael Connell makes sure his grips are dry so he doesn't lose control at the top of his swing. Many players have a problem with losing their grip on the club at the top of their backswing, forcing them to "regrip" the club as they start down. This is a common problem, even mentioned by Bobby Jones in his book, ...

What does it mean when a golfer gets into the correct position at the top of the swing?

A golfer who gets into the correct position at the top of the swing due to a solid backswing will be able to deliver the golf club in a much more consistent manner. I have been teaching the game of golf for over twenty years.

What are the common mistakes in golf backswing?

There are three very common mistakes that occur in the golf backswing. The first mistake is opening the clubface during the backswing. This move sets up a golfer’s followthrough to fail by creating an open clubface at the top of the swing and an open face at impact most likely causing the ball to slice. The second mistake is separation of the ...

What is the backswing of a golf club?

The backswing in golf might be the most important part of any player’s swing. It is what gets us into position to deliver the golf club to the ball. If we are out of position in the backswing, it is very hard for us to swing the club on plane and deliver a square clubface at impact.

How to hold a pizza in golf?

Remember, if the right elbow folds correctly in the backswing you can hold a pizza with your right hand at the top of your golf swing. If the right arm separates the pizza will fall to the floor.

What does it mean when a golfer has a flat backswing?

If the golfer has a really flat and laid off backswing (meaning the club shaft is more horizontal at the top of the golf swing), the player will cast the club over the top of the swing creating a vertical shaft, cupped left wrist (which opens the club face) and a leftward swing path. All of these symptoms lead to some nasty slices.

How to keep your elbows apart in golf?

You want it a little higher than in the previous drill, but still below your elbows. Take your golf swing without letting the ball drop. This drill forces you to keep your elbows the same distance apart in your golf backswing. If the right elbow separates from the left elbow, the ball will fall to the ground.

What is a golf backswing?

The golf backswing is one of the most scrutinized aspects of any golfer’s technique, and for good reason. A quality golf backswing sets you up for a powerful follow-through . . . and a poor golf backswing can alter your clubface angle, weaken your downstroke, and cause you to slice the ball. After all, nobody has a perfect golf swing by starting ...

How to hold a golf club in position?

In fact, you can hold the club in position if the butt of the club is under the heel of your left hand and your left forefinger cradles the shaft. From this position, simply wrap your fingers around the club.

Which finger did Hogan use to grip golf clubs?

Hogan noted that the last two or three fingers of the left hand – the pinky, ring and middle fingers – provided most of the pressure, and they didn't need to grip too tightly if the club was held properly. He warned – as Bobby Jones did in his book – that a too-tight grip was just as bad as a too-loose one.

Why does Michael Connell keep his grips dry?

Golf professional Michael Connell makes sure his grips are dry so he doesn't lose control at the top of his swing. Many players have a problem with losing their grip on the club at the top of their backswing, forcing them to "regrip" the club as they start down. This is a common problem, even mentioned by Bobby Jones in his book, ...

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