Want to get better? Practice your impact position

Of the wild array of things I see golfers working on, the impact position is rarely one of them. Yes, the desired outcome of any given swing change is probably to improve in this area, but just as we gladly spend hours attempting to hone a new technique, the same dedication doesn’t seem to apply to what is surely the most important position in golf.

After all, a good impact position can make up for a whole host of what would be considered ‘swing flaws’. How many times have you put the TV on and cursed Jim Furyk for having an ‘ugly’ swing? And I certainly wouldn’t argue. But the American is a multi-millionaire with a major championship under his belt. Not bad for having an action that most, at their kindest, would call aesthetically displeasing.

We’re all desperate to get better. We invest so much of our time, money and mental resources in a bid to lower our handicaps or to secure bragging rights in our weekly bounce game. But I don’t think we’re going about it the right way. I say ‘we’ because I’m right there with you.

I’ve been down the technical rabbit hole and it’s not a fun place to be. And I’m not saying you should never attempt to improve your technique, but it’s important to keep in mind what you’re trying to achieve and plot the simplest route.

Now each person might have their own thoughts on what the ideal impact position looks like, which is fine, of course. That’s for you and your coach to discuss. But practice it, please. I promise it’ll help.

Here’s Mike Bender, coach of two-time major winner Zach Johnson, to explain his take on the concept:

View this post on Instagram

| CLUBFACE CONTROL | Impact rehearsals . Dialing in the exact clubface ratio on every swing is the toughest component in golf to master. What the face communicates at impact plays a substantial role in dictating what type of shot will occur. The hands control what the clubface communicates. This is the one aspect of the swing that no tour player can master to perfection. Regardless of what technique is utilized every single swing requires an element of timing the clubface. Additionally no swing is immune to pressure. Having said that some are set up from a technical standpoint to increase the odds for success via minimum compensations which plays a role in facilitating repeatability more frequently. More consistent play week to week . Here Mike is seen working on a simple feedback drill that he uses with players at all different levels of the game. Because the golf swing happens so fast most people have trouble putting themselves in a static impact position. The more you understand and rehearse what this feels like the more it will blend into your game as a habit . The side bend & slight tilt away from the target with the hands forward is a position that the vast majority of golfers are not familiar with. Done properly and you’re likely to realize that there’s a substantial stretch taking place that most are not accustomed to . Head to our Insta Stories to see Tiger Woods demonstrating a picture perfect impact position from the target line perspective. Note the substantial difference between the hip and shoulder line #Benderized

A post shared by Mike Bender (@mikebendergolf) on Nov 17, 2019 at 8:34am PST

As Mike says, the golf swing happens so fast that most people have trouble putting themselves in a static impact position. But the more you understand and rehearse what it feels like, the more it will blend into your game as a habit.

It’s the age old adage of quality over quantity. Golfers are far more eager to hit ball after ball than to work on something effective that will actually improve their game.

It sounds harsh but our instruction editor is trying to help. Got any questions for him? Leave them in the comments or send him a tweet.