You may have heard this before, but it's all about impact when it comes to golf swing consistency and power. Doesn't matter how fast your clubhead speed is, or how hard you hit the ball. It's hitting the center of the clubface that produces maximum distance and consistency. If that's the case, why do so many golfers work on all the other aspects of the swing, if they could just focus on impact?
One "ah ha" moment I had recently was having my teach pro put me in the exact position, to feel it, look at it, and realize how my body feels in this position. Wow! I'm telling you I've never felt that before, and I'm a 7 handicap golfer, having played for over 15 years now.
1 2 Impact
So what's that say to all the golfers out there who are struggling to hit straight golf shots?
In my humble opinion, you must first start at impact, then work your way back in your swing. If you can't get it right doing a little chip shot, you'll never get it doing a full one. So the key is to get in the proper position in front of a mirror. Look at it. Feel it in your muscles and body. Now get back to your address position. Feel that. Now, go back and forth between address and impact to get the exact feel for the difference between the two.
Once you get this feeling down, you need to progress to a chip shot like mentioned above. This is only taking the club back 1-2 feet and contacting the ball. This way you can check your position post-impact to see if it's correct. This little drill you can do hundreds of times and not get tired, and what you are doing is ingraining the proper feel into your body. I can't tell you how much this will improve your consistency, power and distance.
If you struggle with off-center hits, whether it be off the toe, or near the hosel (shank), then you MUST do this drill over-and-over again until you hit the center of your clubface. Once you do, you will gain confidence to make a slightly bigger swing. And one great thing is your chipping around the greens will dramatically improve, which will lower your scores immediately. That's what I call icing on the cake.
So in conclusion, to improve golf swing impact, do the address/impact drill. Then progress to little chip shots and you're on your way to being a much more consistent golfer.