Getting the ball in play off the tee is vital. However, finding the fairway, especially when you are swinging your driver upwards of 80 mph is easier said than done. This is where clubface control comes into play and in this video and article, Top 50 Coach and PGA Professional Ben Emerson offers an ‘awareness speed swing’ drill that could make all the difference.
Clubface Control: Awareness Speed Swings
Clubface is king. It’s a sentiment you’ll hear a lot from coaches and that’s because the direction of the face at impact has the biggest bearing on where the ball ends up. Of course, your swing path plays a part, as do some of your fundamentals like your ball position, but if the face is pointing right, the ball will start right.
The problem many golfers face is that, at normal pace, it is really hard to work out what the club is doing and why the ball is going in the wrong direction. So to help, I want you to try some ‘awareness speed swings’. These are slower than usual golf swings that give you a much better sense for what the clubface is doing.
Start by aiming the clubface straight at the target (this is important) but intentionally hitting the ball right with a swing that’s around 25% of its normal speed. At this speed, you will get a very good sense for what it feels like to leave the clubface open.
Now do the opposite. At 25% speed, aim straight and hit a hook. Feel the clubface closing through impact and you should get a sense for how different this movement is to the slice.
With a third ball, try to hit a straight shot at 25% speed. For those golfers who struggle to find fairways but also can’t work out where the problem is stemming from this drill can be really valuable.
Hit some more shots, keeping the bad swings at 25% but ramping up the good one each time. As you add speed, try to maintain that awareness for what the clubface is doing through impact.
If you can devote some time to this clubface control drill at the range, your awareness will improve and you should start to get a sense for what needs to change to help you hit more fairways. Good luck!
