By Joe Durant
Photo By J.D. Cuban
Two factors affect the clubface at impact: the angle of the face at address and its rotation during the swing. I start with the face slightly open, because I want to be able to release fully without fear of hooking. Plus, I play left to right.
It's tougher to keep tabs on clubface rotation during the swing. When I practice, the two spots I focus on are hip high on the backswing and hip high on the follow-through. Going back, I want the toe of the club to point straight up (inset). Past impact, I want the toe to start turning up again (left). If I can get the face in those two positions — and I hit plenty of hip-to-hip shots to check them — I know it will be slightly open at impact, perfect for my little cut.
HOW TO FEEL IT
TRY ON A DIFFERENT FACE: If you want to know how much the clubface matters, hit practice shots starting with the face open or closed. Don't turn your hands at address to adjust the face; set the face open or closed, then take your grip and swing normally. You'll see a big difference in ball flight, and you might even identify the face angle that works best for you. Hint: It might not be square.
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