Tool Time for Clubhead Speed
By Michael Hebron, PGA Master Professional, CI, Smithtown Landing CC,
Smithtown, NY
Most golfers relate clubhead speed with force at impact: they believe the
faster they swing the clubhead, the farther they’ll hit the ball. That’s why you
find some amateurs trying to swing at the same speed as the Tour pros.
Unfortunately, how much clubhead speed you generate is irrelevant if the
force applied to the ball is not applied effectively. This is one of the keys that
separates Tour professionals from the rest of the world; their ability to
transport effective mass through impact.
What is effective mask? It’s applying a force that is being pulled, not pushed,.
At impact, the shaft must be leaning in the direction it’s being pulled, which is
toward the target. This forward leaned of the shaft puts pressure down into
the ball, compressing it and making it rebound off the clubface and into flight.
If the shaft is leaning away from the target at impact, the clubhead has passed
the hands too early, creating a pushing forests that decelerates the club.
Clubhead mass is more effective when it’s being pulled. To understand this,
look at some common everyday tools, such as a mop, paintbrush, and
hammer. When using a mop, its handle is on an angle leaning ahead of its
strings (and in the direction it’s being pulled). When applying paint to a wall,
the handle is leaning ahead of the brush’s bristles. And when using a
hammer, the butt end is on angle that is in front of its head.
The golf club is most effective when used the same way. Each club is
designed so that when it is soled at address, the handle is ahead of the
clubface. This angle should be maintained through impact, i.e., the clubhead
behind the hands and the shaft in line with the left arm and angled in the
direction it is being pulled. At impact, you should feel as if the whole shaft is
leaning on the ball.
To Contact Michael Hebron’s School for Learning Golf please call 1-800-444-
0565 in the United States, or email us - michael@michaelhebron.com
2001, 2002,2008 Copyright Michael Hebron, all rights reserved, reprinted @
www.michaelhebron.com from Executive Golf Magazine.