Closed club face at address

[Psyber]

I am learning that if I close the face a bit at address I am hitting much straighter shots. Is there any real disadvantage to playing this way vs trying to figure out how to close the club face more on the downswing and keeping a more square face at address?

[Jules Winnfield]

Wouldn't recommend it, that's just a bandaid and bandaids don't last long. My guess is you're opening the club on the backswing, like a lot of people mistakenly do. Could be a grip issue as well....Jack Nicklaus said he's never seen a good player who had a closed club face at address, in fact he said most good players are slightly open. Since you ground the club about an inch behind the ball, makes sense it should be a slightly open at address if anything.

[Psyber]

If I'm square at address basically every single shot becomes a big push way off target. Close it a bit and I hit a straight shot to slight fade to my target.

[Smash Factors]

I've played with a mildly closed clubface at address with the irons for as long as i can remember. I can't seem to get it square at address and feel comfortable with it. Took me a long time to figure out how to hit it straight but I eventually did.

[Enfynet]

Funny story. I used to close the face to strengthen my grip alignment. Now I have a more neutral grip and open the face a little, which seems to encourage me to close the face during the swing.

[MPStrat]

I am learning that if I close the face a bit at address I am hitting much straighter shots. Is there any real disadvantage to playing this way vs trying to figure out how to close the club face more on the downswing and keeping a more square face at address?

 

This is a guess, but the closed clubface at address is probably a band aid for a weak grip and/or fanning it open in the backswing.

[Itsjustagame]

Golf is a game of adjustments. This may not work forever but just leave it alone if it is working.

[Psyber]

I am learning that if I close the face a bit at address I am hitting much straighter shots. Is there any real disadvantage to playing this way vs trying to figure out how to close the club face more on the downswing and keeping a more square face at address?

 

This is a guess, but the closed clubface at address is probably a band aid for a weak grip and/or fanning it open in the backswing.

 

I actually use a pretty strong grip. I will start with the club face basically square and once I grip the club with a strong grip it will appear a bit closed at address. For a while I was experimenting with a super strong grip to get my club face to square at impact but too strong and I started to get very inconsistent. Now I am using a stronger than usual grip but not to the extreme I was using.

[Gap22]

I did the closed club face thing for a while. I hit the ball fairly solid, but I missed a ton of shots left of the target. I finally figured out that the problem it cured was me not getting enough weight shift from my right side to my left side on the downswing. A month ago I slowly figured out the solution, and I am now addressing the ball with a neutral club face. My shots are going mostly straight with a slight draw. I am bowlegged, and I addressed the ball with both feet flared out because that is natural for me as a result of being bowlegged. By turning my feet basically straight, which feels pigeon toed for me, I am able to get through from my right side to my left side much more easily. I am hitting the ball farther and straighter as a result.

[zoots]

No biggie. Golf is a game. if it's working and you are having more fun playing, use it!

[MPStrat]

I am learning that if I close the face a bit at address I am hitting much straighter shots. Is there any real disadvantage to playing this way vs trying to figure out how to close the club face more on the downswing and keeping a more square face at address?

 

This is a guess, but the closed clubface at address is probably a band aid for a weak grip and/or fanning it open in the backswing.

 

I actually use a pretty strong grip. I will start with the club face basically square and once I grip the club with a strong grip it will appear a bit closed at address. For a while I was experimenting with a super strong grip to get my club face to square at impact but too strong and I started to get very inconsistent. Now I am using a stronger than usual grip but not to the extreme I was using.

 

Then it's most likely option 2. In order to hit the ball straight with a closed face at address AND strong grip, you have to be rolling the face more open at some point or you'd hit it 100 yards left. Like has been said, if you can shoot a score that makes you happy and do it consistently, no reason to change anything.

[Thoughtful Hacker]

I have a friend that always closes the club face at address. He is a solid 7 handicap player. Hits consistent and straight shots. Slaps the ball like hockey players, very effective action but not pretty.

I believe in order for him to be a low single digit he needs to change his swing fundamentals including his closed club face.

[kg1128]

I am learning that if I close the face a bit at address I am hitting much straighter shots. Is there any real disadvantage to playing this way vs trying to figure out how to close the club face more on the downswing and keeping a more square face at address?

 

This is a guess, but the closed clubface at address is probably a band aid for a weak grip and/or fanning it open in the backswing.

 

opposite. it's a bandaid for a storng grip.

 

hitting with closed clubface at address is actually a good drill for both backswing (fix inside takeaway) and downswing (promote forward shaft lean at impact because you will hit 50yd to the left if club releases too early)

[MPStrat]

I am learning that if I close the face a bit at address I am hitting much straighter shots. Is there any real disadvantage to playing this way vs trying to figure out how to close the club face more on the downswing and keeping a more square face at address?

 

This is a guess, but the closed clubface at address is probably a band aid for a weak grip and/or fanning it open in the backswing.

 

opposite. it's a bandaid for a storng grip.

 

hitting with closed clubface at address is actually a good drill for both backswing (fix inside takeaway) and downswing (promote forward shaft lean at impact because you will hit 50yd to the left if club releases too early)

 

If you have a neutral or weak grip, closing the clubface a little bit at address might not be the worst thing in the world.

 

If you have a strong grip and close the face down at address, you better be able to rotate like Dustin Johnson. That or you could roll the face more open at some point to make it manageable, albeit creating other issues, which is what I'd bet the OP is doing.

[kg1128]

I am learning that if I close the face a bit at address I am hitting much straighter shots. Is there any real disadvantage to playing this way vs trying to figure out how to close the club face more on the downswing and keeping a more square face at address?

 

This is a guess, but the closed clubface at address is probably a band aid for a weak grip and/or fanning it open in the backswing.

 

opposite. it's a bandaid for a storng grip.

 

hitting with closed clubface at address is actually a good drill for both backswing (fix inside takeaway) and downswing (promote forward shaft lean at impact because you will hit 50yd to the left if club releases too early)

 

If you have a neutral or weak grip, closing the clubface a little bit at address might not be the worst thing in the world.

 

If you have a strong grip and close the face down at address, you better be able to rotate like Dustin Johnson. That or you could roll the face more open at some point to make it manageable, albeit creating other issues, which is what I'd bet the OP is doing.

 

or dont roll it open, instead square face by added lean + restrict relese. good drill for handsy/armsy swingers

[MPStrat]

I am learning that if I close the face a bit at address I am hitting much straighter shots. Is there any real disadvantage to playing this way vs trying to figure out how to close the club face more on the downswing and keeping a more square face at address?

 

This is a guess, but the closed clubface at address is probably a band aid for a weak grip and/or fanning it open in the backswing.

 

opposite. it's a bandaid for a storng grip.

 

hitting with closed clubface at address is actually a good drill for both backswing (fix inside takeaway) and downswing (promote forward shaft lean at impact because you will hit 50yd to the left if club releases too early)

 

If you have a neutral or weak grip, closing the clubface a little bit at address might not be the worst thing in the world.

 

If you have a strong grip and close the face down at address, you better be able to rotate like Dustin Johnson. That or you could roll the face more open at some point to make it manageable, albeit creating other issues, which is what I'd bet the OP is doing.

 

or dont roll it open, instead square face by added lean + restrict relese. good drill for handsy/armsy swingers

 

There comes a point when the face is super closed where if the player is able to get enough lean to square the face, which would be pretty rare for most amateurs, every shot becomes a stinger.

[celticlt]

I am one that rolls the club open on backswing . Have tried to stop but have had no luck. Any tips, drills, please

[gpss]

I am learning that if I close the face a bit at address I am hitting much straighter shots. Is there any real disadvantage to playing this way vs trying to figure out how to close the club face more on the downswing and keeping a more square face at address?

 

Ben Hogan had his woods made with a closed face.(2-3 degree) and held the face open in DS, letting his body turn square the face.

 

Knowing that the face is closed we know we have to get our body ahead (the slide) of the ball for impact, otherwise we will hook.

 

Lee Trevino another great ball striker did the same. ie got well ahead (the slide) of the ball for impact. Rarely if ever did they miss left.

 

Square at address and your misses will be both ways.

Neither Ben Hogan or Lee Trevino, attempted to time the closing of clubface

in less than 1/4 second for DS, 5/10,000 second of impact.

[10HC]

My natural/comfortable swing with a square driver face results in hitting the ball straight right, a push. I tried a different grip, club path, stance, and so on. The reason is opening my hips too early. I eventually stopped fighting my natural swing, adopted a strong grip and I close the club face at address, a lot. I now hit a pretty little draw right down the middle. Sometimes you just have to find what works for you, even if it goes against convention.