The moment of impact is what gives the golf ball 1) distance, 2) trajectory, and 3) direction. When it is all said and done a pretty swing with poor impact creates inconsistent and poor play. On the other hand a not pleasant looking swing with correct impact creates the consistency and good play golfers look to achieve.

Let me give you two examples of golf swings not to be very attractive. These two golfers can really play golf and produce golf shots. Lee Trevino and Jim Furyk fall into this category to the eye looking only for a traditional looking golf swing.

I will include pictures of Lee Trevino from video I took of him March 10, 1991. You will see the most magnificent impact position ever created by a golfer. This is a story for later but I had the pleasure of knowing and playing with Lee in El Paso, Texas before he played on the PGA Tour. I was young and had no idea I was playing with one of the truly great ball strikers. I did however, know he was just in a class different from all the golfers of the time and area.

Lee is the poster boy for excellence in impact. Why do I say that? If you have ever seen him hit golf balls and play golf you would see how well Lee controlled his distance, trajectory and direction of each shot. Jack Nicklaus has been quoted many times that Lee Trevino controlled his ball from tee to the hole better than anyone he had ever played. Lee’s winning record on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour is proof of his ball striking. You can see Lee’s incredible pre-impact (Fig 1.), impact (Fig 2.), and post-impact (Fig 3.) below. Compare this to the post impact position seen in most golfers (Fig 4.)

Distance is achieved by compressing the ball at impact in the middle of the club with a square clubface. Trajectory is a result of the club actually slightly de-lofting through impact because the hands are ahead of the club head at the moment of impact. Teachers today refer to that as having handle lean forward or toward the target. I was taught this motion through the ball was trapping the ball between the clubface and turf. Direction was controlled by good alignment and delivering a square club at impact.

In my many years of teaching I believe I can say with confidence 9 out of 10 golfers including low handicap players have poor impact. Instructors refer to this position as the hands flipping through impact. (Fig 4.)

I have developed a complete program with a training club, extension and clubface indicator to help golfers learn and master the impact position. The product is called the Impact Master. You can purchase the Impact Master through me or you can go to www.impactmaster.com.