Why Is My Club Twisting At Impact?
One of the most common things I hear from golfers during lessons is, “It feels like my club is twisting when I hit the ball.” This usually comes right after a shot that comes up short or veers off target. Naturally, most players assume the twisting motion is the cause of the bad shot—but it’s actually the result.
More often than not, that twist you’re feeling isn’t because of something you’re doing wrong with your hands or grip at impact. It’s the club reacting to a mishit, specifically when the ball strikes the toe or heel of the clubface instead of the center.
This off-center contact causes the clubhead to twist due to the uneven force, which is what you’re feeling in your hands. It’s subtle, but it can have a big effect on ball flight and distance.
This twisting
- Reduces distance
- Makes Shots Go Very Offline
- Makes impact feel horrible
Toe Strike
Striking the ball in the toe makes the club face twist around the ball, pointing the face right, this can often result in shots veering right.
Heel Strike
Striking the ball in the heel makes the club face twist around the ball, pointing the face left. This can often result in shots veering left.
Final Thoughts
Many golfers respond to that twisting sensation by gripping the club tighter, hoping it’ll solve the problem. But doing that often leads to even more issues, like reduced swing speed and tension
in your swing.
Instead of trying to stop the twist itself, focus on what’s causing it. In most cases, that means improving the quality of your strike by finding the middle of the clubface.
If you want personalised help with your game, you can learn more about my online coaching below.