PILLAR #3 THE FACE/PATH RELATIONSHIP

Find the ‘power channel’

We do not need perfection to find consistency, but we do need to work within certain parameters, and swing path is the perfect example. Effective golf shots are the result of a harmonious relationship between the path of the club and the aim of its face at impact… but if we are swinging excessively across the ball, it becomes much, much harder to find that relationship on a regular basis. To work on this, set up your own ‘power channel’.

Path finder

I’ve used a small piece of board and a swimming noodle to create this impact-zone swing channel. It’s not that important what you use, though make sure striking either side won’t damage anything and ideally have your inner border arced like the foam. The key is the gap between the two: leave a clubhead’s length either side of the ball to permit a slight in-to-out or out-to-in delivery path. Ideally, place an object ahead of your channel to define your ball-target line.

Arc of triumph

The channel serves both to define a neutral swing path and to provide valuable and instant feedback on your ability to swing down it. A pure, neutralpath delivery will see the club miss both sides, but the width you have set permits acceptable off-neutral paths.

Excessive out-to-in path

If your swing pattern is to attack the ball from well outside the ideal path, the power channel will let you know it; you’ll end up striking the back end of the outer border or the front end of the inner one.

Excessive in-to-out path

Attacking too far from the inside is far less common, but again you’ll know it because your club will impact the back end of the inner border or the forward section of the outer one.