PART 3: DIRECTION

So we’re striking it well, and we’re developing good speed and distance; so the final piece of the jigsaw is to gain control of direction. While creating power is more about the larger, macro movements of the body, direction is much more reliant on the micro movements of hands and wrists. This is because the hands and wrists control the clubface… and when it comes to direction, the clubface is king. Let’s break this down into four easy steps.

1. WRIST CONTROL: HARNESS THE TRAIL PALM

We’ll begin our search for directional control by focusing on the hands and wrists themselves – specifically the trailing side. Creating more release and speed, the trail hand has the potential to compromise attack angle and face aim, so it’s important we get it under control right from the start.

Impact: Palm faces down

Now swing down through ‘impact’, just with the trail hand. A great image for you to work on is that your trail hand is bouncing a basketball against the ground. This, alongside a committed trail side release, will help you keep the trail wrist extended back and the clubface under control.

More power, better strike

You will quickly feel how this hand and wrist position is similar to the bag-pushing exercise we looked at in Contact, and how it works in tandem with both the Contact and Distance elements:

Power is driven through a trail-side release which turns the palm – and clubface – on to the ball.

An extended trail wrist angles the palm downward, promoting shaft lean and powerful compression of the ball.