Impact fix = Flat backswing

[Bendet2]

I like the idea of starting at impact fix, but I am wondering if it is a common mistake of new hitters to take the club back too flat. I have found this to be a fault of mine and think that it might have something to do with my hands being further forward and higher. I'd rather not go back to standard hands at address and have a heck of a time trying to execute RFT when I am actually standing over a ball (it looks very simple when you are watching somebody else b/c you can see their plane line). Any suggestions?

Tim

[lagster]

I like the idea of starting at impact fix, but I am wondering if it is a common mistake of new hitters to take the club back too flat. I have found this to be a fault of mine and think that it might have something to do with my hands being further forward and higher. I'd rather not go back to standard hands at address and have a heck of a time trying to execute RFT when I am actually standing over a ball (it looks very simple when you are watching somebody else b/c you can see their plane line). Any suggestions?

Tim

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Some people do tend to take the club back INSIDE and UNDER PLANE when starting from IMPACT FIX. If you take it back on plane better from STANDARD ADDRESS, this is still OK for Hitting.

[psheehan]

I like the idea of starting at impact fix, but I am wondering if it is a common mistake of new hitters to take the club back too flat. I have found this to be a fault of mine and think that it might have something to do with my hands being further forward and higher. I'd rather not go back to standard hands at address and have a heck of a time trying to execute RFT when I am actually standing over a ball (it looks very simple when you are watching somebody else b/c you can see their plane line). Any suggestions?

Tim

Tim,

As a new hitter myself, I found the change from STT to RFT difficult to master on the golf course and it was this difference that seemed to get me pulling the club inside. Years of doing something one way are hard to overcome. The backswing can be (more or less should be) very deliberate for a hitter.... transport the club back with the right forearm and extensor action...slowly, don't allow the shoulders OR hands to swing the club back... the right forearm can pull the left shoulder back. If you use a mirror you can see immediately where you need to move the right forearm to be on plane. The problem with not using impact fix is now you introduce a few more variables that have to be monitored and changed. You can do it, but why?

[EdZ]

I like the idea of starting at impact fix, but I am wondering if it is a common mistake of new hitters to take the club back too flat. I have found this to be a fault of mine and think that it might have something to do with my hands being further forward and higher. I'd rather not go back to standard hands at address and have a heck of a time trying to execute RFT when I am actually standing over a ball (it looks very simple when you are watching somebody else b/c you can see their plane line). Any suggestions?

Tim

Find a picnic bench and practice your takeaway move with the shaft resting against it and feel that you keep the face pointed toward the ball. Chances are good you are turning the clubface open and letting your hands move 'away' from you as you start back, which sucks the club inside even more. Keep the clubhead outside your hands until hip high. The split grip drill is very good for this feel (hip to hip motion with your hands split on the grip, left hand normal position, right hand down near steel). This will show you very quickly if you are turning the face open. Feel that you keep the shaft and the right forearm in 'line'.