Achieving a square clubface is something we need in every type of golf shot —putting, chipping, pitching, iron shots, and the driver. Working on this skill is difficult, but let us start with the biggest culprit. Overuse or misuse of the wrists in the golf swing, often occurring at the beginning of the swing called the takeaway.
When you swing a hammer confidently, the hammer meets the nail squarely. You are not abruptly cocking your wrists or trying to manipulate the hammer at the last second by trying to hit it using your wrist. You hold the hammer naturally, your wrist cocks and sets in the backswing and as you descend, the momentum and the weight of the hammer release your wrist at impact. No over-conscious control of grip pressure or of the hinging or releasing your wrists. An efficient Golf Swing works in much the same way: hold the club and allow the wrists to hinge and set in the backswing and release through impact without over conscious control or manipulation. Trust.
One of the best ways to train a square clubface through impact is to turn the traditional pre-shot waggle into a drill where you will work on the skill of the take-away with a square clubface and train an effective impact position. Many PGA professionals practice a short takeaway or waggle before a shot to ensure dead aim (like setting up to hammer a nail). It also frees up their wrists so they are reactive and not over or under used.
Drill: Takeaway and Impact with a Square clubface.
Setup with the clubface square to the target line. Work on a one-piece takeaway (12–18 inch backswing). Achieve this with very little tension in your wrists with your clubface squarely aimed at the ball (Figure 1). Repeat this move learning to move the club back using your whole body in the takeaway, with soft wrists. You should feel small turn of your chest away from the target.
Next return the club back to impact taking dead aim with a Square Club-Face. How you move the club back to impact is critical; engage your whole body to simulate the golf swing. Feel as though you are pulling the club back to the start with your whole target side; hips and shoulders open slightly toward the target. When the club returns behind the ball, you will be in a strong impact position (Figure 2). Note: Do not place the club back using just your hands and/or arms.
A strong impact position includes the following: Shaft leaning towards the target with hands slightly ahead of the ball. Weight shifting slightly toward the target side foot. Your clubface is square. A great visual from pro golfers are portraits of all times greats Ben Hogan or Tiger Woods.
Practice this several times to train a square clubface and impact position through a body-driven motion. The more you do this, the more familiar you will become with micro-movements described. When ready add balls with a pitching wedge and incorporate the drill into your practice with small swings. Immediate improvement to your golf shots will be yours if you can master this drill. Simply a game changer.
