3/10/23
Written By Joe Saia
Golf shots that constantly start offline can make it very hard to shoot good scores and can make for frustrating rounds of golf. The first step to hitting on line golf shots is understanding why your shots aren’t starting towards your target. This will help you self correct in the future. I go into detail below on the 3 main reasons why your golf shots are starting off target.
The absolute number one reason why your golf shots start offline is the angle of your club face at impact. The club face angle is simply the direction your club face is pointed at impact. This factor will have the most influence on the direction of your golf shots than any other factor. This means that it is extremely important to promote a square club face at impact if you want to hit shots that fly towards your target.
If you are hitting a lot of offline golf shots then I would suggest you first take a look at your club face position throughout your golf swing, especially in your backswing. If you are missing shots to the right of your target then the club face is most likely open at impact for a right handed player. If the shots are being missed to the left of the target then the club face is most likely closed at impact for a right handed player. Take a look at your club face in the backswing and early on in the downswing. If the face is excessively open or closed in those stages of the swing then you could be struggling to square the face at impact. I know this may sound elementary to some players but sometimes the reasons for bad shots are this simple. You would be surprised at the amount of amateurs that overlook the club face position at impact.
If you are positive that your club face angle is square at impact but your shots are still starting offline then the reason for this could be your club path. The club path is the direction your club is traveling at the moment of impact. This factor may sound very important but it actually has a small effect on the start line of a golf shot, so make sure to check your face angle first.
If your golf shots are starting right of the target then your club path could be too much in to out for a right handed player. Shots that are starting to the left of the target could be the result of a club path that is too much out to in for a right handed player. If you suspect that your club path is the reason for poor golf shots then I suggest you consult with a professional. There are a number of reasons why a players club path could be too far to the left or right and the reason for your poor club path could be a lot different than another players poor club path. Check out my blog post about hitting straighter shots if you want to learn more about why your shots could be curving too much and how to fix it.
Another reason why your golf shots could be starting offline is because your not hitting the center of the club face. This can also lead to a big loss in distance and over curving. Missing the center of the club face has a small effect on the start line of a golf shot but it can definitely cause offline shots so you should be putting importance on hitting the center of the club face. If you are struggling to find the center of the club face then I would suggest you shorten up your swing and swing softer. You can also try spraying foot spray on your club face when practicing on the range so you can see exactly where the contact is. This could help you diagnose the problem. I would still suggest you seek help from a professional because there could be a number of reasons why you are missing the center of the club face.
Fixing your off line golf shots doesn’t need to be a mystery if you know the reasons why they happen. If you are hitting shots that are starting off target then look into these 3 reasons above and try to self diagnose. If your still having trouble hitting shots that start on your intended target line then I would suggest seeking help from a professional.
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