A Lesson Learned: Finding Your Impact Zone (PGA.com)
March 22, 2010
The Transitions Championship tournament had a lot of funny looking, unconventional and some might say ugly golf swings, in contention this week. This tapestry of swings included the likes of Jim Furyk, Bubba Watson, Carl Pettersson and Jerry Kelly. The only thing in the field uglier than those golf swings, were John Daly’s pants. However, much like the genius marketing team behind Daly’s slacks, these seemingly ugly swings are actually beautiful where it counts.
The part of the swing that truly counts is the impact Zone. All these crazy looking swings are the same as the conventional swings in the area of impact and that is the secret to great ball striking. It is the only thing the ball cares about. You can set up in different ways and take the club back to different top of swing positions, but you have to return the club to the ball with a square face, on a slightly inside path, with your weight left and your hands forward of the ball. This is the lesson learned.
Jim Furyk is the master of returning the club through the impact zone and proved that once again this week. In fact he is one of the best ball strikers that ever lived. There are very few players that control their ball better than Jim Furyk. I have always said that you can learn more from the crazy looking swings on tour than the perfect looking swings. It is the crazy looking swings that show you what matters most, impact.
If you want to learn how to master the impact zone like Jim Furyk, the best drill of all time is the impact drill. The impact drill has been used by major winners and weekend warriors. The impact drill will help you learn to hit the ball solid and on line. To do this drill:
1. Pre-set your weight onto your forward leg. 2. Pre-set your hands ahead of the ball. 3. Pre-set your back heel off the ground. 4. Make a half backswing with a little wrist hinge and finish short and low, feeling a punching contact.
Before you know it you will be hitting the ball rock solid. Once you have done the impact drill, practice rehearsing from your full top of swing to your impact position. This practice will take your swing and ball striking to a new level.
Jim Furyk had a sketchy final hole, but the rest of the tournament was flawless, which secured his victory. I am sure he could care less about what people think of his swing, especially when he is depositing his winners check Monday morning. So spend more time practicing what counts and you will begin hitting the ball more like Jim Furyk, pure.
Trevor Gliwski is the Director of Instruction for The Rick Smith Golf Academy at Tiburon, Ritz Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, Fl. His teaching career began in 1994 and has been with Rick Smith since 2000. Gliwski was voted by Golf Digest in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 to “Best teachers in your State” for Florida and “Top 10 golf professionals” by Gulfshore Life Magazine in 2006. He has appeared on The Golf Channel Academy and The Travel Channel. His students range from PGA Tour Pros to the beginning golfer. Trevor can be reached at toll free 1-877-464-6531 or ricksmithgolfacademy@wcicommunities.com
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