What is impact fix…Impact fix is basically an exaggerated forward press at set-up “fixing” in mind the alignments your body and club will have during the impact and separation phase of your downstroke. This “fix” is not the starting point of your swing normally or a dynamic move- it is much more than just haphazardly pushing your hands forward and rotating your body into its simulated impact position- it is the crux of understanding concerning six key alignments that you must understand and establish mentally before you execute any shot. Homer Kelley- author of The Golfing Machine- goes into great detail concerning this “Impact Fix” in Chapters 3, 7, and 10, please take the time to read these sections of the book for a more detailed explanation of this “fix.” In this article we will list and briefly discuss what these alignments are and why they are important, but remember we are only scratching the surface of what the “fix” is really all about!

Impact Fix establishes the following six key relationships in your mind before you execute any golf shot and will allow you to become a much better ball striker than you ever thought possible!

1. Clubface to Target line
2. Grip to Clubface
3. Hands to Ball
4. Plane Angle
5. Pressure Points
6. Right Forearm Position

Clubface to Target line

It is here that you focus on understanding just how the clubface moves in relation to the target line. If you are moving from the inside approaching the ball the clubface will impact the inside left quadrant of the ball with an open clubface, as the ball deforms on the face of the club and the club begins to move down the target line the ball will then separate from the face with either an open, square, or closed clubface depending on the direction you desire to hit the ball. In the “fix” position you must understand that the clubface is moving from the inside, attacking the inside aft of the ball with an open clubface or the result will be a shot that moves too far to the left!

Grip to Clubface

The true positioning of the grip can only be taken in the impact position (7-8) as the arm naturally hangs down by your side…this means that the left hand grip always wants to return to this position naturally. So, if you have your hands in an abnormal position at address, regardless of what the “fix” position does to the clubface, then you will have to make a manipulation not to move the ball in a certain direction. The “fix” shows what the clubface will naturally do through the ball if you have the correct grip placed on the club in the first place.

Hands to Ball

The hand to ball relationship helps you to educate your hands for the best type of release possible. The left hand controls the club’s face; while the right hand controls the club’s head…together they control the release motion of the club through the ball programming all key elements of directional and distance control. Learn to educate your hands, individually and together, by going to the pitching green and hitting shots one-handed learning how the left hand helps to control the direction of the ball and the right hand controlling the trajectory of the ball’s flight. Step back and hit ten-yard pitch shots until you can better control your impact and its alignments once and for all.

Plane Angle

Establishing the correct impact “fix” angle of the clubshaft is vital for becoming a true ball-striking virtuoso. The whole clubshaft during the impact interval should remain as close to the original angle it had at address (for simplicities sake.) If you understand how the proper plane angle should be through the ball then you will always be able to better monitor the feelings of the proper downswing…if you have any questions check your “fix” position, it will be show you exactly.

Pressure Points

Pressure must drive the primary (left arm and clubshaft together) and secondary lever (the clubshaft) assemblies into the impact zone or there will not be any power supplied to the ball. At the “fix” position you will find that you will feel pressure in four places: 1) the right hand where it covers the left thumb, 2) the last three fingers of your left hand
3) the right forefinger on the shaft, 4) where your left arm presses against your left breast. These four pressure points help you to drive the clubshaft most efficiently through the impact interval- without pressure there is no power.

The Right Forearm Position

The position of the right forearm is vital for controlling the clubshaft, delaying the release, and programming more solid impact alignments. If your right forearm comes in too high, above the clubshaft plane line, then you will hit weak shots due to the fact that you will have throwaway or impact alignment breakdown through the ball. Understand that this right forearm position will control your left shoulder position and help you to be a much better ball striker. It will be down and in-front of the right hip during the “fix” position- imagine Tom Lehman’s swing and you will see this exemplified perfectly.

Remember to take the time in front of your mirror to “fix” these alignments into the proper position, understand their relationships within the swing, and from there you will have a blast playing this crazy game! Questions or Comments? (850) 267-8156.