Being IMPACT AWARE™:
Starting Out Right
IMPACT AWARENESS™ leads to precise contact between club and ball. Learning the concept relies on correctly interpreting the golf ball’s flight after it is struck. Ball flight is directly related to two primary aspects:
In short, striking the ball in the center of the clubface and having clubs that fit are non-negotiable aspects for playing your best golf.
Center Contact and Lie Angle are explained more thoroughly below:
- Where the ball is struck relative to the center of the clubface (Center Contact)
- The angle of the sole of the clubhead relative to the ground during impact (Lie Angle)
In short, striking the ball in the center of the clubface and having clubs that fit are non-negotiable aspects for playing your best golf.
Center Contact and Lie Angle are explained more thoroughly below:
How a Golf Ball Flies: Center ContactCenter Contact is first in a series of Five Ball Flight Laws described by Dr. Gary Wiren in The PGA Teaching Manual (1990).
Center Contact is a relative term, and it is important to understand its exact relevance. Golf clubs have a center of gravity, a point within the clubhead at which it would be perfectly balanced. The representation of this location on the clubface is the ideal location to strike the ball. It is also referred to as the “sweet spot,” “center face,” or “middle." The reality is that on irons the “center” is typically between the 3rd and 4th groove line (when counting from the bottom), while the driver “center” is typically in the center as pictured. |
Lie Angle at ImpactA golf club fits primarily when, at impact, the sole of the club strikes the ground evenly (centered). The images below (from Taylormade) will help clarify the definition of Lie Angle and the relationship between a club’s lie angle and shot direction.
If you experience directional inconsistencies,
a lie angle check-up is the first priority. |
You can find your club’s “center” by bouncing a golf ball on the face and marking the spot where it seems to sound the best. You get a better bounce off the face of the club and the head doesn’t wiggle as much in your hand.
Any shot struck off center will always lose distance (except for the skulled shot). How much is lost varies from player to player. For scratch golfers using a driver, a ¼ inch miss of the center will result in about a 3 yard loss of distance, a 12 yard loss for a ½ inch miss and nearly 30 yards for a ¾ inch miss of the center.
The secondary influence for off center strikes is direction. Toe shots will tend to the right of the target and heel shots will tend to the left of target.
You will notice in the photos above that the wear marks on these professional’s golf clubs are all very similar - between the 3rd and 4th groove lines and centered between toe and heel. Look also at the size of the wear marks. They are smaller than the diameter of a golf ball. The marks are made by repeated striking in virtually the same place.
What the best players in the world have in common is the trait of consistent center face contact and clubs that fit!
What the best players in the world have in common is the trait of consistent center face contact and clubs that fit!