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Swing sequence

How do I square the clubface at impact?

How the face rotates through impact. The biggest factor for where the ball starts.

173 lessons ranked by 496 independent recommendations · 32 golfers said it fixed it. How we count

What causes it

The release is how the face rotates through impact, and it has more influence on starting direction than any other factor. Too little rotation leaves the face open; too much closes it. Grip, wrist action and arm rotation all play a part. The face also depends on the face angle at the top and on how the lead wrist is set during the backswing. A cupped lead wrist tends to leave the face open, while a very bowed one tends to leave it closed, so release problems often start long before impact.

How golfers fix it

Danny Maude's live lesson on trail arm and wrist pressure is recommended by 26 golfers, 3 of whom say it fixed their release. Padraig Harrington's Squaring the Clubface has 12 recommendations, as it explains why most bad shots come from the face. Athletic Motion Golf's release video has 10, and Harrington's piece on active wrists has 10. Typical fixes:

Common mistakes

Forcing the release with the hands creates hooks and pulls. Holding the face open creates blocks and slices. Do not copy the wrist action of a tour player without matching the body motion.

Written with AI from the lessons and recommendations above. Not a substitute for a coach.