You're Correct!

We often see an array of golf shots in a round of golf. The ball can go right and just as easily go left of the target. This proves that the club face position throughout the swing is important as it will have a massive effect on where the ball will travel.

An open club face at the top of the swing can lead to a slice or the opposite where the face is closed at the top and leads to a hook, or they can even cross over when the player manipulates the club face on the way down to changes its angle before impact. This invariably will lead to inconsistency from round to round.

For a square club face at the top of the back swing, you should see the sole edge of the club face parallel to the left wrist and arm of the player, a closed club face would see it parallel to the ground and an open face would have it at a 90 degree angle to the ground.

When practising, try and have a mirror behind you so when you swing up to the top you can look and check its position. Beware because it can be variable in relation to your grip position so make sure your fundamentals are correct.

Working on the angle of your club face during the swing can have a huge impact on the balls flight and direction from shot to shot. Changing the angle of the club face at the top of the swing will change the angle at impact because your hands will still work as normal throughout the swing. If you have a closed club face at the top you will see the toe of the club pointing down to the ground, and if the club face is closed you will notice the toe of the club horizontal at the top of the swing. Use these positions and relate them to your final outcome of the shot.

The relationship between the club face at the top of the swing and at impact can be totally different depending on how your hands work during the down swing.

If the ball pulls, draws or hooks to the left side then the club face is closed to the path and/or target line, however, it could have been open at the top of the swing. So if you then try to square the club face at the top of the swing you are potentially closing it further at impact. You need to be careful and understand the difference between the club face at impact and where it is at the top of the swing.

From putter to driver, a solid set up is key for every single shot you ever play in golf. However, the angles in which the club face is at set up, top of the swing, down swing and impact can vary quite substantially depending on the grip, whether it be weak or strong or how the hands work during the swing. Make sure that from set up to the top of the back swing, the wrists only hinge therefore keeping the wrists angles the same as they were at set up. If the wrists bow or cup during the swing then the club face angle changes and this has an impact on the ball direction.