The face of a golf club is several inches across, and when it comes to making good contact, not every spot is created equal.

Most players hit at least an occasional shot toward the end of the clubhead, called the toe. (For a clear visual, picture the clubhead as a foot and the shaft as a leg.) Others have a chronic problem with hitting toe shots.

Striking the ball on the toe not only costs you distance, shots often veer off-line.

Toe hits cause the clubface to rotate open, typically sending iron shots right of target (for a right-handed golfer). Toe shots with woods or hybrids will sometimes start right and curve back to the left. This is called the “gear effect” and while it aids accuracy, it can’t overcome the yardage loss of poor contact.

When you strike the ball on or near the club’s toe, you’ll feel a mild vibration that doesn’t occur on center (“sweet spot”) strikes. You may also see grass and dirt on the contact point.

The drills in this series are designed to help anyone who tends to “toe” their shots. Hopefully, you’ll find a cure that leads to consistently solid ballstriking.