Tyler Ferrell is the only person in the world named to Golf Digest's list of Best Young Teachers in America AND its list of Best Golf Fitness Professionals in America.

Improve Face Alignment During Your Downswing

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the key positions in your downswing where face alignment matters
  • Practice how to rotate the clubface for more consistent ball striking
  • Understand the impact of your handle position on face angle during the swing

Learn how to adjust your clubface at key moments in your downswing for better shot accuracy. This drill covers face alignment from lead arm parallel to follow-through, helping you understand how to control the clubface throughout your swing.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.060
This drill is face alignment at different points in the swing.

2
00:00:04.060 --> 00:00:09.700
So I've got a video where we talk about this face, the three major ways that

3
00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:10.180
you can adjust

4
00:00:10.180 --> 00:00:11.180
the face.

5
00:00:11.180 --> 00:00:14.130
But I want you to see that it's not just down at impact, we can apply it

6
00:00:14.130 --> 00:00:15.100
universally.

7
00:00:15.100 --> 00:00:20.060
And a couple of the key times when we're going to want to look at this are lead

8
00:00:20.060 --> 00:00:20.840
arm parallel

9
00:00:20.840 --> 00:00:24.190
in the downswing, shaft parallel in the downswing, or shaft parallel in the

10
00:00:24.190 --> 00:00:25.140
follow through.

11
00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:29.190
So the three main ways that I can close the face would be by using the whole

12
00:00:29.190 --> 00:00:29.680
shaft, moving

13
00:00:29.680 --> 00:00:33.840
the shaft forward backward, which would look either like this or like this.

14
00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:37.780
Those are the same things, just two different ends moving.

15
00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:42.200
Rotating the face, open closed, that'll look the same regardless.

16
00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:47.260
Or lowering the handle closes the face, raising the handle opens the face, or

17
00:00:47.260 --> 00:00:48.120
raising the

18
00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:52.080
club closes the face, lowering the club, opens the face.

19
00:00:52.080 --> 00:00:56.110
So that's what it looks like down there at the bottom and it's kind of easy to

20
00:00:56.110 --> 00:00:56.400
see.

21
00:00:56.400 --> 00:01:00.040
Now let's look at what happens when we're in the downswing.

22
00:01:00.040 --> 00:01:04.690
So if we're looking at the pattern when the lead arm's about parallel here, we

23
00:01:04.690 --> 00:01:05.240
can see

24
00:01:05.240 --> 00:01:11.650
that rotating the face with the motorcycle closes it, extending the wrist, kind

25
00:01:11.650 --> 00:01:12.760
of rehinging

26
00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:15.800
and pulling narrow, opens the face.

27
00:01:15.800 --> 00:01:23.240
So from face on that closes it, that opens it, from face on that closes the

28
00:01:23.240 --> 00:01:24.480
face, that

29
00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:28.530
opens the face, so the shallow movement that we want to do in order to allow

30
00:01:28.530 --> 00:01:28.880
that body

31
00:01:28.880 --> 00:01:32.280
rotation also opens the club face, which is part of the reason why you need

32
00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:33.160
that motorcycle

33
00:01:33.160 --> 00:01:35.200
to balance that back out.

34
00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:39.520
Same thing we can get down into this position here.

35
00:01:39.520 --> 00:01:44.040
This would be opening the face, this would be closing the face, that is closing

36
00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:46.120
the face,

37
00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:50.740
that is opening the face, and then the one we really like, that shaft rotation

38
00:01:50.740 --> 00:01:51.280
opens the

39
00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:53.920
face or closes the face.

40
00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:58.780
Then as we go into that follow through position, the same things can apply, I

41
00:01:58.780 --> 00:01:59.680
can rotate it

42
00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:01.800
more open or close.

43
00:02:01.800 --> 00:02:07.160
I can open it by lowering the club, I can close it by raising the club up, so

44
00:02:07.160 --> 00:02:07.840
you'll

45
00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:13.150
see that a lot of golfers get into this club face is open and then they close

46
00:02:13.150 --> 00:02:14.400
it by rehinging

47
00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:22.400
as opposed to fully unhinging and allowing the shaft rotation to close it.

48
00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:26.530
Then the last one would be this closes the face, this opens the face, that's

49
00:02:26.530 --> 00:02:27.280
another one

50
00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:31.330
where in trying to get everything to extend out there, a lot of golfers are

51
00:02:31.330 --> 00:02:32.120
used to closing

52
00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:37.240
it by having the shaft move, the entire shaft move, and you'll see that a lot

53
00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:38.280
in that follow

54
00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:43.300
through position if I've closed it by using the shaft, it'll show up where the

55
00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:43.880
club is

56
00:02:43.880 --> 00:02:46.280
way to the left.

57
00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:51.800
What you'll tend to see is in that ideal swing or the stock swing model, you're

58
00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:52.400
going to

59
00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:56.450
tend to see fully unhinging which opens the face, you're going to see the club

60
00:02:56.450 --> 00:02:56.680
staying

61
00:02:56.680 --> 00:03:01.440
out there which closes or sorry opens the face.

62
00:03:01.440 --> 00:03:06.590
The main closing that they'll have is more with that shaft rotation as opposed

63
00:03:06.590 --> 00:03:07.280
to moving

64
00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:10.120
the whole shaft to move the face.

65
00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:13.660
Hopefully it helps you visualize when we talk about face to path relationships

66
00:03:13.660 --> 00:03:14.160
or if we're

67
00:03:14.160 --> 00:03:18.770
talking about the club faces in a position where you'd have to do something

68
00:03:18.770 --> 00:03:19.680
like chicken

69
00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:22.640
wing or like scoop in order to square it up.

70
00:03:22.640 --> 00:03:26.680
This is what we're talking about, it means that your balance of steeps and

71
00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:27.120
shallows and

72
00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:31.170
your balance of the face opening closing isn't matching up for the pivot that

73
00:03:31.170 --> 00:03:31.840
you're trying

74
00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:35.930
to train but since the face is happening first, oftentimes fixing the face to

75
00:03:35.930 --> 00:03:37.240
path relationship

76
00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:39.400
will help clear up a lot of the pivot problems.

Have questions?

Ask Mulligan for help
Related topics
This video hasn't been assigned to any topics yet. Browse all topics in the sidebar.
Tyler Ferrell is the only person in the world named to Golf Digest's list of Best Young Teachers in America AND its list of Best Golf Fitness Professionals in America.

Improve Face Alignment During Your Downswing

After this video, you'll be able to:

  • Identify the key positions in your downswing where face alignment matters
  • Practice how to rotate the clubface for more consistent ball striking
  • Understand the impact of your handle position on face angle during the swing

Learn how to adjust your clubface at key moments in your downswing for better shot accuracy. This drill covers face alignment from lead arm parallel to follow-through, helping you understand how to control the clubface throughout your swing.

Video Transcript
WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.060
This drill is face alignment at different points in the swing.

2
00:00:04.060 --> 00:00:09.700
So I've got a video where we talk about this face, the three major ways that

3
00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:10.180
you can adjust

4
00:00:10.180 --> 00:00:11.180
the face.

5
00:00:11.180 --> 00:00:14.130
But I want you to see that it's not just down at impact, we can apply it

6
00:00:14.130 --> 00:00:15.100
universally.

7
00:00:15.100 --> 00:00:20.060
And a couple of the key times when we're going to want to look at this are lead

8
00:00:20.060 --> 00:00:20.840
arm parallel

9
00:00:20.840 --> 00:00:24.190
in the downswing, shaft parallel in the downswing, or shaft parallel in the

10
00:00:24.190 --> 00:00:25.140
follow through.

11
00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:29.190
So the three main ways that I can close the face would be by using the whole

12
00:00:29.190 --> 00:00:29.680
shaft, moving

13
00:00:29.680 --> 00:00:33.840
the shaft forward backward, which would look either like this or like this.

14
00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:37.780
Those are the same things, just two different ends moving.

15
00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:42.200
Rotating the face, open closed, that'll look the same regardless.

16
00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:47.260
Or lowering the handle closes the face, raising the handle opens the face, or

17
00:00:47.260 --> 00:00:48.120
raising the

18
00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:52.080
club closes the face, lowering the club, opens the face.

19
00:00:52.080 --> 00:00:56.110
So that's what it looks like down there at the bottom and it's kind of easy to

20
00:00:56.110 --> 00:00:56.400
see.

21
00:00:56.400 --> 00:01:00.040
Now let's look at what happens when we're in the downswing.

22
00:01:00.040 --> 00:01:04.690
So if we're looking at the pattern when the lead arm's about parallel here, we

23
00:01:04.690 --> 00:01:05.240
can see

24
00:01:05.240 --> 00:01:11.650
that rotating the face with the motorcycle closes it, extending the wrist, kind

25
00:01:11.650 --> 00:01:12.760
of rehinging

26
00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:15.800
and pulling narrow, opens the face.

27
00:01:15.800 --> 00:01:23.240
So from face on that closes it, that opens it, from face on that closes the

28
00:01:23.240 --> 00:01:24.480
face, that

29
00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:28.530
opens the face, so the shallow movement that we want to do in order to allow

30
00:01:28.530 --> 00:01:28.880
that body

31
00:01:28.880 --> 00:01:32.280
rotation also opens the club face, which is part of the reason why you need

32
00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:33.160
that motorcycle

33
00:01:33.160 --> 00:01:35.200
to balance that back out.

34
00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:39.520
Same thing we can get down into this position here.

35
00:01:39.520 --> 00:01:44.040
This would be opening the face, this would be closing the face, that is closing

36
00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:46.120
the face,

37
00:01:46.120 --> 00:01:50.740
that is opening the face, and then the one we really like, that shaft rotation

38
00:01:50.740 --> 00:01:51.280
opens the

39
00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:53.920
face or closes the face.

40
00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:58.780
Then as we go into that follow through position, the same things can apply, I

41
00:01:58.780 --> 00:01:59.680
can rotate it

42
00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:01.800
more open or close.

43
00:02:01.800 --> 00:02:07.160
I can open it by lowering the club, I can close it by raising the club up, so

44
00:02:07.160 --> 00:02:07.840
you'll

45
00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:13.150
see that a lot of golfers get into this club face is open and then they close

46
00:02:13.150 --> 00:02:14.400
it by rehinging

47
00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:22.400
as opposed to fully unhinging and allowing the shaft rotation to close it.

48
00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:26.530
Then the last one would be this closes the face, this opens the face, that's

49
00:02:26.530 --> 00:02:27.280
another one

50
00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:31.330
where in trying to get everything to extend out there, a lot of golfers are

51
00:02:31.330 --> 00:02:32.120
used to closing

52
00:02:32.120 --> 00:02:37.240
it by having the shaft move, the entire shaft move, and you'll see that a lot

53
00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:38.280
in that follow

54
00:02:38.280 --> 00:02:43.300
through position if I've closed it by using the shaft, it'll show up where the

55
00:02:43.300 --> 00:02:43.880
club is

56
00:02:43.880 --> 00:02:46.280
way to the left.

57
00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:51.800
What you'll tend to see is in that ideal swing or the stock swing model, you're

58
00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:52.400
going to

59
00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:56.450
tend to see fully unhinging which opens the face, you're going to see the club

60
00:02:56.450 --> 00:02:56.680
staying

61
00:02:56.680 --> 00:03:01.440
out there which closes or sorry opens the face.

62
00:03:01.440 --> 00:03:06.590
The main closing that they'll have is more with that shaft rotation as opposed

63
00:03:06.590 --> 00:03:07.280
to moving

64
00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:10.120
the whole shaft to move the face.

65
00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:13.660
Hopefully it helps you visualize when we talk about face to path relationships

66
00:03:13.660 --> 00:03:14.160
or if we're

67
00:03:14.160 --> 00:03:18.770
talking about the club faces in a position where you'd have to do something

68
00:03:18.770 --> 00:03:19.680
like chicken

69
00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:22.640
wing or like scoop in order to square it up.

70
00:03:22.640 --> 00:03:26.680
This is what we're talking about, it means that your balance of steeps and

71
00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:27.120
shallows and

72
00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:31.170
your balance of the face opening closing isn't matching up for the pivot that

73
00:03:31.170 --> 00:03:31.840
you're trying

74
00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:35.930
to train but since the face is happening first, oftentimes fixing the face to

75
00:03:35.930 --> 00:03:37.240
path relationship

76
00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:39.400
will help clear up a lot of the pivot problems.

Have questions about this video?

Ask Mulligan for personalized guidance on technique, drills, or how to apply what you've learned.

Ask Mulligan
Related topics
This video hasn't been assigned to any topics yet. Browse all topics in the sidebar.
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