Please clear something up for me....

At the top of the backswing, should the clubface be pointing slightly upward, toe stright down or what? From what I can tell, mine is slightly(maybe 25%) open (toward the sky). Are there any serious problems this can lead to? And if it is a problem how can I fix? Thanks

JB

From what you say, sounds as if you are ok. The toe of the club should be pointing upward as you describe.

Can't see how the toe should or even could point upward. Unless you turn yourself inside-out!

The toe of the club "should" point down if your left wrist is flat.

Here's a couple of pictures. Cameron has a beautiful swing. Toms does also.

Cameron is more open (club face to the sky). Toms is much more closed (toes down). If I spent more time, I could find even more radically different positions. To make a long story short, there is no "right or wrong" on this one without knowing where you set the club at the top.

However, I will submit this is why Cswing and/or V1 Pro is so great. Instant answers.

Theo

Attached Images

position at top.JPG (70.6 KB, 85 views)

the toe should be on the same angle as the back of the left hand. When the toe points straight down the face is open, the more skyward is the more closed. BUt also, as you can tell in the great pictures Theo submits, the more upright your swing the more the toe will point down, but still not straight down, with a flat wrist at the top. The flatter your swing plane, the more it will point skyward

Those are good pictures. Thanks, Theo, for taking time to submit them.

Bill

agree with shootingfor par
picture on the right is more two plane swing - ok to be more open
picture on the left is more one plane - ok to be more closed.

Well I am definitely a 2 plane so that helps a lot.....thank you gentlemen.

I would not say it is more open, the are both about the same in relation to the swing plane.

Can someone help to explain a bit on the right elbow position in both photos? I thought one plane pulls the club more round the body, so the right elbow should look more like the one on the right photo? Then again, the elbow on the right photo seems very disconnected - is that good?

I would suggest by hip position that the photo on the left that the downswing has already been initiated and that the right elbow has started the drop to the hip, but I may be wrong...

Yep the same thought crossed my mind when I saw the swings

Gord,

Yeah, it would seem that way. But I made sure to catch them at the top of the swing at the transition.

As one other minor note, the more your club is "open to the sky" the more it is officially "shut" at impact (as long as this comes from the wrist). I'll use the "right" terms from now, so I don't get shoot by somebody for using common terminology.

Here's a "fair use" picture from Jacobs showing Arnie's position. This used to lead to Arnie fighting a life long hook--but generally Arnie's arms were so freaking powerful, he could control it. Hogan, of course, went the other way by "toe down" or opening the club at the top, because he was trying to anything possible to stop his hook.

(Edit: Arnie = Palmer)

Theo

Attached Images

arnie shuts it down.JPG (31.9 KB, 21 views)

glad your useing the right terms as to not cofuse, otherwise I would have to..............
some players use less club face rotation through the swing

Ok guys can I clarify this. If at the top, the club toe points more towards the sky, that's considered "shut" and the head will tend to be closed at impact? Would the toe at the top be a good indication of impact position, since a lot can actually happen during the downswing (namely rotation of the forearms)?