Striking the Ball
From Perfect Impact Through to the Finish

At last we are at the point of no return, striking the ball. In this lesson we are going to focus on striking the ball, from perfect impact through to the finish, and all parts in between including the all important follow through.

In lesson nine The Downswing we focused on getting the golf club back down the same swing path as the back swing. If you have done everything correct up until now, then striking the ball should be academic, as everything will be working in unison back towards the golf ball.

Never think about hitting the golf ball, always think about striking 'through' the ball, the golf ball is just 'in the way' of your golf swing.

If as I've said, if you have done everything correctly up until now, you will have greatly increased you chance of striking the ball solidly, as ninety-five percent of the final part of your golf swing (impact to finish) is a result of you swinging your golf club from address position back to the top of your golf swing correctly. You will be in the perfect position to get the club head back square at the address position, striking 'through' the golf ball, with a good follow through, resulting in the perfect finish.

Your follow through is so important, you must follow through and not 'quit through the ball', continue all the way through to the finish.

The club face rolled open during the back swing and as you swing back down, the club face has to swing back to square. At the very moment of impact the club face should be one or two degrees closed.  The club face will continue to close as you follow through. The toe of your club will be pointing up to the sky when your club shaft is pointing parallel to the target line, or at the 3:o'clock position. As your arms and hands swing up from the parallel position the club face will continue to close.

The distance you strike the ball is not about 'hitting' the ball harder, it's all to do with 'timing'. The ability to have the club head make solid contact with the golf ball with maximum speed is the combination of the golf club, arms, and hands moving in concert with the upper and lower body. This combination is referred to as 'timing'. This comes with practice, lots of it!

At the moment of impact, your knees are back to the address position, your right knee will continue to move towards the target, and your right heel will come of the ground. Your left hip will continue to turn out of the way, as your arms and hands swing through, and your left knee will now be almost fully extended.  At this position your body will be at maximum speed and it will soon slow down as it approaches the finish.

From the moment of impact your belt must remain level to the ground through to the finish. As you reach the top of your swing you will want to feel your body coiling in the opposite position to that of the back swing. Your right heel will be pointing toward the sky, your belt buckle pointing toward the target and level to the ground and your right knee pointing to a parallel line toward the target. Your body should be tall and upright, and your golf ball will be sailing 320 yards down the fairway, drawing towards your intended target!

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