Clubface is KING

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You want to become a ballstriking machine? Then know that Clubface is King and this drill is how you learn to control it.


When you look back at Tiger's career, there's one thing that absolutely defined him more than anything else, and that was control.

That guy had control over that golf ball, and that is for one reason, and one reason only, clubface.

The clubface control that Tiger had was second to none, and he was able to hit shots that just seemed virtually impossible, and that's because he understood the founding principle of what the goat code is really all about, and that is clubface is king.

Everything else is queen.

Nothing is important as controlling the clubface, And the entire GOAT Code program is built around the idea of teaching you how to have absolute control over that clubface.

In this video, What I'm going to show you is how to get a true understanding and a visual that you can practice and take with you to the course.

To understand what you're doing with that clubface on, not just short game shots that you're working on now, but every single swing in the bag all the way to the driver.

So all you need is a club.

I've got a shaft here.

If you've got, you know, it's a club, you lay on the ground.

You can have a two-by-four or a piece of tape.

Any straight edge is all you need to really start to understand how to take complete control over that clubface.

And what you want to understand about the movement that you're working on in this chipping stroke is that through the hitting area, What we're trying to create is a clubface that is absolutely dead, square or perpendicular to the shaft and moving straight toward the target as long as possible, within reason.

Now, of course, the club is working on an arc.

It's being swung on an arc.

So you can't keep it four feet straight down the line.

But what we're trying to create is as close to that as we possibly can without giving up any speed.

So what you're going to find is, as you're working on this drill, that you're going to have that Clubface square as long as possible.

And I'm going to teach you a couple little tricks that are going to help you do this very consistently.

So all you're going to do at first is set up to the shaft with your clubface perfectly square.

So perpendicular to the shaft.

And as you start making little chipping strokes, What you're going to find is that if you swing your shoulders flat, or you turn and rotate your chest like this, the club is going to want to close in relationship to that shaft.

And it's going to work to the left.

If you hang back off your right foot, it's going to want to work out to the right a little bit.

And the clubface is going to open.

So what we're looking for is that perfect sweet spot in the middle.

So with my weight stacked over the lead side, 60, 70% on the lead side, as I work the club back in my stroke, I'm going to imagine that it's going straight down that line.

Now, of course, it's going to go to the inside a little bit, but I'm going to imagine that it's going straight back on that line.

And then as I come through, this is where it really matters.

As I start working the club back through the strike, I want to make sure that that clubface is dead perpendicular, dead square to that shaft.

And then I'm going to work it down that line as long as possible.

Now, what you're going to see in order for me to do that, what do I have to do?

I have to have side bend.

My spine has to be tilting this way.

The more side bend I create, the lower I get my right shoulder as I'm working through the strike, the longer I can keep that clubface square.

So if I just start from impact and work my right shoulder, my right hand, my right arm, you can see that the club is going to stay on that shaft for a long time.

The moment I turn flat, the clubface rotates and comes across.

The moment I hang back, it does the opposite.

So what you're trying to feel is, How do you have to move your body in order to keep that clubface working straight down that line as long as possible.

Now, again, there's no need to exaggerate this with, you know, a four foot straight club path.

That's not the idea.

We really only need a really small section, but the more you practice this, the longer that you can keep it square, the easier every shot in the bag is going to be.

And as you're working towards the skills assessment challenge for chipping, what you're going to find is that in order to be able to pass that test, you've got to have that clubface and path working the exact same way every single time.

And that's the whole point of this, because as you move from, you know, A chipping stroke stroke to a pitching stroke, where you have more wrist hinge, to a little wedge swing, to a closer to full swing, I am visualizing the exact same thing.

I'm working that club down, creating that side bend and getting my right hand to my palm, basically facing the target for as long as humanly possible.

And as I do this, the clubface rotation is minimal.

Now we're going to have some, of course, and as we add speed, you're going to have more, but while we're practicing at slow speeds with these chipping shots, We can really work on holding that face square and keeping it working down that line as long as possible.

And one key thing I want you to work on when you're doing this drill is holding your follow through, holding your release.

When you're doing this, if you're just doing this and your arms are flipped over, you have no idea what you did and you can't check yourself.

So make a stroke and stop right here like this.

And you'll see that my club shaft has barely even reached vertical at this point.

My right wrist is still hinged back and I'm working that club down the line and holding it behind my hands.

I don't want to release it yet.

This is how you're going to keep that Clubface square as long as possible and working down that straight line path as long as possible.

Once you can do this, the ball is going to come out the exact same way.

It's going to come to do this.

And to remind you, this is the exact same motion you make with the driver.

It's all exactly the same.

Now, one key to doing this drill correctly and getting that club to travel down that, as I mentioned, was the side bend, but it's really part of how you move your hips and your core.

All of this stuff is connected through the fascia and it's all working together.

And so what I want to give you now is a little tip on how to move your hips in order to work with this side bend.

So that you can see how long you can keep that club tracing down that line.

And the key to this again is your weight, your pressure.

It has to be on the lead side.

Most of the time when I'm working with students and they kind of are hitting fat and the club face, they don't have any control and they're flipping the face over, their pressure is way too much on the trail leg.

And so what you've got to find is that you've got to get your pressure over your lead side to where you can keep your right foot basically almost elevated in the air.

And a great way to practice this is to put all of your weight on your lead foot and then pull your right foot back, get it back out of the way.

And this will help make room for your arm and help you understand that.

This side bend that I'm creating and my hip pelvic shift back to the lead side are directly related.

So as I want to move my arm down into that GDP position, my hip has to shift to the left.

And as I do that, you'll note that my pelvis is beginning to rotate a little bit.

Now this is key.

And this is why I want you to pull this trail foot back is because a lot of times, again, when you're, If you find that you're hitting them left and you're finishing like this with your chest kind of out over your toes, it's almost always because you're pushing incorrectly off this trail foot.

And as you start pushing hard off this foot, your right shoulder is going to go flat.

You're going to start smothering the ball and everything's going left.

It's not this motion.

It's this motion.

Notice as my hip moves laterally and it's going to begin to rotate, and I'm not pushing off my right foot at all.

I've got it out of the way here.

I'm pivoting on this left hip.

And so now my hip is well out past my foot.

The center of my hip socket is in neutral joint alignment right over the center of my ankle.

But that a lot of times people don't realize it's your hip socket is further in than, you know, the outside of your hip outside of your leg.

So you've got to get this hip further over to the left.

And that makes it easy to pivot and also makes it easy for you to get into side bend, which allows you to move into GDP without side bend and this hip moving out of the way, your arm has no room.

And so what I see all the time is people start kind of pushing off the right foot.

They start shifting their hips backwards like this instead of laterally forward toward the target.

And then their arm has no room because their hip is in the way.

So the club has to begin to close because your arm has to internally rotate to get the club back to the ball.

As soon as you do this, you're done.

You'll never pass a skills challenge.

You'll never move on from this because you can't control the face.

You'll hit the ball left.

You hit the ball right.

You'll just be timing everything with your hands.

But as soon as I go lateral and make room for my hip or my elbow, and I get into side bend, watch how long I can keep that club face.

And the more I keep introducing the side bend and keeping that right shoulder working down, the longer I can maintain this goat arm, This GDP position with my palm and fingers facing the target and my elbow pit facing out away from me.

And that's what allows me to keep that club face so quiet for so long.

And that's what allowed Tiger to become such a phenomenal ball striker and hit the ball exactly where he was aiming on every single shot.

More often than not.

And more often than anybody else for sure, because he wasn't timing this.

This is so hard to time consistently.

So again, it comes back to practicing on your lead side, pull your right foot back, work into that GDP position, get your right shoulder to your trail shoulder to go down, to work that club down that shaft or whatever you're using, a piece of tape or what have you, and then holding off this release.

And when you finish your weight, if you're doing it with just a normal setup, it's got to be more on the lead side, you're going to hold this club face back behind your wrist.

And to do that, you need to grip the club relatively firmly, like I talk about in the chipping drills, because if you're just holding it soft, the club's going to take over your hands and you're no longer in control of that golf club.

So make sure you get this hip to pivot out of the way.

And a good way of thinking about that, if you're not pushing off the right, which will drive your right hip forward, your trail hip forward, the way that you want to feel this is again, standing on your lead foot, pull your trail foot back and begin to pivot with making sure your hip is out past your foot.

Now, of course, you don't want to be out like this.

This is off balance.

You want basically a simple checkpoint as your first belt loop, give or take a little bit, should be dropped down right over the center of your ankle, give or take a little bit, that's where you want to be.

And that's what's going to give you the ability to pivot very easily and freely.

And the quicker that you can pivot, the faster everything else can work down to the ball and through the strike.

So make sure you're not pushing off the trail foot, but you're actually using the internal muscles on your thigh, your adductors to pull yourself around and your glutes or pull yourself around.

Of course, your core is firing to help rotate it.

All of this stuff is working together.

But what you don't want to see is that you're pushing this right hip forward, your trail hip forward, and that's going to get you close in the club face.

So work on this drill, start hitting some shots where you're working that club down that line.

You can see that I'm just, my wrists are not really doing anything at this point.

And in the chipping stroke, That's the primary difference between a chipping stroke and a pitching shot is that you just don't really have very much wrist set in a chip shot.

In a pitch shot, you have much more.

So we're working this motion and I'm just working it down that line as long as I can, by getting my hip out of the way.

And it's working in conjunction with side bend and the goat arm.

And that will give you complete control over that face.

And you'll get the ball to come out the same way every single time.

Must be Premium Member to Comment

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steven
This is so different than most chipping instruction which cautions against side bend as it moves weight back. The details you provide counter that argument well. I look forward to working on this as I have struggled with chipping for awhile.
July 19, 2025
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Freddie
How much chvshoukd I fix my head movement??
June 18, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Freddie. Unsure of the question. The head can move a bit. It won't stay perfect if that's what you mean.
June 19, 2025
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ECTOR
Hi Chuck, How many yards should you consider for these Exercise??
June 9, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Ector. This is about 7-10 yards.
June 9, 2025
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Michael
Was able to launch it at 0.0 pretty consistently. As I tried to hit longer shots the strike started creeping towards the heel. Is this setup or lower body related?

May 31, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Michael. Tiny bit squatty at address. You can see you have a tendency to push the hands out as you go back. This get the club a little bit under the trail forearm in the backswing. You counter this with a little trail shoulder push in transition.
June 2, 2025
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Michael
Thanks. Can definitely see that now. Any specific feels you recommend as I continue to work through the program?
June 2, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Even though in pitching. Fundamentals of compression video will be a big help.
June 2, 2025
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franck_ds
Hi Team, I realize my best results are where I just try to get the club path down the line during impact, exactly as Chuck said. But when I try to "force" the GOAT position on this short shots (connecting back the trail elbow), I end up with bad contact (hit before the ball mostly). Any clue ?
May 25, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Are you sure you are moving back to the lead side and not just using the arm?
May 27, 2025
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charles
With chucks latest video on Facebook where he says watch hips and core he says keep body and legs quiet and back foot on ground til swing pulls it up. Then on the speed video he says move the trail leg in as fast as possible?
May 12, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Charles. Exactly what you said. The speed video is solely focusing on trying to get crazy speed. Both legs will have to get involved. You don't need to step on the gas that hard for every day shots.
May 12, 2025
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Jayden
Hello Chuck, would you think it would be helpfull doing round analysis by writing down every shot? Best wishes, Jayden.
April 12, 2025
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Craig (Certified RST Instructor)
Hello Jayden. If you are trying to figure out where you are losing shots in your round. The data can help for sure.
April 13, 2025
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Aaron
Chuck, what is your go-to loft for chipping? I love my 62 out of the sand, but tend to prefer my 56 for chipping. That all might change once I learn your way. If chipping, pitching, full swing feels as good as putting does after about 500 reps today from phase 1, I am going to have one fun season.
March 20, 2025
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Chuck
I tend to use my 60° most of the time
March 21, 2025
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Bob
Hey Chuck! Thank you for all your help. I leave outside of Seattle, so lots of practice indoors with Trackman. As you know, I can measure my face angle and club path with these small chips. What should I be looking for club path wise? 0 degrees like with the face angle? Thank you!
February 18, 2025
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Bob
I just read your answer to Will about this. Sorry to bother you. Thanks!
February 18, 2025
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Kendall
Hi Chuck, When you use your core on these short shots like chipping and putting, do you feel it’s more of a rotational contraction/flex or a lateral contraction/flex? Rotational to me feels like doing a Russian twist exercise while lateral feels fore like side oblique crunch. I’m having more success with the feeling of a lateral core flex, especially with the putter. Anytime I use a rotational flex feeling, it seems like the club head moves a bit off path. It’s such a small stroke yet something so small can make it incorrect.
February 16, 2025
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Chuck
Well there’s definitely a rotation involved. It’s more of a pelvic thrust as you would do in throwing the medicine ball or swinging the kettle bell.
February 17, 2025
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Jayden
Hi Chuck, Thanks for your helpful last reply and compliment. I heard that when you excessively practice bunker shots that because you flipp the hands in the sand it can bleed into the full swing. So how many bunker shots would you recommend hitting per day? Also, where should weight distribution be in the bunker; more to the heal or ball of my foot? Does this maby change depending on lie or slope? Best wishes, Jayden .
February 15, 2025
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Chuck
I don't have any set number, you should be able to hit as many as you like if you understand how to swing correctly it shouldn't change anything. As for weight it's going to be more forward on a standard shot and more back when wanting to hit it higher
February 16, 2025
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Zach
Just want to confirm I’m coming to inside here? Arms/hands rotating too much?

February 7, 2025
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Chuck
Yes a little inside with a little too much arm rotation
February 8, 2025
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Zach
This a little better?

February 8, 2025
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Chuck
Yes but it looks like your left wrist is flattening out too soon. if you maintain more extension in it it’s easier to keep the club head outside the hands going back
February 9, 2025
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Jayden
Hi Chuck, thanks for your last advice. Even though I’m practicing the wall drill with a 30° open stance, will it also help stop my head from moving while putting? Best wishes, Jayden.
January 25, 2025
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Chuck
head is moving more due to excess tension, relax your upper body a bit more and your head will stay more steady
January 25, 2025
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Jayden
Hi Chuck, I have been thinking of ways to relax the upper body, but still can not seem to figure it out. The thing is that I don't feel any tension in my upper body, so loosening up feels impossible. Do you have any tips on relaxing my upper body in this situation? Best wishes, Jayden
January 26, 2025
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Chuck
it looked like you were trying to rock your shoulders too much and keep your arms to attach to your sides instead of letting your arms have a little bit of freedom to swing slightly
January 26, 2025
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Charles
Are we supposed to be just working on the drill or actually chipping? What is the recommended reps before moving to the next phase?
January 22, 2025
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Chuck
Yes of course we want you to actually be chipping and if you go through the sequence of videos, you will see there’s a skills assessment test to know if you’re ready to move on
January 23, 2025
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Atle
Hi. Could you elaborate a bit more about pivot. Here it’s clearly on the lead leg while in later steps it is key to pivot on the trail leg. Is it about gradually moving pivot back as we are going for more full swings (still keeping a forward press)? This is probably covered somewhere in this brilliant program. Thanks
January 18, 2025
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Chuck
as you began to add more power to the swing the trail leg becomes more involved. on these short shots power is not what we are after. Of course so there’s very little trail leg pushing involved and very little hand release as we start adding speed we start driving laterally off that trail leg more and letting the hands release more
January 18, 2025
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Jayden
Hi Chuck, If I were to workout just as hard as Chris Heria, would to much muscle hinder me in my Golfgame? Best wishes, Jayden.
January 16, 2025
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Chuck
You would have to get quite big for it to make a significant difference in your swing
January 17, 2025
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Jayden
Hi Chuck, thanks for your last advice. Coming to the second phase a few questions popped up. 1. At 9 o'clock in my stroke, should I be in GDP? 2. Should my lead arm's elbow point along the target line at impact? 3. Which club do you recommend using for this phase? I’d also appreciate any feedback on my stroke. Best wishes, Jayden

December 27, 2024
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Chuck
Jayden, all these questions have been answered in the videos already, so please take some more time to review them.
December 27, 2024
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Jayden
Hi Chuck, sorry for my misinterpretation. I thought I should work through the videos step by step, first 2.1, then 2.2, in that order. Is it correct to say that I can mix the videos and drills within one phase? Also, in the second video of the first phase, you explained GDP. By practicing and progressing through your program, will GDP be incorporated in any case? Best wishes, Jayden
December 27, 2024
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Chuck
Yes, you should work through them step by step and needn't get ahead of yourself worrying about things like GDP on your chip shots. Focus on club face control at this time and then compare your video your stroke to mine in the video
December 27, 2024
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Jayden
Hi Chuck, I reviewed my stroke and noticed a few differences: you seemed to have less weight on the front side, less bow in your left wrist, a narrower stance, and more side bend past impact. Your arms also appeared to hang more freely. However, I couldn’t find specific details about face rotation. I would greatly appreciate your guidance and help with my observations. Best wishes, Jayden.
December 29, 2024
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Chuck
You want the absolute minimum face rotation possible
December 29, 2024
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Jayden

December 27, 2024
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Reed
Chuck, I’m loving the GOAT code, small strokes the larger ones. When does the right hand release though on the driver swing as compared to all the others. I was working on the single right hand release for speed…but it seems like I should be keeping the face closed longer?? In other words the GDP position, then releasing the hands for speed or keep the hands more in front of the face and releasing after the ball is hit….I’m not sure I’m asking it correctly!
December 24, 2024
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Chuck
hi Reed I’m not sure I fully understand but as you work through the program, you will naturally get a feel for the release that’s why you go from 40 yard shots to 80 yard shots and that’s where you really start to feel hands speed. Have you worked through those videos yet?
December 24, 2024
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Reed
And Merry Christmas Chuck!
December 25, 2024
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Reed
Thanks for the response Chuck! I am working on those, too....I think I cheated a bit and went right to the GOAT speed vids! The release with the right hand! Working backwards now! HA!
December 25, 2024
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Chuck
Merry Christmas it’s tempting to jump ahead, but it’s sort of like learning the piano. You can’t get a tip or a trick and expect to play Beethoven but the great thing is you have a very specific pathway to get you to the promised land
December 25, 2024
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mike
Chuck.. was hesitant to sign up for this thinking perhaps I was just spending more money on another failed plan. The GOAT code technique just made SO much sense to me that I thought I would at least give it a try . Although not completely new to golf , I consider myself a fairly new golfer as I hit 60 . I played a little when I was young but mostly just going out a few times here and there with friends more concerned with the drinking and general having a good time but never really "playing" nor improving. After about a year of that I stopped and never picked it up again until last year. After about a dozen lessons I hadn't seen much improvement and was resigned to "that's just how it's gonna be". Then I saw your YouTube on the GOAT code and the right hand dominant swing and it just spoke to me . I was a pitcher and a pretty good ball player in my youth and that felt like the missing piece of the puzzle. I watched and implemented the drills and particularly the grip and setup and the next couple of times out my contact and really everything just jumped up significantly. It took a little trust in the swing and letting it happen so that the face would square but my contact has improved 10 fold. Still working obviously to keep moving forward ,but it feels like the swing and contact I've been looking for and more importantly I know longer have the resignation that maybe none of my past sport interactions translate to golf and this is as good as it gets . Just wanted to pass that along in case someone out there is feeling the same resignation and confusion . This works ! Well.... Thanks so much . It's nice to actually enjoy this and know that I wasn't crazy!!
December 21, 2024
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Chuck
Awesome Mike! I don't mess around when it comes to the swing. I can get you better. I guarantee it.
December 22, 2024
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Will
Chuck, I'm so excited to be back on here and grinding away. I recently got a golf simulator in my garage to practice with and I was wondering if you could give some insight on the club path metrics? Meaning, what would be an acceptable path measurement? I'm able to hit my line...but, sometimes my club path is more out to in than i'd like. Thanks man, Will
December 17, 2024
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Chuck
Awesome Will. I generally like a path that is very close to zero and dont like to see more than 2* on either side
December 18, 2024
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Mark
so many great chippers and instructors are facing target half way through follow through where hands have released to square so butt end faces left hip/ belly button. but this motion keeping face square keeps hands ahead of blade . why is this a better method please ?
December 2, 2024
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Chuck
Because you hit the ball at the club face and not your body. if the club face is still pointing at the target for as long as possible the ball is going to go at the target
December 2, 2024
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Alex
I have a question and was not sure where to put it. When you open your stance, like in the one handed chip and maybe two handed. What is the club path also w the ripper. Is it always parallel to your feet, but the club face perpendicular to the target. I was thinking about this last night for a while and was not really rapping my head around it. Thanks
October 19, 2024
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Chuck
You can do both, parallel to the feet or down the line. Each creates a different shot.
October 20, 2024

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