Good afternoon, Dave Cahill here with Cahill Golf at the Cimarron Golf Resort, Palm Springs, California. Today we are talking about the importance of face alignment when you are pitching. Accuracy in pitching club face alignment is as important in pitching precision as is in putting. I am going to do some experiments to demonstrate the influence of face alignment. Try this drill yourself, it will help you build accuracy and the confidence to pitch with precision. Accurate alignment will help you score better.
I am using three clubs. Two are placed on the ground parallel to each other, with the center line between the clubs pointing exactly at the target. It is easy to set up using either golf clubs or alignment sticks. The goal is to line up the bottom line or sole of the golf club perpendicular to the target line.
Now for the experiment. We will set up with the club face first square, then open and finally closed to the target line to experience the influence of each face position on the pitch shot. With the first position the sole of the club is perpendicular or perfectly square to the target line. The face is pointing at the target. With a good stroke the pitch flies right at the pin.
The next face position is to close the face to the line. In other words, point the bottom of the club to the left. I am going to look at the target and try to swing to the target, but the face of the golf club will be positioned to face left. The ball flies way left of the target. I am going to modify the face to point only a little left. The result is as expected, the ball lands left of the hole. The last test is opening the face of the club, so it is pointing out to the right of the target line. I line up straight with the face pointing out to the right. Once again, I am going to look at the target and try to swing to the target. And, in fact the ball does fly out to the right of the target. I will try the same stroke but with the face a little less to the right to see how much difference the face position makes. There it goes out to the right again. By doing this experiment you will discover even small nuances in the face of the club make large differences. Stokes can be saved with accuracy in pitching club face alignment.
PGA Instructor Mike Cahill and PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill are here to help you play better and enjoy the game more. To learn more about accuracy in pitching club face alignment please come see us in Palm Springs for golf lessons or visit us for a Palm Springs Golf School.
PGA Instructor Mike Cahill 612-501-9015 mikecahill@cahillgolf.com
PGA Master Instructor Dave Cahill 952-994-s0387 davecahill@cahillgolf.com