An open clubface can be great if you want to hit a slight push draw. The key is to ensure that the swing path is further to the right to help great draw spin and control the flight and curve of the golf shot.
The golf club face is arguably the most important part of the golf swing.
Without control of the club face the golfer will struggle to have a predictable shot pattern that allows them to manage their way around the golf course.
If your clubface is open one time and closed the next, disaster could be awaiting for you throughout the round of golf.
The best golfers are able to control their clubface to hit the shots they need and what the course demands that day based on the layout, pin placements and conditions.
The golf clubface can be in 3 general positions at impact:
- Open
- Square
- Close
There are pros and cons to each of the three positions listed above. Today, we will dive into the open clubface.
Is An Open Club Face in Golf Good or Bad?
My Experience: As a golfer growing up in the 1990s, we were taught that an open face causes a slice. Unfortunately, we were missing some key information. An open face can also lead to a draw, depending on where the swing path is. For years I tried to hit a draw, thinking I needed to close the face. Thanks to Stack and Tilt and learning about hitting the ball on an imaginary circle, did I finally learn what actually caused that beautiful push draw that many of the best golfers hit! Make sure you check out the Key Understanding section below!
Golf Club Face Open: Pros
- Allows a golfer to play a draw with the correct swing path
- Can help eliminate the left side of the golf course
Golf Club Face Open: Cons
- Can lead to a slice if the swing path is too far left
- Can lead to blocks right
Key Understandings About The Clubface in Golf
There are many misconceptions when it comes to the clubface in golf. Until the ball flight laws were actually understood by the masses, many golf instructors thought that the swing path impacts the initial direction of the golf shot and the club face controls the spin. When in reality the following is generally true:
- The ball will start in the relative direction of the clubface at impact.
- The ball will then curve away from the swing path.
Example #1: If the clubface is 2 degrees open with a swing path that is 4 degrees to the right, the shot will be a slight push draw. The shot will start right of the target line and curve back towards the target.
Example #2: If the clubface is 4 degrees open with a swing path that is 1 degree left, the ball will start right and fade right, resulting in a shot that ends up right of the target line.
Example #3: If the clubface is 7 degrees open with a swing path that is 7 degrees right, the ball will start right and fly straight, resulting in a major block or push to the right that will be well off line.
The basic understanding of the ball flight laws will help us better understand the pros and cons of an open clubface. Many of the best golfers in the world have played golf with an open clubface and have hit controlled draws or push fades for most of their careers.
Pro #1 Golf Club Face Open: Allows a golfer to play a draw with the correct swing path
For years, many golfers might have believed they have to close the clubface in order to hit a draw, when in reality an open clubface relative to the target line can produce a push draw if the path is slightly more to the right than the clubface.
The best golfers in the world will often hit a push draw and this starts with an open clubface at impact. This shot continues to work unless the swing path gets too far right or gets to the left of the clubface. If the path gets too far right, the golfer will hit an overdraw or even a hook. If the path gets too far left, the golfer will hit a push fade or slice.
How to Hit A Draw: 5 Simple Steps!
Pro #2 Golf Club Face Open: Can help eliminate the left side of the golf course
The best golfers are able to eliminate trouble on one side of the golf hole. When a golfer can control their clubface and play with an open clubface throughout the round, they are able to play shots that start right of the target line all day. As long as the path stays in a relative swing path to the right of the ball, the golfer will hit draw shots all day long!
Con #1 Golf Club Face Open: Can lead to a slice if the swing path is too far left
Many amateurs start the game of golf with an open clubface. The problem is that their swing path can often be 6 to 12 degrees left. This often results in a big slice that leads to a loss of distance and very limited control over the shot. They grow frustrated and aim further and further left and hit a bigger and bigger slice.
How To Fix A Golf Slice: 6 Simple Steps
Con #2 Golf Club Face Open: Can lead to blocks right
If the clubface and swing path are matched up, but are both 7-10 degrees to the right or open, the golfer will hit block shots that fly far to the right. Anytime the swing path or clubface gets too extreme, big misses will happen. When the golfer can live in the 2-4 degree range open or to the right, they will be able to hit slight push shots or slight push draws. When a golfer gets too far under and the path gets too far right and the clubface is also well to the right, the golfer will start to struggle.
Next Steps: Practice Your Clubface Control
The best golfers can control their clubface. The good news is that there is a wonderful drill you can use to help you hit a stock draw or a stock fade. A stock fade can be hit with an open clubface. For example, a push fade is an excellent option and Lee Trevino is a hall of famer from this shot.
Stock Shot Drill
- At the driving range, set up an alignment stick about 6-8 yards in front of you, straight down your target line.
- If you have a second alignment stick, set the stick 3-4 feet right of the first stick (for a draw) or left of the first stick (for a fade).
- Complete your initial assessment see how many times out of 10 you can start the ball to the right or left of your target. Pick one side and measure your game at this point.
- The goal is to eventually get 7 out of 10 shots to start to the correct side and draw back towards the target.
If you start to struggle with curving the ball too much or being inconsistent with your shot shape, return to this drill and train your clubface and swing path to develop the shot that best fits your game.
Final Thoughts
I would highly recommend using a golf launch monitor to help measure your clubface and your swing path. I purchased a Skytrak Launch Monitor several years ago and the feedback is rather impressive. After every shot, you can receive the following:
- Carry and Total Distance
- Spin Axis
- Spin Rate
- Swing Path
- Launch Angle
- Ball Speed
- Club Speed
In addition, the shot tracer is rather helpful in getting feedback. If you understand the ball flight laws, the shot tracer gives you the immediate feedback about where your clubface was at impact as well as your swing path based on the curve of the ball.
Check Current Price of Skytrak Launch Monitor, Here!
My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About four years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage. I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.