Impact of the toe

Jesse Grewal

When the ball is hit of the toe of the club, especially the driver, the ball would start to the right (for right-handed golfers) and then curve to the left or hook. As explained in last week’s article, a ball hit of centre twists the club open in case of a toe strike and closed in case of a heel strike. Gear effect is produced when two curved surfaces come in contact and when one rotates one way, the other will rotate in the opposite direction. The toe strike is a less-damaging problem as compared to the heel strike. The toe is the fastest moving part of the club and therefore a toe strike does not lose distance. Most drivers are also designed to create the maximum distance from the centre towards a high toe impact. This is considered the ‘hot’ spot for maximum distance with a driver.

The common causes for a toe impact are an out-to-in swing, a loss of spine angle, standing too far from the ball and a narrowing of the swing arc. An out-to-in swing, which results in a pull slice, could create a toe impact. When the club is approaching the ball from the outside, it would travel inwards towards the body and create a toe impact. This toe impact would make the ball start to the right and a hook spin, thereby negating the pull created by the path and the hook spin negating the slice. This could be the odd straight shot hit by a ‘pull slicer’.

A flat shoulder turn makes the spine lift upwards. The spine could also straighten during the downswing. This straightening of the spine leads to an increase in distance to the ball leading to a toe impact. In an ideal backswing, the shoulders should turn at a right angle to the spine (picture 1) while in a flat shoulder turn the shoulders do not turn downwards causing the spine to lift (picture 2).

If the arms get closer to the body during the downswing, the swing arc narrows as the club comes closer to the body causing an impact off the toe (picture 3). Both an out-to-in swing as well as a narrow arc are steep in there angle of approach and create toe strikes. Incorrect sequence of the body rotation could lead to this problem.

(Grewal has coached several national champions and professionals apart from being coach of the Indian golf team for the Eisenhower Cup (World Cup) in 2008. He is currently the Director of National Golf Academy of India and CGA Hero Honda Golf Academy. If you have any queries get in touch with him at parexcellence@tribunemail.com)