Jackson Reid
Golf heel hits are a common issue that can be frustrating for players. Heel hits occur when the heel of the clubface, the portion closest to the shaft, makes contact with the ball first. This can result in weak, inaccurate shots that lack distance and veer sharply to the right for right-handed golfers or to the left for left-handed golfers. There are several causes for heel hits, including improper wrist rotation, an overactive upper body rotation, standing too close to the ball, an inside-out swing path, and excessive body movement during the swing. Additionally, using improperly fitted clubs with shafts that are too long or have incorrect flex can also contribute to heel strikes. To correct heel hits, golfers can focus on improving their swing mechanics, address position, and equipment setup.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Grip | Too strong or too weak |
| Swing path | Inside-out |
| Clubface | Closes at impact |
| Distance from the ball | Too close or too far |
| Swing plane | Too steep or too flat |
| Weight shift | Improper |
| Ball position | Too far forward |
| Swing speed | Too fast |
| Club selection | Fairway woods, hybrids, long irons, wedges |
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What You'll Learn
Poor alignment
Stance and Address Position
One primary cause of poor alignment is standing too close to the ball, which alters the natural swing path. This results in an inside-out swing, causing the heel of the club to make contact with the ball first. Adjust your stance to ensure you have enough room to swing freely, allowing your arms to hang naturally by your side.
Body Movement
Excessive body movement during the swing, such as swaying or sliding forward, can also lead to heel strikes. Focus on maintaining a stable, centred swing where your body rotates instead of slides. Ensure your body turns during the backswing, making it easier to transition to the downswing.
Upper Body and Lower Body Coordination
Heel strikes often occur when the upper body dives towards the ball, instead of the lower body leading the way. To correct this, focus on keeping your upper body passive during the transition, using your lower body and mid-torso to lead the swing. Avoid lifting your right heel early in the downswing; instead, keep it down and rotate into your left side.
Swing Path
An inside-out swing path is a common cause of heel hits. Work on achieving a neutral swing path by bringing the clubhead straight through the ball. This will help reduce heel strikes and improve overall swing mechanics.
Trail Arm
The position of the trail arm is often where the problem of heel hits begins. Keep your arms loose and ensure they swing in unison with your hands, hips, and back. Allow your trail arm to swing away from the golf ball, feeling the swing in your arm as it folds down.
Wrist Rotation
Improper wrist rotation, especially holding the lag too long, can lead to heel shots. Focus on improving wrist rotation from the top of the backswing.
By addressing these alignment issues, you can significantly improve your accuracy and consistency in golf, reducing those frustrating heel hits.
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Incorrect swing path
An incorrect swing path is one of the most common causes of hitting the heel of the club during a golf swing. This often occurs when the swing path is too "inside-out", causing the heel to make contact with the ball first. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including improper wrist rotation, an overactive upper body rotation, and a lack of lower body rotation during the swing.
To correct an inside-out swing path, golfers should focus on keeping their upper body passive and allowing their lower body and mid-torso to lead the swing. This can be achieved by ensuring that the right foot remains planted during the downswing, with a rotation into the left side. Additionally, golfers should focus on initiating the swing with their lower body, followed by the upper body, and finally the arms. This sequence will help to keep the club on a more consistent path through the ball and reduce the likelihood of heel strikes.
Another factor that can contribute to an incorrect swing path is standing too close to the ball. When golfers position themselves too near the ball, their natural swing path is altered, leading to an inside-out swing that results in heel strikes. To correct this, golfers should adjust their stance to ensure they are the correct distance from the ball, allowing their arms to hang naturally and providing enough room to swing freely.
The position of the trail arm can also play a significant role in correcting an incorrect swing path. Golfers should focus on keeping their arms loose and swinging in unison with the rest of their body. This will help prevent pulling the arms back too fast, which can disrupt the swing sequence and contribute to heel hits. By making these adjustments, golfers can improve their swing path and increase the likelihood of hitting the center of the clubface.
Additionally, golfers can utilize drills such as the "gate drill" to improve their swing path. This drill involves placing objects on both sides of the ball to create a narrow path for the clubhead, encouraging center-face contact. Practicing with a headcover placed just outside the ball on the toe side can also provide immediate feedback and help reduce heel strikes. By incorporating these techniques and adjustments, golfers can effectively correct an incorrect swing path and improve their overall swing mechanics.
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Off-centre impact
There are several factors that contribute to toe hits, which are the opposite of heel hits. One factor is poor alignment, where a golfer sets up with their shoulders, hips, or feet aimed too far left or right of the target, causing the clubface to approach the ball from an angle that is more likely to result in a toe hit. The swing path can also contribute to toe hits, as a steep or out-to-in swing path can cause the club to approach the ball at an angle that increases the likelihood of a toe hit.
Additionally, an improper grip can lead to toe hits. When a golfer grips the club too tightly or has an overly strong grip, it can cause the clubface to close at impact, resulting in a toe hit. Conversely, an overly weak grip can cause the clubface to open at impact, leading to a heel hit. The position of the golf ball in relation to the golfer's stance can also impact the likelihood of a toe or heel hit. If the ball is positioned too far forward, it can cause the clubface to approach the ball on a steep angle, increasing the risk of a toe hit. Conversely, standing too far from the ball can cause the club to approach on a flatter angle, leading to a heel hit.
To address heel hits, golfers can make adjustments to their stance, grip, and swing path. Working with a coach or instructor can help identify any swing flaws and improve overall performance on the course. Practicing drills and exercises that focus on swing path, balance, and grip can also help reduce the occurrence of heel hits.
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Improper grip
Hitting the heel of the club during a golf game can be frustrating and can cause you to lose confidence. One of the main causes of this issue is an improper grip.
To avoid hitting the heel, it is important to ensure that you have a proper grip on the club. This will improve your overall swing mechanics and help you achieve more centred hits. A strong grip can cause the toe to become too dominant, forcing golfers to "reverse rotate" their arms into the ball, which can lead to heel hits.
To correct this, try adopting a more neutral grip, which will allow you to release the club correctly. This will enable the club head to swing out towards the ball and expose the centre of the club face more often.
In addition to grip adjustments, it is important to focus on your body movement during the swing. Avoid excessive body movement, such as swaying or sliding forward, as this can cause your body to get too close to the ball, resulting in heel strikes.
By making these small adjustments to your grip and body movement, you can improve your swing mechanics and reduce the number of heel hits, leading to more accurate and powerful shots.
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Inappropriate swing speed
In golf, the centre of the clubface is where the "good stuff happens". However, the heel is less than an inch away from the centre, which makes the game challenging. Heel hits are often caused by an inappropriate swing speed, among other factors.
An inappropriate swing speed, along with an inside-out swing path, can cause the clubface to close too early, resulting in the heel making contact with the ball first. This can lead to weak, inaccurate shots that veer sharply to the right for right-handed golfers and to the left for left-handed golfers. The flatter you swing the club, the more likely you are to hit the heel.
To correct this issue, it is important to focus on a neutral swing path that brings the clubhead straight through the ball. This can be achieved by ensuring that the hands, hips, and back work in unison during the swing. The trail arm should swing away from the golf ball, allowing it to fold down. It is also important to avoid pulling the arms back too fast, as this can disrupt the swing sequence.
Additionally, golfers should focus on leading the downswing with their lower body and keeping their upper body more passive. This can be achieved by ensuring that the right foot stays down longer during the swing, which prevents the head from moving towards the ball too early and helps maintain a stable, centred swing.
By making these adjustments, golfers can improve their swing mechanics, increase centred hits, and reduce heel strikes.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several reasons why a golfer might hit the heel of the club during a round of golf. One of the most common causes is an inside-out swing path, which can be caused by standing too close to the ball. Other causes include an overactive upper body rotation in the downswing, a lack of lower body rotation in the backswing, and using improperly fitted clubs.
If you're standing too close to the ball, your natural swing path will be altered, and you'll tend to swing too \"inside-out\", causing the heel of the club to make contact with the ball first. You should adjust your stance so that your arms can hang naturally and you have enough room to swing freely.
An inside-out swing path is when the club head swings across the ball from outside the target line. This can cause the clubface to close too early, resulting in the heel of the club making contact with the ball first.
To fix an inside-out swing path, you should focus on keeping your upper body passive during the swing and letting your lower body and mid-torso lead the movement. You should also work on achieving a neutral swing path that brings the clubhead straight through the ball, which will help reduce heel strikes.
