How to Close the Face of a Golf Club at Impact

Nothing torments a golfer more than watching their ball curve helplessly to the right (or left for the lefties) in a dreaded slice. The cause of that slice, in the vast majority of cases, is an open clubface at the moment of impact. This article will cut straight to the chase, explaining exactly why your clubface is open and providing clear, actionable steps and drills to help you finally learn how to close the clubface properly, turning weak slices into powerful, straight shots.

Understanding the Open Clubface: The Source of the Slice

Before you can fix the problem, you have to understand it. An "open" clubface simply means the face of the club is pointing to the right of your target line for a right-handed golfer when it strikes the ball. This open face imparts sidespin on the ball, causing it to curve away from your target. Even if your swing path is perfect, an open face will produce a weak shot that veers right.

So, why is your face getting left open? It usually boils down to a few common culprits working against you.

The Problem often Starts with Your Grip

Your hands are your only connection to the golf club, making them the steering wheel for your entire shot. A "weak" grip is one of the most common reasons golfers leave the face open. For a right-handed player, a weak grip means your left hand is rotated too far to the left (counter-clockwise) on the handle, so you can't see many knuckles. This position naturally encourages the clubface to return to the ball in an open position. You're starting the swing with a built-in handicap that forces you to make complex compensations just to hit it straight.

Your Body is Out of Sequence

Most amateur golfers are what we call "upper body dominant." When they start the downswing, their first move is to try and hit the ball with their arms and shoulders. This creates the classic "over-the-top" move, where the club is thrown outside the ideal swing plane. This path makes it almost impossible to square the clubface in time. The body’s movements need to happen in a specific order for the club to do its job. A proper sequence - starting from the ground up - gives the club the time and space it needs to drop into the correct position and release naturally through impact.

The Fear of "Flipping" Your Wrists

Many golfers have been told not to "flip" their hands at the ball. In an effort to keep the wrists firm and lead with the hands, they end up holding the clubface rotation off, essentially pushing the handle toward the target with a rigid, open face. The truth is, the forearms and wrists must rotate through the impact zone for the clubhead to release and square up. This rotation isn't a conscious, last-second flip, it's a smooth, powerful release that happens as a result of a good downswing sequence. Trying to consciously "hold" the face square often has the opposite effect.

The Fix: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Squaring the Face

Now that we know the causes, let's get into the solutions. Fixing your open clubface isn’t about one single trick, it's about building a few solid fundamentals into your swing. When you get these right, squaring the face becomes automatic, not something you have to force.

1. Strengthen Your Grip to Neutral

Getting your hands in a neutral or slightly "strong" position is the first and most direct way to encourage the face to close. It sets you up for success before you even start your swing.

• For the Top Hand (Left Hand for Righties): Place the club in the fingers of your left hand, not the palm. When you close your hand, you should be able to look down and easily see at least two knuckles (the index and middle finger knuckles). The "V" formed by your thumb and index finger should point toward your right shoulder or even slightly outside of it.
• For the Bottom Hand (Right Hand for Righties): Your right hand should cover your left thumb. The "V" formed by your right thumb and index finger should also point generally toward your right shoulder, mirroring your left hand. This "stronger" position makes it physically easier for your hands and forearms to rotate and release the club through impact. It will feel strange at first, but stick with it.

2. Start the Downswing From the Ground Up

The secret to effortless power and a square clubface is sequence. Instead of starting your downswing with your arms, you must learn to initiate it with your lower body.

• Feel the "Shift and Turn": From the top of your backswing, your very first move should be a small "bump" or shift of your hips toward the target. Think about leading with your belt buckle.
• Let the Arms Drop: This initial lower body move creates space for your arms and the club to simply "drop" down into the right position, or what pros call "the slot." You're not actively pulling the club down, you're letting gravity do the work as your body unwinds.
• Unwind the Torso: Once your hips have started the turn and the club has dropped, you can then powerfully rotate your torso through the shot. This sequence provides the perfect runway for the club to accelerate and square up at the golf ball without you having to manipulate it.

3. Learn to Release the Club Naturally

The release is where the magic really happens. It is the moment when the shaft and the clubhead catch up to your hands and your "trail" arm rotates over your "lead" arm through impact. You don't make this happen, you let it happen.

• Right Forearm over Left: For a right-handed golfer, the feeling is your right forearm rotating naturally over your left forearm as you swing through the impact zone. Imagine you're skipping a stone or throwing a baseball side-arm - that's the same releasing motion.
• Let the Clubhead Pass the Hands: After you make contact with the ball, the clubhead should feel like it's "winning the race" against your hands. This indicates a full and powerful release. If your hands are still well ahead of the clubhead long after impact, you've likely held the face open.

Drills to Ingrain the Right Movement

Understanding these concepts is one thing, but feeling them in your swing is another. These drills are designed to take the ideas from your head and install them into your body.

Drill 1: The Split-Hand Swing

This is a fantastic drill for feeling how your hands and forearms are supposed to work together to close the clubface.

1. Take your normal grip, then slide your bottom (right) hand down the shaft three to four inches.
2. Make some gentle, half-speed swings, from waist-high to waist-high.
3. You'll immediately feel how your top (right) hand and forearm have to naturally roll over your bottom (left) hand to get the club through the shot. It exaggerates the release motion and makes it impossible to hold the face open. Hit a few soft shots this way to experience what a proper release feels like.

Drill 2: The 9-to-3 Drill

This drill helps you manage your clubface and rotation within a controlled, repeatable swing.

1. Set up to the ball and take the club back only until your left arm is parallel to the ground (9 o'clock position). Pause and check your clubface: the toe of the club should be pointing straight up to the sky.
2. From here, swing through to the follow-through position where your right arm is parallel to the ground (3 o'clock position).
3. Pause again and check the clubface. The toe of the club should once again be pointing straight up to the sky, or even slightly back at you. This shows that the face has fully rotated (or released) through the impact zone. Start with slow practice swings and then begin hitting balls, focusing on recreating that feeling without forcing it.

Drill 3: The Motorcycle Drill

If you have a persistent slice from an "over-the-top" swing, this drill is for you. It helps shallow the club and pre-sets the face in a more "closed" position on the way down.

1. Take the club to the top of your backswing.
2. Just as you're about to start your downswing, feel as though you are revving the throttle of a motorcycle downward with your left hand. This action will "bow" or flex your left wrist.
3. As you begin your downswing with this bowed-wrist feel, the club will naturally drop to the inside and the clubface will be in a much stronger, more closed position. It makes squaring the face at the bottom feel effortless. Hit some shots at 70% speed until this unique move starts to feel more comfortable.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to close the face of the golf club is not about making a last-second, violent twist with your hands. It's the natural result of a solid foundation: a neutral grip that allows for rotation, a downswing that starts from the ground up, and an understanding that you must allow the club to release through the ball. By working on these fundamentals and using the drills, you can transform your open-faced slice into a square, powerful strike.

Mastering this feel is a process that benefits from both practice and the right feedback. On the course, you don’t always have time to analyze your mechanics, sometimes, you just need a clear strategy to trust your shot. We built Caddie AI to be your 24/7 golf coach and confidant. If you're struggling with a recurring poor shot B, you can get instant swing advice or ask for specific drills you can take to the range. More importantly, when you're faced with a tough shot on the course, you can send a photo of your lie and get immediate, expert advice on how to play it, helping you commit to every swing with confidence.