How to Square the Clubface at Impact Consistently (Simple Fixes & Drills That Actually Work)

To hit a golf ball straight, the clubface must be square at impact. It’s as simple as that.

The real issue lies in what must be done to square the clubface.

If you are ready to learn what it takes to square a clubface and finally start striking the ball the way the pros do, you are in the right spot.

Squaring the clubface is partially about understanding the concept and finding the right drills to get you there.

Squaring the Clubface at Impact (Key Takeaways)

If you don’t have time to read our complete guide on how to square a clubface, here are the main things to take away:

• Wrist angle, especially flexion and extension, opens and closes the clubface in the golf swing.
• If your wrist angle at setup or the top of the backswing is incorrect, it’s difficult to recover and square the clubface at impact.
• The most common issue at impact is an open clubface caused by too much wrist extension.
• Measuring wrist angles makes clubface control far easier to learn.
• When you can control lead-wrist extension through impact, you can also increase swing speed and power.

If you prefer to watch instead of read, here’s a video recap explaining how to take control of your clubface and consistently square it at impact.

How to Square the Clubface at Impact

To square the clubface at impact, your wrist must maintain the right balance of flexion and extension.

Too much extension (cupping) opens the face, while excessive flexion (bowing) closes it. Finding the correct wrist position is key to delivering a square clubface at impact.

The simplest way to think about squaring the clubface is this: avoid adding extension on the way back, then reduce extension as you move from the top of the swing into impact while maintaining forward shaft lean.

Better players do not wait until the last moment to square the clubface.

They begin squaring it earlier in the downswing, which gives them time to rotate and accelerate through the ball instead of flipping the hands at impact.

1. Start with a neutral grip: A neutral grip sets the foundation for how your wrists can move. If the grip is too strong or too weak, you’ll often need compensation later in the swing.
2. Avoid adding lead-wrist extension in the backswing: Too much cupping opens the clubface and makes it difficult to square the face without a late timing-based fix.
3. Reduce extension as you transition into the downswing: Better players don’t wait until the last moment. They begin squaring the clubface earlier by decreasing extension from the top of the swing.
4. Maintain forward shaft lean into impact: Hands slightly ahead of the ball help stabilize the clubface through impact and reduce the urge to flip the wrists.
5. Rotate through the shot instead of saving it with your hands: When the clubface is squared earlier, your body can keep rotating and accelerating without relying on a last-second hand flip.

Use the interactive slow-motion player below to see how the wrists and hands move throughout the golf swing. For a deeper breakdown, read our full guide on wrists and hands in the golf swing.

What You See vs What’s Really Going On

Use this quick reference to help diagnose common clubface issues.

What You See on the Course	What’s Really Going On	What Helps Most
Push or slice	Clubface open at impact	Reduce lead-wrist extension
Solid contact, ball leaks right	Face open relative to path	Square the face earlier
Flip at impact	Body stalls, wrists add extension	Improve forward shaft lean
Pulls or hooks	Too much wrist flexion	Neutralize grip and wrist angles

Clubface Positions to Know

Before you can consistently square the clubface, you need to understand three clubface positions:

• Open Clubface – Points right of the target (RH golfer) and often causes a slice.
• Square Clubface – Square to the target line at impact, producing straight shots.
• Closed Clubface – Points left of the target and often causes hooks or pulls.

Problems With an Open Clubface in the Golf Swing

The open clubface is one of the most common swing flaws in golf. When the clubface is open, a long list of swing faults can appear as a result.

Common problems include:

• Swinging out-to-in and slicing the ball.
• Keeping weight on the back foot and losing power.
• Trying to square the clubface at the last moment with a weak flip.

Problems With a Closed Clubface in the Golf Swing

A closed clubface is less common but can still cause issues. It is typically created by too much wrist flexion as the club reaches impact.

Some common causes include:

• Swinging too far in-to-out and hooking the ball
• A grip that is too strong at setup
• Excessive flexion without proper rotation through impact

How to Control the Clubface at Impact

The way to control the clubface angle will vary depending on the type of golfer you are and even the club you are swinging.

Some players naturally release the club easily, while others struggle to square the face without feeling like they need to manipulate their hands.

We know for sure that grip, wrist angle, forward shaft lean, and proper rotation all impact a golfer’s ability to control the clubface.

These elements are connected, and when one is off, another often compensates.

Many golfers try to fix clubface issues by changing only one piece, most commonly the grip or the hands, through impact. While those adjustments can help, they are often short-term fixes if the wrists and body are not working together.

When the grip is neutral, the wrists are set up correctly, and the body continues to rotate through impact, the clubface has time to square naturally instead of being forced at the last moment.

Key Factors That Control the Clubface

• Grip: A neutral grip allows the wrists to move correctly. Grips that are too strong or too weak often force compensations. Learn how grip affects the golf swing.
• Wrist Angles: Lead-wrist extension opens the clubface, Lead-wrist flexion closes the clubface, managing how much extension you add—and when you reduce it—is critical.See our guide to wrist action in the golf swing.
• Forward Shaft Lean: Hands slightly ahead of the ball help stabilize the clubface. Losing shaft lean often leads to flipping. Here’s how to improve shaft lean at impact.
• Rotation: Proper body rotation allows the clubface to return to square naturally. When rotation stalls, the hands are forced to save the shot. Learn more about body rotation in the golf swing.

Drills to Square the Clubface Consistently

Understanding how to square the clubface is important, but improvement comes from training the correct wrist motion repeatedly.

These drills focus on squaring the face earlier, maintaining control through impact, and checking key positions with feedback.

HackMotion Release Drill

This drill helps you learn how to control the clubface from waist-high to waist-high and square it through impact without flipping.

HackMotion Motorcycle Drill

The Motorcycle Drill trains you to add flexion earlier in the downswing so the clubface is squared sooner rather than at the last moment.

HackMotion Top Check Drill (Top of the Backswing)

Many golfers lose the clubface at the top of the swing without realizing it. This drill helps you verify that you’re starting the downswing from a position that allows the face to square.

FAQs

Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about how to square the clubface at impact.

How do you square the clubface early in the downswing?

Avoid adding lead-wrist extension at the top and begin reducing extension as the downswing starts. Squaring the face earlier gives your body time to rotate through impact.

Which hand controls the clubface?

For right-handed golfers, the left (lead) hand controls the clubface. The opposite is true for left-handed golfers.

Why is my clubface wide open at impact?

Most golfers open the clubface during the takeaway and never fully square it back due to excess wrist extension.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to square the clubface can make you a better player from tee to green.

When wrist angles, shaft lean, and rotation work together, squaring the clubface becomes far more consistent and repeatable.

HackMotion makes the learning process faster by giving you clear feedback on what your wrists are actually doing throughout the swing.