5 Most Common Mistakes Golfers Make at Impact and How to Fix Them

We can discuss grip, setup, takeaway, backswing, and more. However, what really matters in golf is impact.

You’ll hit better golf shots and shoot lower scores if you can improve your position at impact.

There are issues in the golf swing that can make impact more difficult.

After analyzing more than 1,000,000 golf swings (especially the impact position) we can fill you in on all the most common mistakes golfers make at impact, and most importantly how to fix them.

Common Impact Mistakes in Golf (Key Takeaways)

If you don’t have time to read our guide on the common mistakes golfers make at impact, here are the key points to walk away with.

• Poor wrist control and wrist action are the number one mistakes that golfers make at impact; try to create a flat or slightly flexed lead wrist for more consistency.
• Some of the problems at impact stem from issues with takeaway, setup, or the top of the backswing. Pay close attention to your fundamentals to see if you can find a cause.
• Most amateur golfers don’t understand what impact looks like with a rotated body, flat lead wrist, and forward shaft lean. Use drills to practice this position and quickly find your mistake.
• HackMotion can give you real-time data on where your club is at impact and what changes need to be made.

Common Impact Mistakes in Golf and How to Fix Them Fast

The most common mistakes golfers make at impact are flipping wrists, early extension, and attempting to scoop the ball.

Each of these can create a good shot here and there, but if you want to deliver a club reliably square through impact, you’ll have to fix these things.

Flipping Wrists

Golfers who strike the ball with a flexed or even flat lead wrist hit straighter and longer golf shots.

However, many golfers are not in a position just before impact to strike the ball with this lead wrist flexion.

What happens to many golfers is they have too much extension in their lead wrist. This extension leads to a last-minute flip.

The flip is there to try and save the shot and square the clubface.

Of course, it’s not consistent or reliable to expect that you will flip your wrists the same way every single time.

That’s why it’s so important to start squaring the clubface a bit sooner from the top of the swing.

If your wrist is not flat or slightly flexed at the top of the backswing, make your first move down a conscious effort to start squaring the clubface.

The sooner it squares before impact, the easier it is to rotate through the ball with power and become a better player.

Use HackMotion to get the position of your lead wrist at the top of your swing fixed and in turn you’ll improve your impact.

Early Extension

The early extension move is a popular mistake because golfers think they are creating power by making this move when, in reality, they are losing power.

Early extension in golf is when a player’s hips and spine straighten too soon during the downswing. This motion causes the body to move closer to the ball. It throws off the swing path and makes you a very inconsistent player.

Some players can focus on their posture and think about maintaining it through impact.

This video of a drill or feeling to help you with early extension is very helpful. You’ll find that crunching the abs or even sitting a little through impact can keep that trail hip from popping out and the spine from extending too soon.

Scooping the Ball

Scooping the ball can be very similar to the wrist flipping at impact. However, when you scoop the ball, it is done intentionally to try to get a golf ball up in the air.

In reality, we know that when you hit down and through the golf ball with a forward shaft lean and your hands in front of the clubhead, the ball will go up in the air.

One of the best ways to stop scooping your shots is to try this one-handed swing drill.

Many times, the scoop is created by too much action in the trail hand. When you tap this hand and remove it from its original position on the club, you’ll have an easier time feeling proper impact.

Simply rest your trail hand on the club as you swing the club back about halfway.

Take some slow-motion swings with the trail hand just along for the ride, and see how much easier it is to stop scooping the ball.

Opening the Clubface

If you hit shots that slice, push, or end up anywhere to the right of your target (right-handed golfer), then you are likely opening the clubface as you come through impact.

An open clubface is a problem, but it can luckily be fixed with the proper wrist action.

Start by making sure your clubface is square. If it’s open at setup, you’ll be working against it the entire time. Now that the clubface is square, pay close attention to what happens in the takeaway.

Many golfers open the clubface right away because of a roll of the wrists in the takeaways.

Keep the clubface square and look at the ball during the takeaway. Check your clubface at the top, and then, when working through impact, make sure the clubface is rotating and closed.

Once you gain control of that clubface through impact, you’ll finally be able to hit the shots you want on the course.

Wear your HackMotion as you practice and pay close attention to the patterns you follow and how they play into the open clubface.

Most golfers notice it’s a direct result of too much extension in the lead wrist at impact.

Swaying Instead of Rotating

You’ll notice that the most common impact mistakes are those that involve the hands and wrists.

However, there are times that lack of body awareness and poor balance can also cause issues at impact.

During the golf swing the body has to rotate. This rotation improves distance, power and accuracy.

However, many players make the mistake of swaying from side to side instead of a proper rotation and pivot.

Start using alignment sticks in the ground on either side of your hips. As you swing back, clear your hips away from the alignment stick. Do the same thing as you swing through the ball.

Drills to Fix Impact at Golf

Here are a few more drills to help fix the impact position. Depending on what your mistake is, these drills should help you fix it.

Forward Shaft Lean Drill

Working on forward shaft lean will help improve wrist position and make it easier to get rid of issues like scooping the ball or flipping wrists.

This drill from Clay Ballard helps you see and practice the exact benefit of the forward shaft lean.

Alignment Stick Impact Drill

This alignment stick impact drill from Adam Bazellgette helps you find the perfect impact position and then practice it.

You’ll set the position and then step back and hit a golf ball. Continue this process until you feel more confident swinging through the ball.

Final Thoughts

Work with your HackMotion to help you fix these common mistakes golfers make at impact.

You’ll gain awareness of your clubhead, hit great golf shots and finally reach your goals on the golf course.

Most amateur players do not understand the importance of these impact positions, gaining this awareness puts you ahead of the rest.