Most golfers have heard the term 'shaking hands with the target' but why does it seem so important? Firstly 'shaking hands with the target' simply represents what the arms and hands should be doing after impact. If you can control your arms and hand movement through impact, you will be able to control how the clubface rotates through the ball. Controlling how the clubface rotates not only improves your strike but also the direction of the ball.
The position where you want to be 'shaking hands with the target' is where the club reaches hip height after impact. In a nutshell you want this position to mirror what you did in your takeaway. Just like the takeaway, you are looking for the 'toe' of the club to be pointing to the sky. When the 'toe' of the club is pointing to the sky, the hand position is very similar to if you were to shake someone's hand. I often have the student pause in this position while I remove the club from their hands. They will notice both of their thumbs pointing to the sky, the same as if there were to greet somebody, 'shaking their hand'.
In addition to having the 'toe' pointing to the sky you want to also have the body facing the target with the shaft along the heel line. This movement ensures the path is travelling in the right direction. Just like the takeaway, you want to have the club travelling around the body at a 45 degree angle therefore just after impact, you want the club to be doing the same but travelling in a left direction. When the 'toe' of the club is pointing to the sky along with club travelling above the heel line, you will be able to control direction extremely well as you will have command over the clubface and swing path.
The most common position that I see after impact is where the 'toe' of the club is pointing to the right. This inevitably makes the ball go right. Now one of the biggest reasons why it will stay to the right is due to a vertical swing. This means instead of the path travelling around the body at a 45 degree angle, the club is being picked straight up. The best way then to practice mastering how to 'shake hands with the target' is by doing many half swings where you practice pointing the 'toe' of the club up to the sky both in the takeaway position and hip height after impact. Once you become very proficient with this drill, you will notice an instant impact with your accuracy and distance.
If you'd like any further help with understanding how to 'shake hands with the target', just contact myself at David Waters Golf located at Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre.
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