Golf Impact Lesson

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Golf Impact Lesson with Mark Crossfield PGA professional AskGolfGuru. Mark talks about the skills needed to really improve your golf game and shows you using GC2 HMT how impact can be controlled in many ways. Play your best golf with solid and easy to understand golf tips, drills and fixes from Mark Crossfield.

40 thoughts on “Golf Impact Lesson

  1. Interesting though not sure i can relate to it as I think I kind of go
    about it the other way round. I dont think about grip, stance or setup. I
    was taught all that in 1964 by Don Curtis, the pro at Queens Park
    Bournemouth and I havent really thought about any of it since. I just walk
    up to the ball, pull the club back and hit it, there isnt much ceremony
    about it. From what other people have commented, its pretty clear that I
    have no idea how I am delivering the ball or how I am moving. What I think
    about is where I want the ball to go and by trial and error when I hit it
    that is generally where it goes, its on automatic pilot. I dont think about
    it, just hit it. My guess is that my game will never have subtlety, its
    brute force and ignorance, but to be honest I dont really care, its fun
    😉 

  2. I get this vid. But, as a relatively new golfer, I struggle to hit the ball
    at target consistently. You say that I need to understand face to
    path/dynamic loft/twist in backswing more. I think I do understand it but I
    can’t dial in adjustments because I’m not sure if I am delivering path
    consistently. Is your advice then simply to spend hours on trackman or some
    other device or are there any practical solutions that present a good
    picture of path/loft without expensive technology? I love the vids, this
    isn’t a dig, I’d just like some advice for golfers that have no access to
    this tech.

  3. Excellent Mark. Go to the course and put the ball where you miss learn to
    make a par from the trees & hazards. Learn to have a find the fairway shot.
    Build your skills & the confidence you get will help you loads. Golf is
    about finding what works for you… Everybody made different… Practice
    when windy learn low shots high shots etc…. Keep educating us Mark
    thanks.. Next Vlog somewhere

  4. Fantastic explanation! Golf is situational, and what we do to react to
    (create) the shot, is most important. It’s about spatial awareness.

    I like the fact that you addressed that some people’s perceptions are far
    from their realities. This is REALLY when people need an objective eye
    (a.k.a. golf coach). 

  5. Ok guys ……..I think I have finally I’ve worked it out………
    golfninja is a psychiatrist and Vici is one of his patients. They have come
    on here to work through her problems.

  6. +Mark Crossfield Great vid. In essence what you’re talking about is what
    many people learn to do when they’ve played from a young age, experiment
    with little fear of failure. Kids do that much better than (most) adults.
    Golfers who have difficulties in the swings don’t give themselves the
    permission to experiment & often as golf is counter intuitive even if they
    do, they experiment on the wrong premises. Takes a good teaching pro to
    give them both the license to experiment & the permission to fail & also
    the right guidance in the way they should ‘experiment’. Top stuff Mr C.

  7. Excellent video Mark! I think what you are saying in this is so important.
    I have been going down the practice range over the past few weeks and
    finding I can setup myself to play “text book” shots after many shots. But
    them get on the course to play nine holes and it is not anything like the
    practice mats and it is difficult to determine what is actually happening
    at point of impact.

    This tells video tells me to be much more dynamic and try different shots,
    grips and then watch the outcome to help see what is actually happening at
    point of impact and how that affects your shots. Incredibly useful idea
    indeed.

    Thanks for the great videos!

  8. Hi Mark. This is exactly what I miss in my game. I´ve been playing football
    since I was a little kid. And when I play football I know how to kick the
    ball in the given situation – its just a naturel reaction as the game is
    faster than golf. Lets say I have to kick a penalty and I want the ball to
    go to the left and high. Then I just know how to kick it – dont even think
    about it. When I play golf Im not anywhere close to that feeling or
    confidence. And I miss that a lot! How can people without HMT GC2 get the
    feedback needed? Yes, I think my 0 is about 5 out-to-in. But I dont really
    know – how can I know?
    Thanks for a great video.

  9. Wow! What a fantastic video Mark. Thanks very much for this, it really
    makes a lot of sense for me and where I am at with my game and it gives a
    great insight into your teaching style. I loved the the 9:13 part
    especially, when you talk about students who present with ‘uncalibrated’
    swings and explain your methods to help them swing better. Currently my
    swing thought is to keep my shoulders closed at impact, not because I want
    them to be closed but because I am very prone to having them open at impact
    which, I think, explains the open face and occasional dreaded slice? So,
    for me, thinking ‘shoulders closed at impact’ leads to me having squarer
    shoulders (not closed as per the swing thought and certainly not open) and
    hopefully better golf shots. Does this make sense? My only criticism of
    this video however, is that for beginner golfers this video might lead them
    to not paying as much attention to grip, stance and posture etc., as they
    should. This, of course, is open to interpretation as those basics are
    second nature to golfers of your caliber. But at the end of the day, you
    recorded a thirteen minute video in one take and nit picking isn’t really
    justified. Thanks again!

  10. Gday Mark, I watch almost all your videos and love them, well done. I like
    this one especially. I have found that just by thinking about delivering
    the clubface squarely to the ball has improved my game out of sight. Slowed
    down my swing and concentrated on letting the club head catch up so that it
    is delivered square. I have always known that I am delivering the club face
    open and wasnt sure how to fix it. It is all a thought thought process and
    thinking about what the club face is doing. Swing speed is not so important
    I don’t think, if you lose 10mph club head speed but hit the ball square it
    will still go further and straighter. I have gone from 16hcp to 10 in the
    last 6 months just concentrating on these things. Cheers Mate!!!

  11. Sorry, but I think you’re giving too much credit to the GC2 in this
    instance, as someone in their mid 40’s who’s been playing golf for only 4
    years having gone from 28 to 6hcp with 6 lessons, take the hint that the
    ball flight never lies.
    You can feel where you’ve hit the ball on the club, you can see the ball
    flight high, low, hooky or slicey. You don’t need a GC2 to tell you this!
    Get the fundamentals right – grip, stance ball placement ect and provided
    you’re self aware – more often than not you’ll be far more consistent on
    the course than someone who has bad fundamentals and concentrates solely on
    their club path.
    Yes there are ecxamples of pros with not ideal fundamentals but in reality
    they are the exception that prove the rule.

  12. I don’t like all the different Mark Crossfields but I do like this one.
    This is the best video you have ever done. I personally gain far far more
    by talking about the golf swing in this way.

    Ultimately the human body knows how to make a golf swing but we get so much
    in our own way. You would not practice swing if you were hammering a nail
    into a piece of wood. Your body just knows how to.

    A good visualisation of the shot we want to play, setup to that feeling and
    then make the swing. It’s far better than standing over it thinking “I hope
    this goes as well as last time”. We have to make each shot a fresh each
    time!

  13. Never usually post but this video struck a huge cord. As a 6hcp that plays
    regularly (understatement of the year, more like obsessed with the sport!!)
    and gets lessons, I went to Carton house (Ireland’s Titelist centre) for a
    fitting of the 915 driver and 3wood. First set of shots, I was hitting
    3.4deg down at impact. The fitting turned into a short lesson. I ended up
    hitting 6deg up and gaining 22 extra yards. We went back and hit the old
    driver with 6deg up and was gaining 12yrds over first set of swings. The
    fitter was able to find me an extra 10 yards carry over my RBZ Stage2 tour.
    In short, I would never have believed anyone that I hit down on driver
    until the numbers were in front of me. And all the fitter had to say was
    hit up on the ball. Took a few goes but changed nearly 10deg and I believe
    all because of trackman. I enjoy lessons but without numbers, I sometimes
    doubt my “feelings” in the swing. Numbers don’t lie.
    As an avid follower of your Chanel, I would like to say thanks for sharing
    your videos and thoughts. IMO this is by far your best video.

    Thanks
    Darren

  14. This is exactly the trouble I had when I tried having lessons.
    whilst the pro I used had a launch monitor with a simulator he didn’t use
    this to try and correct my swing which was to out to in and cutting the
    ball a lot. He was more in to the video and trying to get me to hit x y and
    z positions in my swing which ended up with me thinking about to many
    things and my game fell apart.
    Since that in early summer last year Ive corrected myself using marks
    videos and plenty of practice and now I’ve got a handicap of 14 which must
    be ten shots better than I was before I had lessons.
    In short monitors are good when used correctly

  15. Good stuff Mark. I am fortunate that I have always been an excellent ball
    striker. Unfortunately, when they were passing out distance, I was in
    another room. I do hit “normal” shots to warm up on the range, but after
    that, I immediately begin hitting punches, high shots, draw, fade,
    different distances with the same iron, etc. I generally finish up my range
    sessions by playing a few imaginary holes. Of course, I learned all this
    long before launch monitors. You just looked to see if the ball landed
    where you were aiming. I am also a big believer in visualizing the shot.
    Similar to the Lockey example, from 150 yards I may hit anywhere from a
    stock 8 iron, to a low fading 5 iron. It just depends on what my mind sees
    as the proper shot, the situation, and how I am performing that day. As
    they say about golf, “It is not how, but how many”.

  16. I like to think of myself as Luke Donald because I play Mizuno Mp-4’s now
    lol. Except I thin the ball around the green and he holes it xD

  17. Couldn’t agree more with this philosophy. In 4 years i turned from 30 to a
    1.5 handicap by trying to hit funny shots. Only thing I would add is that
    doing this with a 7 iron or other iron may be more beneficial so people
    don’t simply assume there moving path when in fact it may be more gear
    effect with the driver. I always try to hit at least 7 of the 9 ball
    flights with 9 balls before a round to install some confidence. I found
    learning to hit the low cut was the hardest because I am a natural drawer
    and all the components required, open twist, swing right (left handed),
    shaft lean and of course strike.

  18. Great Video. Completely agree with this.I often try to demonstrate to
    friends that you can still hit the ball and target regardless of how you
    stand, hold the club or swing (within reason) I’m so glad you demonstrated
    that in this video. Strike and understanding how to deliver with the
    positions you have is key.

    Keep up the great work!

  19. I like your philosophy Mark. Problem being in my eyes, as a +1 handicap is
    that the solid mechanics of the golf swing “ASSIST” and HELP and make it
    easier for the average golfer to achieve the ideal path numbers. You are
    providing this data with what is near to as good a swing as anyone could
    have. I question this theory if you asked someone with a horrific over the
    top move to swing 4deg in to out, things could get messy. When what that
    person needs to look at is swing mechanics and fundamentals and ask himself
    what is causing the over the top move. Yes, I believe launch monitors are
    great for diagnosing some flaws in the swing but I don’t believe they
    should be used to solely shape ones swing. Swing fundamentals and mechanics
    assist in creating good path and launch numbers. 

  20. I just hit 70 balls using all different delivery methods with 3 different
    (short) irons and feel I have an understanding now of WHAT changes in
    delivery will cause WHAT results…in the memory bank they go !, next I
    will use multiple clubs (long irons + driver) to try and reproduce the
    results…then out to the course to evaluate their effect in different
    situations, great video…my biggest problem is distance – I can shape as
    desired, but, cannot hit a ball with any credible distance no matter what I
    try ?? WHY , they all go the same distance WHY ??

  21. When I first took up golf 30 years ago I was a consistent drawer of the
    ball and could predict the line most of the time. Now, having not played
    for nearly 20 years I find I have no idea whether I will draw, hook, fade
    or slice. I have no idea why this is so inconsistent. On a good day I shoot
    + 14 and on a bad day + 30. I guess this should be a technique I should
    work on – but how can I tell what path I’m taking without some expensive
    tracking device?

  22. Surely to a certain degree playing with the fundamentals and engraining
    them first builds a solid swing and your stock shot. After you’ve learnt
    and feel this you can then learn and feel how to shape other shots. You may
    be able to play whatever shot shape you like by only swinging your arms and
    nothing else but only hit your driver 100 yards, by learning the textbook
    fundamentals and mechanics of the swing you’re more likely to reach your
    peak in terms of distance and consistency. Then go practice shot shapes and
    scenarios. 

  23. I enjoy watching your videos you email me, but being a novice and a lefty,
    it took me some time to understand what the hell you were talking about,
    and wonder why you don`t direct you videos at novices, and more
    demonstration of your club.
    So to get it straight you were talking about changing the loft, up and
    down, and open and closed by altering your grip???? 

  24. Great video, Mark. Now, if you could just tell us what your swing
    thought/feeling is when you execute each shot, I think that would give us a
    good idea of how to approach implementing the idea of path and delivery
    rather than just setup/position(s)/grip. I know you’ve done several in the
    past, but I think one video that would just quickly break down each type of
    shot in relation to what you mentioned in this video would be superb. 

  25. Excellent video! Some people don’t ever talk about the golf club in that
    manner, “deliver the club head to the ball”. So every shot shape is because
    you’re “delivering” the club the same way every time to create that shape
    shot? A slice is always because out to in path with club face neutral or
    slightly closed, right? Based on the shape of the shot you just hit and the
    actual shot you want to create is where you want to make the adjustment to
    “deliver” the club head to the ball? So someone on the driving range that
    doesn’t have the equipment to measure their shots would have to recognize
    what the ball just did to make the proper delivery adjustment for the next
    shot, as to what you want the ball to do. 

  26. Really like this video Mark! I previously had an issue with an over the top
    swing which I fixed, then I realised/felt how important impact is. I feel I
    have got to a point now that when I hit a bad shot, I can relate it to my
    club path, which helps me prevent it recurring. Can’t wait for the next
    course vlog! 

  27. One of the best videos you have done mark. Great work. Impact is nos 1.
    Doesn’t matter what positions you get in as long as you can control impact.
    I have been working so much on positions over the past year and my handicap
    hasn’t moved. I will be focusing alot more on trying to control impact.
    Keep up the good work looking forward to next course vlog 

  28. I spent my first four years of golf practicing mechanics at a range. But it
    never made my game on the course better. I wasn’t learning how to play golf
    (controlling flight/trajectory or hitting different clubs for lie or
    weather influences), I was learning hot to hit one shot per club off of
    matts. As a better player, I simply play more rounds of golf – focusing on
    making results happen (on the away side of the ball), far more than
    mechanics (on the to side of the ball).

  29. Just had a lesson for the first time in years and I have to agree with you
    on this mark. I am lucky in the sense that he would put me in weird
    position and ask me to hit a shot and I can pull it off with regards to
    direction. The issue arises when I try and control trajectory, and with
    that my tutor is doing the “traditional” form of coaching finding certain
    positions. I am a good striker of the ball and whilst these new moves are a
    struggle the ability to lower my flight is already noticeable. 

  30. Totally agree mark I am a lefty and suffered massively with slicing and
    would get worse the more right in aimed through having a lesson on GC2 and
    my pro actually saying aim left and imagine hooking the ball I now play
    with a slight draw and hit fairways it’s amazing how the numbers and
    simplifying them to understand them eg hook the ball work for people and we
    are paying for this lol 

  31. best vid you’ve done so far. very helpful. I would love a vid on putting
    delivery. Talk us through your putting thoughts. In/out, pull back, follow
    through etc. Up or flat to the equator of the ball, all of that….. Could
    be just as helpful. 

  32. great video!! i just cant get the club on plane from the get go.. i bring
    the club inside on the take away, need some crossfield logic for plane,
    take away, i played baseball all my life so i swing around my body more
    than up and down, really struggling with longer clubs

  33. Great vid this is gonna give me something to look at on the range Monday, I
    sort of do this anyway in practice but this has refreshed my mind to focus
    less on my set up a bit and more on the delivery. This might help me be
    less fidgety at set up, thanks Mark.

  34. Excellent video! Rather advanced concepts? Can a player who cant hit the
    ball straight , still use his somehow? I guess my question is, “what basic
    knowledge of the golf swing does one need to make this useful? please do
    more on this, you have hit on something important here. But its not easy
    to understand. I mean we are all used to practice hitting certain position
    to hit it “RIGHT”. good work Mark, you are a hell of a teacher. thank you!

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