Defeat the impact by mastering the delivery position

Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game improvement column dedicated to helping you play smarter, better golf.

When you watch golf on TV, you see pros in different positions at the end of their backswing. Some players stand flat, some stand upright, some are put down, and some are over the line.

I’ve played this game my whole life and have been training for 20 years, and to this day I’ve never seen anyone hit the golf ball with their backswing.

Why do most of my lessons start with the student asking me, “Should I bring it back here, or should I bring it back there??

Before we get into your golf swing, let’s take a quick look at the technology.

Most golfers have probably heard of Trackman – a radar system that uses Doppler technology to track and record 3D characteristics of golf balls and golf clubs. It can tell you exactly why the ball flew the way it did by how the clubhead interacted with the ball.

Trackman measures what the racquet is doing on the downswing three feet before and three feet after the ball.

The club position three feet in front of the golf ball on the downswing is called the delivery position. This delivery position will have a big impact on what happens on impact.

I see many club golfers trying to correct their hitting point position, thinking they need to work on their hitting point; but that’s actually the wrong way around. At this point in your swing, it’s already too late.

If you want to look like a TOUR player at impact, you’ve got to master it Delivery Position.

How do you do that? Take a look at my submission position exercise below to improve your impact and give it a try the next time you head to the practice site.

1. Use an alignment stick

Place an alignment stick on the ground next to the golf ball. This will ensure you are aiming in the right spot and provide a line of sight to help you level your club at impact.

2. Give yourself a checkpoint

Backswing and on the downswing bring the racquet to the delivery position control point and look for these key points.

That the racquet shaft is parallel to the ground and that the racquet end is level with the alignment rod.

This delivery position creates the influence of the tour player.

3. Avoid throwing the bat at the target

The most common mistake I see in throwing position is discarded club. When this throw-like motion occurs, it creates a weak position on impact.

By mastering the delivery position to compress your shots, you can achieve flusher shots – which can result in you playing your best golf.

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