Most golf lessons focus on the backswing or the downswing. So do most golf tips. But there's growing interest in post-impact actions. The pros call it exit strategy. And it's a great learning tool. It tells you not only went wrong during the swing but also what to correct. As a result, exit strategy is quickly becoming a focus for golfers. If you're serious about cutting your golf handicap, you'll also make it a focus.
To understand exit strategy, you start with two master keys: (1) Your lead wrist must remain flat through the swing; and (2) your club must hit a wall that runs behind you and extends all the way to the target. In addition, exit strategy includes three basic finishes: control, speed, and a blend of the two. Each finish says something about your swing. In this article we elaborate on the basics of exit strategy. In the next, we'll review typical exit faults.
Master Keys
Two master keys drive exit strategy. The first says that no matter how you swing the club, your lead wrist remains flat throughout. For a right-hander, the lead wrist is your left hand. For a left-hander, the lead wrist is your right. Since the clubface mirrors the wrist, the clubface also remains flat. Keeping a flat wrist maintains the extension you need in your swing for solid contact and power.
The second master key says that you must imagine a wall running behind you and extending all the way to the target parallel to the target line. For the club to stay on plane, it must hit the wall as it moves to the inside and upward after impact. Where the club hits the wall is the key to your exit strategy.
Maintaining this image of striking the wall promotes solid contact. More importantly it gives players an idea of how the body, arms, and club move after impact to produce different shots. That's the key to the strategy's value as a learning tool. Examining your exit strategy tells you a lot about what you did during the swing and provides a visual aid for correcting the fault or faults.
Basic Exit Strategies
In addition to the two master keys, we have three basic exit strategies. Each has its own objectives and its finish. Let's look at each.
Exit Strategy #1: Control
This strategy focuses on control. The most accurate players control ball flight without manipulating the clubface with their hands. With this exit strategy, the player makes a big turn through impact, pulling the lead arm and the grip end of the club to the wall first, followed by the club head.
This "hold on" action reduces face rotation. The body turn squares the clubface for control. With a neutral grip, this strategy creates a fade. But with a strong grip, you can hit it straight. Pro golfers exhibiting this strategy are Zach Johnson, Paul Azinger, and David Duval.
Exit Strategy #2: Speed
Players using this strategy fully release the club, which lets them maximize distance instead of accuracy. The body breaks more quickly, allowing the arms to zip past it. The forearms rotate and the wrists recock. The clubface hits the wall before the grip.
Releasing the club and re-cocking the wrist boosts speed. But the extra clubface rotation reduces accuracy. With a neutral grip, a player using this strategy tends to hit a draw. Pro golfers exhibiting this strategy are John Daly, Luke Donald, and Adam Scott.
Exit Strategy #3: Blended
The blended exit strategy is a mix of the control and speed strategies. With this strategy, both the clubface and the grip hit the wall simultaneously. Players use this strategy when trying to hit a straight shot.
With this strategy, your body arms, and club work in unison right through impact, releasing the club straight down the target line and producing a nice combination of distance and direction. Players exhibiting this strategy include Hunter Mahan, Boo Weekly, and Tom Kite.
If you're wondering about Tiger's exit strategy, he employs all three. Which strategy he uses depends on the situation and what he's trying to do. Most professional players use all three-strategies as well.
In part two, we'll examine common exit faults to see what they tell you about your swing. We'll also examine how to correct these faults, which will help you cut down your golf handicap.
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book "How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros." He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction.
