Eric Alpenfels
Director of Golf Instruction /
Golf Academy at the Pinehurst Resort
The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc is privileged to
have Eric Aplenfels as one of our contributers.
Eric Alpenfels is the Director of the Pinehurst
Golf Academy and Golf Instruction at
Pinehurst Resort. He is a Class A Member
of the PGA of America and has been part
of the Pinehurst family since 1985. His
expertise has earned him recognition
from Golf Magazine as one of the “Top 100
Teachers in America,” Golf Digest as one of
“America’s 50 Greatest Teachers” and U.S.
Kids Golf as one of the “Top 50 Teachers for
Kids.” Eric’s activities beyond the fairways
of Pinehurst are extensive, and include
speaking engagements, contributions to
industry publications and participation as
an Adjunct Facility of the PGA of America
Education Department. In partnership
with Dr. Bob Christina, The Golf Academy
is conducting research to pioneer the
development of new practice techniques
and innovative drills. He recently
coauthored “Instinct Putting” with Dr. Bob
Christina and Dr. Cary Heath.
“In choosing Farm to Table
menus, I enjoy talking with
my farmers and ranchers
and learning about how
they do what they do.”
Scott Margolis
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Improving Impact, Part 3
by Eric Alpenfels
In the first article of this series, I highlighted
the five impact factors that influence the ball’s
flight. These five factors include clubface
position, clubhead path, centeredness of
contact, angle of approach and clubhead
speed. The goal of the first of four articles was to
give a basic overview of the five impact factors
and their influences on the ball’s flight. This
article will focus on one of these impact factors
and highlight two of the most effective drills
that I have found to influence the clubhead path
through impact. In my opinion, the importance
of the clubhead path of the club as it travels
through impact is one of the two most important
factors for the amateur golfer to control for
maximum power. The factor of centeredness of
contact will be covered in the final article of this
series.
CLUBHEAD PATH
There are three directions in which the
clubhead can be traveling at the moment of
impact. The first and most common clubhead
path at impact is where the clubhead is traveling
out-to-in for the right handed golfer or too much
to the left. This path will tend to start the ball
to the left of the target line. The less common
clubhead path is where the club is traveling into
out or too much to the right of the target line.
In this case, the ball will tend to start to the right
of the target line. A correct and neutral motion
has the clubhead traveling down the target line
through impact. An indicator of the club’s path
at impact is not only the starting direction of the
ball but also the direction of the divot in relation
to the target line. Divots aiming left of the target
indicate a clubhead path that is too much to
the left, and a divot aiming right of the target
indicates a path too much to the right. Ideally,
the divot would travel down the target line.
The following drills can be used to neutralize
the clubhead path at impact.
RIGHT FOOT BACK DRILL
The “Right Foot Back Drill” begins with the
golfer teeing a ball and gripping a six-iron. From
a traditional posture and stance width, the
golfer slides the right foot back so that the toes
of the right foot are even with the heel of the left
foot. This exaggerated closed stance will be used
during this drill. Beginning with practice swings
over the ball to develop the feel of the motion, the
golfer attempts to hit the teed ball with a swing
that is slightly slower and easier than standard.
Naturally, due to the extreme stance, the arms
will be required to extend through impact as well
as the path to the ball will be from the in-to-out.
Once comfortable with the motion at the slower
speed, he or she increases the speed through
impact, gradually increasing the speed to their
standard speed of swing. Due to the exaggerated
stance, it is not suggested that one hit balls off
the ground. Rather, it is best that one alternate
between clubs while incorporating the feel of
the motion as well as the direction the clubhead
travels through impact.
SWING OVER THE SHAFT DRILL
The “Swing Over the Shaft Drill” is typically
used to combat the more common out-to-in
clubhead path through impact. Initially, this
practice routine begins with the student placing
a shaft on the ground to represent the target
line. A common tool to use is the fiberglass rods
sold at local hard ware stores. If this product is
not available, the student can supplement string
connected by two tees in its place. Utilizing
a teed ball placed next to the shaft and a sixiron,
the student should address the ball with
proper posture. Starting with short swings,
one attempts to swing the clubhead on a path
through impact that has the clubhead traveling
out over the shaft after contact with the ball is
made. Along with monitoring the initial starting
direction of the ball, one should also note the
divot direction produced by the downswing
path. Once one becomes comfortable with the
motion, the swings are increased in length and
speed with other clubs introduced in the practice
session as well as shots hit off the ground. This
drill will help one develop an individual feel for
the motion required to change the clubhead
path through impact.
No. 130 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.9
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