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.
TEE TIME con't. next column
TEE TIME continued
Improving Impact
Part 4
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 three
of the most effective drills to influence the
centeredness of contact between the clubhead
and ball at impact. In my experience, the more
centered the hit on the clubface, the greater the
satisfaction as well as distance and control over
the curvature of the ball.
Centeredness of Contact
Centeredness of contact is the point at which
contact is made between the ball and the club.
Incorrect clubhead paths and clubface positions
are the main factors that affect this point of
contact. If these factors individually or together
are incorrect, then off-center hits on the clubface
will result. As a general rule, when the clubface
is opened or closed, the ball will tend to be hit
on the heel or toe of the club. If the clubhead
path is out-to-in, contact between the clubface
and ball will tend to be either high or low on
the clubface. If the clubhead path is in-to-out,
contact will tend to be low on the clubface. Offcenter
hits often will produce a twisting of the
grip in your hands and influence the height the
ball flies as well as the carry distance.
Toe Up to Toe Up Drill
The “Toe Up to Toe Up Drill” begins with the
student addressing a teed ball with an eight-iron
and their traditional posture for a full swing. As
the student swings the club away from the ball,
the club should be stopped at waist height in
the backswing. At this point, the shaft should
be parallel to the target line, and the toe of the
club should be pointing up or slightly favor the
ball side of the shaft. After the student visually
verifies this correct position, then he or she
swings the club back and through impact and
hold the post impact position where the shaft is
once again at waist height, the toe of the club
is pointing up, and the shaft is parallel to the
target line. By keeping the clubface square at
waist height and the shaft parallel to the target
line in the backswing and follow through, the
student will have a greater opportunity to have
the clubface square at impact thus improving
the centeredness of contact. Initial swings
should be relatively slow with contact between
the clubface and ball monitored. Once centered
hits are consistent, the student increases the
length and speed of the motion as well as
introduces different clubs while attempting to
keep centered face and ball contact.
Outside / Inside Tee Drill
The “Outside / Inside Tee Drill” is helpful
with a student who is hitting shots off of the
toe or heel of the clubface. This drill begins
with a teed ball and a tee placed on the outside
and inside of the ball. These tees should be
positioned to where there is just enough room
for the clubhead to swing through impact where
center contact with the ball would miss both the
outside and inside tees. From this point, the
student hits approximately five to ten shots with
a full swing motion and notes if either of the
outside tees are moved when the ball is struck.
Once a pattern is established of which tee more
commonly is hit, the student attempts to hit the
ball and the opposite tee he or she are tending
to hit. The first swings in this attempt should be
relatively short and slow so the student is able to
control where the club travels through impact.
Gradually, the length and speed of the swing is
increased while controlling which tees are hit.
Initially, students should practice this drill
with an eight-iron and progress to longer clubs
hitting balls off the ground. The goal of this drill
is to help the golfer develop a feel for controlling
where contact is made on the clubface.
Miss the Tee Drill
The “Miss the Tee Drill” begins with a teed
ball that has a tee placed to the outside and
inside of the ball. These three tees should be
positioned so that there is just enough room
between the outside tees to hit a ball. Utilizing
an eight-iron, the golfer starts by making half
swings attempting to miss both of the outside
tees. Once the student is able to miss these
tees, he or she increases the length and speed
of the swing to a three-quarter motion. Once
success is consistent, the student increases
the motion to a full swing at full speed. Once
contact is consistently center on the clubface,
the student should be encouraged to follow
the same routine with a six-iron as well as
hitting shots off the ground recreating the same
centered impact while missing the outside tees.
This drill will help the student develop control
of the club through impact thus improving the
centeredness of contact.
No. 132 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.9
/event