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.
With over 15 years of
experience in the
financial industry, I look
forward to helping each
client achieve their
individual financial
dreams.
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Impact, the Moment of
Truth
by Eric Alpenfels
For many golfers, winter brings with it a
time of reflection on their games and the areas
that are in need of some improvement or, in
some cases, major attention. Upon reflection,
are there full swing technique issues that are
of concern with your game? Is there too much
curve to the ball’s flight? Or, are you concerned
with the lost distance you have seen over the
course of the last year or two of play? Whatever
the specific ball flight that is of concern, winter
is a perfect time to determine those specific
impact issues needing attention as well as to
develop a game plan for improvement prior to
the start of the 2019 season. The goal of this first
of four articles is to give a basic overview of the
six impact factors that influence the ball’s flight.
Future articles in the series will individually
address three of these six factors: Angle of
Approach, Clubhead Speed and Dynamic Loft.
Additionally, drills, training aids and practice
techniques will be offered as tangible ways to
improve the contact between the clubface and
ball resulting in more consistent impact.
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, 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 the hands as well as influence the height
the ball flies and its carry distance
Clubface Angle
Clubface Angle is the direction the clubface
is pointed at impact and is measured relative to
the target line. Typically, golfers refer to having
an “open” or “closed” clubface at impact. An
open clubface at impact will curve the ball to
the right resulting in a “fade” or “slice.” A closed
clubface at impact makes the ball “draw” or
“hook.” A square clubface at impact will produce
a ball that flies straight. Golfers often fail to
notice the amount the ball curves with different
clubs. Lower-lofted clubs tend to curve the ball
a greater amount than higher-lofted clubs. For
example, when comparing the amount of curve
possible in a driver to a seven-iron, the driver
will hook or slice more than a seven-iron. In
both cases, a square clubface at impact will limit
the amount of curve.
Clubhead Path
There are three directions in which the
clubhead can be traveling at impact. The club
can be traveling out-to-in or too much to the left
which will tend to start the ball left of the target
line. The club can be traveling in-to-out or too
much to the right which will tend to start the
ball 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 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.
Angle of Approach
There are three angles of approach possible
in the downswing. The first angle of approach
is one which has the clubhead traveling too
steeply to the ball. As a result, divots will
typically point to the left of the target and
deeper than desired. Shots with irons will tend
to be heavy or thin, while teed balls can be skied
or topped. Too shallow an angle of approach to
the ball causes the downswing to bottom out too
far behind the ball, tending to produce a motion
that is swinging up on the ball, with thin or
topped shots with irons as well as fairway woods
as results. The ideal angle of approach to the
ball is one in which the bottom of the swing is
at the ball. This shallow angle of approach will
eliminate heavy and thin shots with the irons
and help eliminate skied and topped shots with
the woods.
Clubhead Speed
When the clubhead path, clubface angle,
angle of approach, squareness of contact
and dynamic loft are correct, maximum
clubhead speed can create maximum distance
and height. When one or more factors are
incorrect, compensations in the overall shape
of the swing must occur to minimize the
negative result. Unfortunately, when one
compensates, maximum clubhead speed tends
to be substituted with a slower compensating
motion. Though adjustments can be made, this
slower motion eliminates one’s full distance
potential. Once there is a more correct motion
on a consistent basis, then clubhead speed can
be used to gain greater distance and appropriate
height to the flight of the ball.
Dynamic Loft
Dynamic Loft is the amount of loft on the
clubface at impact compared to the loft of the
club at address. Less dynamic loft on the club at
impact will produce a lower spin rate and a lower
trajectory. A higher dynamic loft at impact will
result in higher spin rate and higher trajectory.
The ideal dynamic loft of the club at impact is
slightly lower than that at address and will help
maximize the overall distance the ball carries. ☐
No. 133 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. p.9
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