Rick Smith in July 1994.
GOLF magazine
There are many movements that make up the golf swing, but there is one that players seem to focus on the most. You’ve probably heard it described as the shallow swing, finding the crack, the ‘honey hole’ or the ‘A Position’, as Rick Smith, a GOLF 100 The Ultimate Teacher of Lifetime Achievementcalls it this article from the GOLF Archive.
No matter what you call it, players are obsessed with hitting this position, and for good reason. It’s a move that all great ball hitters make in their swing.
“On any good shot, the club should approach the ball on an inside, shallow path along the target line with a square face at impact,” says Smith.
And that doesn’t just apply to players with perfect swings. If you find Position A, Smith says it can compensate for a less technically sound swing.
“Your move can be all (though I don’t recommend it), but if you hit Position A on the down turn, you’ll still make a good shot.”
So what exactly is Position A, and how do you know if you’re hitting it?
Position A, explained
As Smith explains, Position A is when your club is parallel to the ground and the target line with the end of your grip pointing at the target.
“That means your club is dead on the plane,” says Smith. “If you hit Position A on the downswing, you’re locked into the correct approach angle.”
To better understand Position A and how it feels in your swing, try this slow test from Smith. Roll into a ball and place an iron on the outside of your trail leg, gripping the side closest to your body. Keep the club in line with the ball of the foot and parallel to the target line. With another iron in hand, drive the club to the top of the backswing. Begin your deceleration. Smith says you’ll know you’ve hit the A Position when both clubs line up, grip to grip, shaft to shaft, clubhead to head.
Once you’ve got that feel, it’s time to put it into action, and this goalie drill from Smith can help you practice creating a shallow, inside corner.
Smith’s Gate Drill
Pick up a ball and place an extension bar about three to four inches outside your ball, parallel to the target line. Next, block the ball with two other golf balls so that they go 45 degrees to the target line, pictured below.
GOLF magazine
Your goal is to hit the middle ball. To do this, Smith explains, you have to swing from the inside or you’ll catch one or both of the outside golf balls.
But if you are someone who tends to cut the ball, you may struggle with this move. Fortunately, Smith says there’s a simple setup adjustment you can make to improve your route and drive from the inside. All you have to do is throw your trail leg back a few inches, like Smith is doing in the photo below.
GOLF magazine
Pulling your trail leg back also pulls your leg and hip back while keeping your shoulders square.
“This setup makes a usually difficult move—throwing the club in—quite easy,” says Smith.
According to Smith, dropping the leg back also helps players who cut the ball create space for inside movement.
“Instead of going out, the right hip is held in,” says Smith.
This split-stance setup also encourages a full release and strike, which can come in handy when battling a stubborn slice.
For more accurate practice, use a training aid, such as the Rukket Impact Mat, to set your goalpost drill and improve your path.
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