Face Control Is Everything in Golf: Player Lesson

PGA instructor Mike Malaska demonstrates why clubface control is the ultimate foundation for every golfer. Working with an LPGA pro and a lacrosse athlete, Malaska explains how to map your hand positions to the clubface to control ball curvature and start lines. The lesson emphasizes mastering directional control through slow-speed practice and proper grip alignment.

• The palm of your dominant hand should be treated as the actual clubface; where the palm points, the face points.
• A variation of just 1-2 degrees in face angle at impact can result in the ball being 20-30 yards off-target.
• Practice hitting extreme curves (big hooks and big slices) to learn the 'feel' of the face before trying to hit it straight.
• Always practice new technical changes at slow speeds and use a tee to remove the variable of ground contact.
• Alignment sticks should be used primarily to align the eyes, shoulders, and hips parallel to the target line.

Go deeper

• Off the rails — Causes, drills and coaches for this miss
• Face angle — The lesson, across every coach
• Malaska Golf — Every video, sorted by what it teaches