Shaft Lean Angle

In response to the new blog, I was asked by an educated golf teacher and accomplished PGA Professional how I felt about where the club should lean at address. This is an interesting topic because shaft lean has a lot to do with your swing plane and your impact position that are vital for an efficient swing.

I am reminded of one of Harvey Penick's chapters in his "Little Red Book" where he talks about where the club should point in relation to your belt. Mr. Penick said that the shaft of all of your irons should point directly into your left hip socket (for right handed golfers). This will promote a "hands ahead" of the ball position (see Zach Johnson above right). With a driver, he mentioned that it should point at the zipper in your slacks putting your hands slightly behind the ball at address (see Tiger Woods below right). I love this method of shaft lean because I believe that your body will do it's best to return to where it started at address. So if your hands are ahead at address, they will try tobe ahead of the ball at impact promoting a "compression" of the golf ball equaling more distance and accuracy. The backward lean of the driver will promote a "sweeping" of the ball off the tee to create the optimal launch angle for your drives.

The last point I would like to make about shaft lean is in addition to the forward or backward lean of the shaft, it should also point into the level your belt (see picture right of Rory McIlroy). For most golfers, the optimal lie angle of the shaft will be at this position promoting good placement of the hands. If the shaft leans too low, your hands will be low, if your shaft points above the belt, your hands are too high. This shaft lean has a large effect on your swing plane that can make or break the efficiency of your golf swing.

Remember:
-All clubs point to the level of your belt
-Irons: point the shaft at your left hip socket promoting "hands ahead" position
-Woods: point the shaft at the zipper on your slacks promoting optimal launch angle