Blog: Explaining Ogilvy's open clubface at the top

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Geoff Ogilvy's clubhead position at the top of his swing -- where he keeps the clubface open -- is unusual among PGA TOUR players.

What We Can Learn
Apparently, Geoff Ogilvy likes Hawaii this time of year, as he defended his title at the Plantation Course at Kapalua to kick off the 2010 season. Last year, when Ogilvy won the inaugural event on TOUR, I briefly alluded to how Ogilvy uses the clubface during his swing to hit controlled wedge shots into the greens. Even with wedges that create less spin this year due to the USGA's new groove rules, Ogilvy was still sensational with these approach wedge shots.

Listen to Travis Fulton

PGA TOUR Golf Academy's Travis Fulton breaks down the keys to Geoff Ogilvy's win at Kapalua on the PGA TOUR Network (XM 146, SIRIUS 209). Click to listen

Ogilvy rotates the clubface open relative to the arc during the backswing and then closes it through impact. This open clubface is evident at the top of the swing, where the club's toe points straight down. This clubface rotation helps him hit the ball higher than most, which he took full advantage of with a beautiful 5-wood on the par-5 15th that set up an easy birdie.

In addition to creating a towering trajectory, Ogilvy uses the open clubface to his advantage with the finely-tuned wedge shots mentioned earlier. All week, Ogilvy hit a number of short irons and wedge shots very close to the hole. Ogilvy controls these approach shots with a shorter arm swing that allows for a more compact and controlled motion.

Although the open clubface certainly works for Ogilvy as he able to control the clubface at impact and create the higher ball flight, I would be careful for most golfers to start mirroring this golf swing. The reality is most golfers struggle from an open clubface at the top of the swing, as the difference is most amateurs don't rotate the clubface back to square through impact. Usually, when the clubface gets open at the top of the swing, a lot of us will compensate by either changing the plane to a more out-to-in path on the downswing and/or lose the angle of the trail wrist at impact in an attempt to square the clubface.

Ogilvy is one of a small group of professionals who play with an open clubface from the top of the swing. What these professionals do very well is maintain a solid plane angle on the downswing and keep the trail wrist bent at impact while managing the clubface's rotation through the rotation of the lead hand. In golf instruction, we call this "educated hands," because players like Ogilvy are able to maintain the proper downswing motion of the club shaft to impact through the education of the right hand and the alignment of the clubface using the left hand.

Ogilvy

Over the years, Ogilvy has been a streaky player. It is not uncommon to see Ogilvy get off to another great start with a win. Historically, Geoff has been fantastic from the months of January through April but has struggled from May through December. There are certainly many theories why he does this, but perhaps the intricate timing of Ogilvy's swing takes its toll over a long season. Geometrically, it does seem easier to set the clubface square at the top of the swing which would need less assistance on the downswing to square up time and time again.

Although Ogilvy is one of the best players in the world, I think the level of consistency he and many of us are looking for could be more easily achieved with a clubface that is square at the top rather than open. With a win and another great start, let's see if Ogilvy can continue to time things just right throughout 2010.

Just Because
Well, it is good to be back, as it seems like forever since my last blog at the THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola last year. A lot has happened since then, including my Seattle Seahawks racking up another impressive 5-11 campaign.

A season full of errors has certainly led to some stress over the winter on my Sunday afternoons, however, help is on the way, as Pete Carroll is now the new Seahawks head coach. Maybe we can hire a General Manager that perhaps could draft some players that can actually cover and tackle somebody? Okay, one thing at a time.

This week is not only the beginning of the PGA TOUR season but also the week of our TOUR Academy annual Instructor training. All 25 certified TOUR Academy Instructors are gathered this week in frozen northeast Florida to get up to speed on the new additions to our instruction, club fitting and fitness programs. I am proud to announce that we are now currently up to eight TOUR Academies, and continuing to grow to hopefully a location near you.

Travis Fulton is PGA TOUR Academy's Director of Instruction. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR. To learn more about the TOUR Academy, click here.