Golf’s Holy Grail: How to Get Shaft Lean at Impact

Shaft lean at impact is one of those few positions that all elite players have in common (as it makes them compress the ball). It’s also one of the keys to a better golf game.

But how do you get the shaft forward? Is it a lead wrist issue? Takeaway issue? Or something else?

Forward shaft lean is the key to making better contact and increasing distance with every shot. This position causes what you know as the “pure” sound of your golf shot.

Today, we’ll help you get this position by understanding how different parts of the swing work. We also aim to eliminate fat and thin shots so you can hit the golf ball with power.

Shaft Lean at Impact

 With the help of a downward strike at impact, professionals and elite amateurs compress the golf ball. Also known as covering the ball, this leads to high-quality shots where you hit the ball and then make a divot.

The sound is pure, and you can hear it from anywhere on the range.

But everyday golfers on the range are the exact opposite. They hit a few shots with a mix of fat & thin golf shots due to an inconsistent shaft lean.

Defining “Shaft Lean” in Golf

Shaft lean is when the handle of the golf club is slightly ahead of the ball at impact position, leading to the covering of the ball and a solid strike.

You deloft the club slightly and hit it longer than ever.

Milo Lines correctly noted some right and wrong ways to get into this position in this YouTube video. Before getting into the right ways to find this power position, let’s avoid some of the most common mistakes:

Common Mistakes

Trying to Hold The Club

Holding the club is like a punch-like motion, making it harder to face the square. It also makes you lose out on tons of speed and distance.

You shouldn’t feel like your hands are way ahead of the club in your full swing. When you use the steps below, it should feel more natural.

Incorrect Sequence

To become an expert ball striker, you need the right sequence of movement in your full swing. Many golfers sway on their downswing instead of unwinding their hips. If your lower body moves too quickly, it will cause you to get steep on the downswing.

Too Much Lean at Address

You would want to have the butt-end of the club slightly ahead of the ball at the address position. Many golfers overdo it and get their hands way beyond the ball, making it harder to get this position at impact.

Do’s for a Proper Shaft Lean

Check Your Setup

• You need to build a solid base to build your pivot around.
• Your stance should be shoulder width apart for most irons.
• Longer clubs need a slightly wider stance.
• Narrow setups make it easy to sway laterally and kill the proper weight transfer in a swing.
• Get a slight amount of shaft leans once in a good position.
• Forward press motion will make it easy for a better takeaway and downswing.
• Make sure the ball position is correct for the club you’re hitting.

1. Wedges and short irons = middle of stance
2. Mid-irons = middle front of stance
3. Long irons/woods = further up in stance

Understand Your Wrist Position

Having a bowed wrist will make it much easier to get into this position. A great example of this wrist position is Dustin Johnson or Jon Rahm.

Keep in mind the wrist hinge.

As Hackmotion said, “Many amateurs try to achieve more shaft lean at impact by increasing their wrist hinge (increasing radial deviation). However, it often leads to the open clubface and the need to make last-moment corrections. Instead, you should focus on developing your wrist extension/flexion pattern.”

That’s why we’re such big fans of the Hackmotion wrist trainer as it makes understanding how to use your wrists properly to develop a more consistent golf swing easier.

Master Your Weight Transfer

The best golfers turn around their body with full shoulders and a slight hip turn. It allows them to use ground force and proper weight transfer, getting the shaft back to the same position.

If you struggle with weight transfer, you should check this training aid called the Pressure Plate from Why Golf. Use this in practice or at home to feel the proper weight distribution throughout your swing.

Record Your Swing

Recording your swing makes you pause the video and check how the shaft is leaning. It also helps you check your hand positions and help you correct them.

For example, if you aww your hands forward at impact, you can identify a plan to make the necessary adjustments.

Best Forward Shaft Lean Drills

The following drills help you learn this position faster and more accurately:

Clay Ballard’s “Magic” Drill

Check out this YouTube video from Top Speed Golf to learn mid-iron impact position drills. Here’s how to get started:

• Grab a mid-iron and set it up.
• Get into your ideal “pro position” with forward shaft lean.
• Your hands should be about 5-6 inches ahead, with the club head trailing being the club shaft.
• Keep your body position the same, but push your hands forward while keeping the club head square. Then, rotate the hands and arms to get a parallel position.
• Keep plenty of knee bend to rotate your lower body.
• Rotate your body with a 3/4 swing.

Use an Impact Bag

Using this device will help you find the sweet spot more often by getting your hands forward at impact.

Final Thoughts

When you have a slight amount of club shaft lean at impact, the following factors take place: Added compression, improved accuracy, increased ball speed, longer distances, improved strikes, and reduced mishits.

While shaft lean is important, you don’t want forward shaft lean with a driver as it is one of those clubs you want to hit up on to launch high and maximize distance.