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I’ve noticed many inconsistent players forget an important element of starting the backswing – opening the toe of the club. Many players set up to the golf ball without a thought to the clubface’s intended path. Many people say the grip is the most important part of the golf swing, but I believe just as important, if not more, is clubface-to-ball contact.

When setting up, immediately open the toe and allow your body to rotate and adjust to the opening of the clubface. If you allow the toe of the club to open, your body will naturally follow the path of the clubface for a smoother, uninhibited golf swing. Since the clubface is the only element in the game that makes contact with the ball, you should always pay very close attention to what it is doing.

Players who aren’t aware of their clubface position often deal with problems resulting from improper rotation of the clubface. For example, if you start your backswing with a closed clubface, you have to make compensations to adjust for the improper rotation.

Much too often, we try to make the golf club react to our body motions when, in fact, we should do the opposite -- we should let our bodies react to the swinging of the golf club. You can have the best setup in the world, you can be in some of the best positions, but it doesn’t do you any good if it doesn’t deliver the clubface to the ball repetitively and squarely. Pretty is as pretty does.

There are many ways to set up to swing the golf club, but there’s only one proper way to arrive at impact – the center of the clubface striking the back of the golf ball.

When I rotate my clubface open, there are some key positions I have found that are vital to keeping my club on the proper path throughout my backswing. These positions below have helped me; maybe they will help you.

Keep Your Elbow Pointed to the Ground

Turn into Your Back Heel