How To Stop Toe Strikes

Failing to hit the middle of the club consistently is one of the main reasons amateurs struggle compared to their professional counterparts. And if you are struggling with toe strikes in particular, PGA pro Alex Elliott has some simple and effective advice for you in the video and article below…

Tee-peg drill

One of the simplest ways to address the problem of toe strikes is to add this straightforward drill to your practice routine. When working on your driving stick a tee in the ground about an inch right of the ball as below. (This becomes left of the ball for left-handers.) Once you’ve done that, address the outside tee peg with the middle of your driver and then feel like you’re hitting that tee when swinging.

Over time, this will enable you to find the centre of the club more often. A word of warning, however. With the ball now lined up out the heel, it’s important not to overdo this drill. I always recommend splitting range sessions into sets of five. So, hit three shots doing this drill then remove the outside tee for the final two. Really focus on the sensation of a middle strike so you’re able to repeat the movement required more consistently.

If you can’t see your strike location, it’s worth spraying your driver with a foot spray or marking your balls with a sharpie every couple of shots. This will reveal your impact pattern and give you feedback as you work towards becoming more adept at finding the middle of the face. 

Swing path

If the drill above hasn’t given you the desired remedy, it’s worth getting someone to check your swing path. In particular, if your swing is too steep, it’s likely causing you to cut across the ball. This glancing blow through impact will more often than not result in a toe strike, which is why this affliction is a symptom of the dreaded slice.

During the takeaway in the golf…