Collin Morikawa's Irons: Clubface on the Target
Collin Morikawa plays a slight fade on the vast majority of his iron shots, and he also knows how to make the ball curve the other way. In *Me and My Golf*, he explains his basic rule: the clubface never strays from the target; only the body moves. And it’s the height of the finish that determines the trajectory.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
What matters most to Collin Morikawa on the irons: know one's path and know how the ball will react. He plays a slight fade 95 times out of 100, unless the hole calls for a draw. His method remains the same in both directions: The face is aimed at the target, the body opens for a fade or closes for a draw, and he swings along the line of his feet. For a draw, he uses a mental image: what Rory McIlroy does—a club that comes in slightly from below and a natural rotation toward the ball.
His only thought about swinging downhill is the finish. Hands positioned at the top of the ear result in a neutral trajectory; a high fade ends higher, a draw ends lower. On the upswing, when his arms tend to rise without rotating, he slices a glove under his left armpit to keep a wide stance and turn with his body. When his fades become too pronounced, he hits a few draws with a low finish to regain his balance.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Before you take your shot, visualize the shot from behind the ball and decide on the trajectory.
- Place it facing the target.
- For a fade, open your body slightly to the left; for a draw, close your stance and position your body slightly to the right of the tee line.
- Swing back while keeping a wide stance, with the glove tucked under your left armpit if your arms tend to rise on their own.
- Swing along the line of your feet.
- Aim higher for a high fade, and lower for a draw.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Move your face instead of changing your body's alignment.
- Raise your arms in the backswing without turning your body, then swing them back over your head.
- Keep a strong grip on the glove after impact: it might fall; this exercise focuses only on the upward motion.
- Focus more on the technical aspects of the downswing rather than on the finish.
- Hitting balls at the driving range without a specific target or intended trajectory.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- A few balls with a glove tucked under my left armpit, just warming up
- Same iron: a high fade finish, followed by a low draw finish
- Warming up his own way: wedge, 8-iron straight then a slight fade, 5-iron both ways
- Playing a course in your head at the driving range, with a different target for each shot
Your Questions
Where does Collin Morikawa position the clubface to hit a draw?
Toward the target, just like with the fade. He simply closes his stance, positions his body slightly to the right of the tee line, and swings along his feet.
How does the finish change the trajectory?
In his view, hands positioned at the top of the ear result in a neutral shot. He positions them higher for a high fade and lower for a draw.
Should you keep the glove under your arm throughout the entire swing?
No. He shows it as a through-swing drill: after impact, the body opens and the glove can come out without it being a problem.
What does he do when his fades get too strong?
He works on a few draws, aiming for a lower finish, then returns to his usual fades once he's regained his swing balance.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Collin Morikawa). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.