Every golfer can improve their swing dynamics using these instructions from “one of the most knowledgeable golfing minds in the game” (Tom Lehman, British Open Champion).
The Impact Zone is a unique instructional guide in that everything in it either focuses on or applies to improving a golfer’s understanding and execution of impact—as the golf club approaches, contacts, then swings through the ball. Here, acclaimed professional golfer Bobby Clampett concludes that the overwhelming bias and convention of today’s contemporary teaching environment is to value swing styles over swing dynamics, and in so doing, the overwhelming majority of golf teachers miss the boat in terms of teaching the game effectively. Ultimately this emphasis on swing style comes at the expense of helping golfers to develop sound swing dynamics, which are the real keys to consistent ball striking and better golf.
With the help of CBS’s Swing Vision high-speed camera—using images from many of the game’s greatest contemporary players (including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, John Daly, Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, and more)—The Impact Zone takes an unprecedented look at the most important six inches in golf, those that immediately precede, contain, and follow impact. To further demonstrate these principles, Clampett presents photos and drills that convey the five essential dynamics golfers need to produce and reproduce solid impact.
Throughout these instructional pages, Bobby Clampett—teamed with veteran golf writer Andy Brumer—relays his own personal story of straying from swing dynamics and how he found his way back. He recalls memorable stories from the Tour, blending innovative instruction with his colorful, engaging anecdotes.
A native of Carmel, California, Bobby Clampett turned professional in 1980 after one of the finest amateur careers in American golf history. The two-time California State Amateur Champion, World Amateur Champion, and low amateur in both the 1978 U.S. Open and the 1979 Masters, Bobby was a two-time winner of the Fred Haskins Award while in college at Brigham Young University. As a member of the PGA Tour, he won the 1982 Southern Open, and in 1984 became the Tour's youngest player to exceed $500,000 in career earnings. In 1991, he joined the CBS Sports and TNT Sports golf broadcast teams, where he continues today. He is returning to competition while pursuing his interests in golf course architecture, aviation, Bible Study, and charity work. He also is a sought-after speaker and host at corporate outings and clinics. He lives with his wife and children in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Andy Brumer has written for most of golf's major magazines, including Golf Digest, Golf Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Golf Plus, Travel and Leisure Golf, Links Magazine, Golfweek, and others. He has been editor of Golf Tips and Petersen's Golfing, and is the author of the book Guide to the Golf Revolution: How Technology Is Driving the Game and a book of essays titled The Poetics of Golf. He competed on the Rutgers University golf team and presently plays to a 2 handicap. He lives in Alhambra, California.