Quick answer: Impact mark toward the toe of the face (spray or impact tape); on video, the weight falls into the heels or the arms pull in toward the body on the downswing.
What it does to the ball
Off-center strike: a clear loss of ball speed; with woods, gear effect adds curve to the left and the ball feels dead off the face.
Root causes (by frequency)
Weight drifting into the heels during the downswing
Arms folding in toward the body at impact
Standing too far from the ball at address
How to fix it
Keep the pressure in the mid-forefoot through the downswing and chase the feeling of contact toward the heel of the face
Drills that fix it
Tell-tale spray · 15 min · 20 reps
See your real impact point and center it Spray the clubface with foot spray (or use impact tape). Hit 10 balls and study the pattern of marks. If the toe dominates, stand a thumb's width closer to the ball and feel the weight in the forefoot; repeat and compare.
Frequently asked questions
What is "Toe strikes" in the golf swing?
Impact mark toward the toe of the face (spray or impact tape); on video, the weight falls into the heels or the arms pull in toward the body on the downswing.
What does toe strikes do to the ball?
Off-center strike: a clear loss of ball speed; with woods, gear effect adds curve to the left and the ball feels dead off the face.
How do you fix toe strikes?
Keep the pressure in the mid-forefoot through the downswing and chase the feeling of contact toward the heel of the face