Compress ‘down’ to get it up!
A common mistake that many amateurs make is attempting to lift the golf ball into the air to attain elevation. With a 6 iron through to the wedges it’s important to create a ‘ball- first then turf’ impact sequence.
This correct type of impact ‘traps’ the ball between two solid surfaces (clubface and the ground) forcing it forward whilst ‘spinning it-up’ the clubface thus creating backspin and elevation.
The two most common reasons why players ‘thin the golf ball’ are:
1. An incorrect ball position – ‘Too far forward’ in the stance will often result in the ball being struck on the upswing ‘raising the strike’ – If you consistently ‘thin’ the ball, try moving the ball an inch further back in your stance. (See pic 1 – pink ball is incorrect ball position for 7 iron white ball is correct)
2. Releasing the club too early with the hands in the downswing– A release that occurs too early in the downswing causes the clubhead to overtake the hands prior to impact which ‘raises’ the strike and presents the leading edge to the cover of the ball.
Pic 2 Shows a downswing in which the hands have released the ‘wrist hinge’ created during the backswing ‘too-early’ – you will see that the left arm and hands are behind the clubhead at impact – I refer to players who make this mistake as ‘Flippers’
Pic 3 If you are a ‘Flipper’, then this image shows the position that I want to convert you to – the left arm and wrists are ahead of the clubhead leading into the impact position and will deliver a descending blow onto the ball first before striking the turf.
THE DRILL ….
Hit 20 balls with your 7 iron attempting to keep the handle ahead of the clubhead for as long as possible into impact. Doing so will deliver a descending blow (a ball-first then ground impact) If you manage to prevent the release of your hands until after impact the ball flight produced should be low and slightly to the right of your target – your goal is to produce 20 consecutive low punch-shots that finish to the right of your target. After 20 shots, revert to hitting 10 balls normally without this thought process in mind … By repeating this drill pattern over and over again, you should find that the release of the hands and clubhead will happen later in the downswing leading to the correct compression of the golf ball and fewer ‘thinned’ golf shots.
Tom Long
Golf Professional
