Welcome to Play Smart, GOLF.com’s regular game improvement column to help you become a smarter, better golfer.
Hitting iron shots that fly high in the air and land soft on the green is something all golfers desire. When you watch a pro ring the bell to set up an easy birdie, it’s impossible not to dream of doing the same.
Doing so, however, takes the right technique, which most recreational golfers lack. Instead of slamming down on the ball and squishing it down the field, they cut through impact and lose tons of spin and distance. So instead of watching the ball shoot through the air, instead they produce a low, weak flight of the ball.
Most of the time, this is due to not getting enough shaft at impact. If you look for the pros hitting iron shots, you will see that their hands are in front of the ball and the club is actually lifted high. And while it may seem counterintuitive, this lofting actually helps the ball fly higher in the air, as long as you do it correctly.
Recreational players often struggle with this concept and using a swing that produces a forward shaft. However, with a little tweaking to your setup, getting the front shaft lean can be easier than you might think.
Top GOLF Instructor Jeff Smith explains how in the video below.
The trick is to lean the shaft forward
Many recreational golfers have the misconception that they need to get the club back into position to hit solid shots, but that is not the case. What you really want to do is make the shaft lean forward a little, with the handle in front of the club, so you can hit the ball and squeeze it into place.
So, to help yourself a little in that, you can try to set the ball with your hands already pressed forward with just a touch.
“If we understand that our club is built like that, we can start like that,” said Smith. “Then we can deliver the needs [the club] by turning the gun, driving the hands forward. Then all of a sudden, we have more compression, better ball flight and better spin control.”
If you are someone who finds it difficult to advance the shaft with proper ball pressure, give this trick a try. If you do, you’ll soon be hitting your irons with more shine and prepare yourself for more bird-like looks.
Divot board
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