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how do you hit down on a golf ball

by Rusty Casper DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How to Hit Down on a Ball to Get it Up in the Air

  1. Set up to the ball with a shoulder-width stance and your weight equally distributed between the left and right foot.
  2. Swing the club back with your shoulders and hinge your wrists up as the club swings back. ...
  3. Swing the club down by turning your hips toward the target. ...
  4. Hit down on the ball and make a small divot after contact. ...

Part of a video titled How to Hit Down on the Golf Ball With Irons - YouTube
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The low point is where the club is at its lowest. Point in the golf. Swing. All right so when iMoreThe low point is where the club is at its lowest. Point in the golf. Swing. All right so when i start my swing the club's on the ground. And when i move the club away from the ball it starts to work.

Full Answer

How hard can you hit a golf ball?

Apr 16, 2022 · Place the ball on the imaginary line between the tees and then hit it. After every shot (again, filming is good) check where the divot is. It should start after the line. If it doesn, you are hitting down because in my experience it is impossible to scoop or hit up and make a divot after the strike location.

How to stop hitting behind the golf ball?

Mar 14, 2022 · As simple as it sounds, hitting down on the golf ball means that the force applied during the initial touch of the club on the ball is in a downward direction. This is done by impacting the ball when the club is on its way down from the topmost position. The clubface should contact the ball first before hitting the ground.

How often do people get hit by a golf ball?

Mar 27, 2018 · Here are few pointers to help you hit down on your iron shots: Assuming you get into a good backswing position, with your weight on the instep of your back foot, your first move down... Then stay in your posture and turn through the shot. Feel like you’re turning down and through. And keep some flex ...

How do you hit a golf ball from the fairway?

Jun 11, 2019 · If you ever wanted to learn how to hit down on a golf ball with your golf swing, this golf lesson will help you understand how to do that. From club selecti...

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How do you hit down on a golf ball and take a divot?

4:186:40HOW TO TAKE A DIVOT AFTER THE GOLF BALL - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe feel that we can press into the ground. And we get our hands lower over at trial fight from hereMoreWe feel that we can press into the ground. And we get our hands lower over at trial fight from here we really want to focus on rotating extending. And then making contact with the ground.

What does it mean to hit down on golf ball?

4:386:40GOLF - HOW TO HIT DOWN ON THE BALL - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHead. Cover is there to make sure I don't come over the top.MoreHead. Cover is there to make sure I don't come over the top.

How do you hit down on a golf ball with a driver?

1:585:08The Basics Of Hitting Up vs Hitting Down With DriverYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow why would you ever tee the ball down with a driver. Well Tina ball down means that you canMoreNow why would you ever tee the ball down with a driver. Well Tina ball down means that you can squeeze the ball squeezing. It means your attack angle more down.

Are you supposed to swing down on the golf ball?

Now, while this may sound ok, we have found that this can actually be harmful to your golf swing. When golfers try to “hit down” on the golf ball it can cause even more ball striking problems and this really does go to show that how you visualize, think and the words that you use, have a huge impact on how you swing.Jun 3, 2021

What is the proper way to swing a driver?

1:125:10How to hit golf driver long & straight (simple guide) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMaking good contact to the head and making sure that our golf swing is creating the correct amountMoreMaking good contact to the head and making sure that our golf swing is creating the correct amount of power to help you hit the ball as far as you need to hit it.

Can I hit down on my driver?

To cure your slices and pulls, hit down on the ball with your driver. A good thought is to try to take a little divot after impact or to hit with the shaft leaning toward the target (top photo). This will help you shift to your front side on the downswing and swing into impact from inside the target line.Jan 16, 2012

How do you hit a driver straight for beginners?

4:206:31HOW TO HIT THE DRIVER FOR BEGINNERS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut a great way to start using the driver is to actually hit shots just like we've done there withMoreBut a great way to start using the driver is to actually hit shots just like we've done there with these really mini swings. So take my starting position.

How do you hit down?

5:348:40HOW TO HIT DOWN ON THE GOLF BALL - GOLF LESSON - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTake your setup we make a backswing weight. Goes left hands go low that's really really important.MoreTake your setup we make a backswing weight. Goes left hands go low that's really really important. Now from there we push and extend and strike the ground.

Should you choke down on golf clubs?

Summary. As you can tell, choking up on the golf club is a secret weapon that a lot of golfers don't take advantage of enough. Sure, you will lose some distance by choking up but in general, it's almost always worth it. This is a great way to add new shots in your bag and save yourself when you're hitting it poorly.

How do you not swing down on a golf ball?

2:555:39Hit the Golf Ball First, Swing Forward, Not Down - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipShot okay so the answer really isn't about trying to hit down on the ball. The answer is aboutMoreShot okay so the answer really isn't about trying to hit down on the ball. The answer is about moving weight pressure into your front foot.

How to Hit Down on The Golf Ball – Swing Tips

If your ball striking is struggling, one of the most common tips you’ll hear instructors tell you is that you need to hit down on the ball more. Bu...

What Does Hitting Down on The Golf Ball Mean?

But what does hitting down on the golf ball actually mean?If the golf ball is struck before the club head gets to its lowest point, we are hitting...

Join One of Our Signature Golf Programs

Here are several golf training plans we offer with lots of worksheets and bonuses that come with your program. Click the links to learn more about...

How to get better iron shots?

Hitting down on the ball is the key to better iron shots. Essentially, you want to make impact just before hitting the low point of your swing. This is achievable for even the most casual golfers if you make small adjustments to move the low point of your swing forward. Positioning the ball in the center of your stance.

How does the club head move when swinging an iron?

As you swing the iron toward the low point on your forward stroke, the clubhead moves in a descending motion. Once the clubhead passes through the low point, it arcs upward again. Pretty simple, right? Before the low point, your clubhead is descending. After the low point, your clubhead is ascending.

What is the difference between accelerating down and pulling with the trail hand?

Pulling with the lead hand tends to move the low point forward, whereas accelerating down with the trail hand often has the opposite effect. These may seem like too nuanced an adjustment to make without putting in a lot of practice time, but there’s actually an easy way to get the feel for the difference in your body.

What happens if you move the handle in front of the clubhead?

If you position the handle slightly in front of the clubhead—more towards the target—the low point moves forward. As a result, you have a decent chance at getting a good iron shot if you move the handle just a little bit in front of the golf ball.

What hand do you use to practice golf?

Here’s what you do: As part of your pre-shot routine, take a few practice swings with your lead hand only. Your trail hand does nothing. It doesn’t touch the club at all. You’re just holding the club in your lead hand and giving that hand total control of your swing movement.

How does the low point of an iron work?

If you position the handle slightly in front of the clubhead—more towards the target—the low point moves forward.

Can amateur golfers hit down on the ball?

It’s common advice. But knowing what you should do it and knowing how to do it are two entirely different things. In fact, many golfers would tell you there’s a reason that the pros can hit down on the ball consistently while many amateur players cannot.

What does hitting down mean in golf?

What Does ‘Hitting Down’ Actually Mean? As simple as it sounds, hitting down on the golf ball means that the force applied during the initial touch of the club on the ball is in a downward direction. This is done by impacting the ball when the club is on its way down from the topmost position. The clubface should contact ...

What happens when a golf ball is lofted at an angle?

Due to the high impact force, the surface of the ball compresses and as the clubface is lofted at an angle, the ball does not push more into the ground but is instead driven forward and upward.

How to hit the ball far with an iron?

When you reach the top of your swing position while preparing for a shot, move your right foot (or left if you are a left-handed player) and hip slightly closer to the ball. The center of your body should also be slightly ahead ...

How to swing a club correctly?

To learn to swing the club correctly to hit down on the ball, practice is key. Before a shot, take a step back and check that your standing position is such that the bottom-most point of your swing is falling to the front side of the ball. If your position is correct, the club will come in contact with the ground after it crosses the ball itself. ...

Why do people hit down on the golf ball?

If you watch professional golf, you’ve probably seen that players hit down on the golf ball to make it go up. This is counter-intuitive and not usually understood by beginners but is a highly effective method to play long shots in golf and also has to a lot to do with the form and structure of golf clubs. This why on golf courses, you’ll hear golf ...

Should the clubface contact the ball first?

The clubface should contact the ball first before hitting the ground. This is true for all kinds of golf shots including fades and draws. Whether you want the ball to go straight in the air or curve towards your target, the correct method to do this is hit down on the ball.

When should a golf club come in contact with the ground?

If your position is correct, the club will come in contact with the ground after it crosses the ball itself. Instead of just looking at it, you can even take a few practice swings in the air to be sure of it. In no instance should the club come in contact with the ground before it crosses the ball’s position.

What does it mean when a golf ball hits the club head?

If the golf ball is struck before the club head gets to its lowest point, we are hitting down on the ball. This also means that we have a downward angle of attack.

How to hit down on a golf ball?

To hit down on the ball, your hands must stay in front of the club head and your weight center must be over the ball or slightly ahead of it. If you’re setting up with a wide stance and your spine is tilted “back,” or angled away from the target, you will have difficulty hitting down on the ball.

How to get into a good backswing position?

Assuming you get into a good backswing position, with your weight on the instep of your back foot, your first move down should be a forward bump of the hips that transfers your weight toward the target. Then stay in your posture and turn through the shot. Feel like you’re turning down and through.

Can you hit down before hitting the golf ball?

They end up striking the turf before the golf ball, which is the exact opposite of what you want. Hittingdown” is not something that most golfers can simply choose to do or not do — it requires a downward angle of attack.

Do golfers hit down on the ball?

The problem is that most golfers fail to translate such terms as ‘hitting down on the ball’ into an actual swing move. It might be explained to them by their local teaching pro; they will nod their head in approval, and then when they go to swing the club they end up hitting these terribly fat shots that go nowhere.

How to hit down on the golf ball

I have a lot of students who struggle to hit down on the golf ball, which often results from a basic misunderstanding of what it actually means to hit down.

Clement: Fix your swing now by skipping stones!

Incredibly easy analogy to visualise and execute in this video; YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS!!!

Stickney: The only 2 ways to hit a golf ball farther

If I had a dollar for every time someone walked into my Academy (myself included!) and asked how to hit it farther I’d own a bank by now. Golf course agronomy has evolved and the rock-hard fairways of yesterday are gone and have been replaced by soft conditions that require more and more carry off the tee.

Stickney: The evolution of necessary technology in golf instruction

Over time technology has improved so that we (as teachers) can see and understand motion and forces in action during the swing.

What does it mean when a golf ball escapes?

The balls only means of escape as the club is hitting down on the golf ball is to travel back up the club face with the addition energy obtained. The golf ball then escapes into the air. Again this is how the irons were made. Interesting isn’t it. The natural thinking would be that if you want the ball to travel up you would want to hit up with ...

How to grip a golf club with your index finger?

Place your supporting hand at the outer end of the club in such a manner that your pinky finger and your index finger curl around the club for the grip. Now place your dominant hand right below the supporting hand but in the opposite direction as the support ing hand.

How to hit down on a golf ball?

For your stance. Place your feet about shoulder width and place equal weight on each foot. Put the ball 2 to 3 inches inside your forward heel and put the ball in approximate the middle of your stance. On your backswing you can allow some movement with the wrists.

How to hit the ball?

To hit the ball is altogether a combination of multiple actions starting from a correct body posture and movement. Stand in a pose that gives you maximum grip using your foot. Secure for yourself a solid stance with a perfect grasp of the club and position to face the ball in the direction of the post.

Why do you need a little bend in golf?

Why you need a little bend or lean, is because you need to swing your hand to hit the ball. The slight bend give you the momentum to hit harder when you swing. Now, that you know the basics on how to hit down on a golf ball, remember them well.

Where does your weight shift when swinging?

Your weight will shift from your rear foot to the leading foot. Don not move the wrists until the ball is struck so to give the club face the correct hit angle on the ball. With the conclusion of the swing most of your weight will be on the lead foot.

Do golfers hit up on the ball?

So many golfers want to hit up on the ball. As the arc of the golf swing goes in the forward half, that is hitting up on the ball. Not correct for irons . They are technically designed to hit down on the ball which in turn makes the ball go up in the air.

Drills to Hit Down on the Golf Ball

It’s one thing to know that you should be hitting down on the golf ball, but it’s another to be able to do it with ease. There are many factors that influence a descending blow, including ball position, balance, and weight transfer throughout the swing.

Bottom Line

If you want to engrain and repeatable, downward strike on the ball, and build some consistency in your iron play, give these drills a try. You’ll find that feeling of a perfectly struck shot more often, and will likely add some distance to your game.

About the Author

Nick Heidelberger is the Editor of GolfLink. He has a degree in journalism from the University of Idaho and has been an avid golfer for more than 10 years. In the years prior to joining GolfLink, he worked for the New England Section of the PGA of America.

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