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what causes flat line drive golf shots

by Prof. Emil Ullrich Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Cause: Swing is too flat – If your swing travels around the body on a flat (horizontal) path, the clubhead will approach the ball from inside the target line, effectively reducing its loft.

Tee Placement
A number of golfers, worried about teeing the ball up too high and hitting a high, looping drive, tee the ball up just off the ground. This, however, can yield a low drive, as it can cause a golfer to "top" the ball, thereby lining it off the tee and not getting much air time.

Full Answer

What causes low shots in golf?

Low shots are the result of a faulty impact position (the position of the clubface as it strikes the ball) that de-lofts the clubface. Impact is the moment of truth in golf.

What causes fat shots in golf?

What Causes Fat Shots In Golf? 1 Their don’t reach their “max load” until late in the backswing. 2 They spend their early part of the downswing “re-centering.” More ...

Why do I keep hitting low drives in golf?

First, hitting low drives will always mean that you are falling short of your distance potential off the tee. Getting the ball higher into the air should mean more yardage on your drives, which will lead to shorter approach shots – and hopefully lower scores.

What causes a low line drive off the tee?

Often times, the result of a poor drive is a low, line drive type of shot that doesn't travel an optimum distance. There are numerous causes for this type of low drive off the tee box. Among the most desirable shots to many golfers is a quality drive.

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Why am I hitting low line drives with my driver?

First, hitting low drives will always mean that you are falling short of your distance potential off the tee. Getting the ball higher into the air should mean more yardage on your drives, which will lead to shorter approach shots – and hopefully lower scores.

How do I stop hitting a line drive in golf?

2:217:56Golf Tee Shots Too Low Fix - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere is you need to have his grip. Yeah you need to try and let the face twist the way his faceMoreHere is you need to have his grip. Yeah you need to try and let the face twist the way his face twists on the way back. Then. You must try and hit with a straight path with your club.

Why does my golf drive go straight then right?

Why does it start fairly straight and then curve? Because once you first hit the golf ball, it will start in the direction your golf club is moving. And as the golf ball is moving very fast through the air … it will continue to move in that direction.

Why am I hitting grounders with my driver?

Specifically, players who hit ground balls are leaving too much weight on their right foot as they come down into the ball. When your weight gets stuck on your foot in the downswing, the club will bottom out before the ball – meaning it will be on the way back up when it actually arrives at impact.

Why do my golf shots go low and left?

Hitting the ball too low can be caused by shifting your weight to your left side. By consciously planting your right foot and keeping your weight on it, you will prevent shifting your weight to the right.

Why do I hit my irons straight but hook my driver?

When you have your left foot sticking out further than your right foot, you will close off your body to the target. This can cause hands and arms to swing around with a slightly closed clubface and make the ball head to the left. The alignment is one of the most common causes of a hook.

How do you fix a straight draw?

0:010:49Driving: Straighten Out an Unwanted Draw | Fix Finder #11 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen the ball gets too far forward your shoulders start aiming this way your hands are underneath.MoreWhen the ball gets too far forward your shoulders start aiming this way your hands are underneath.

How do I fix my golf shot going right?

4:108:16How to: STOP slicing the golf ball | REALLY EASY TIPS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYour swing to move more out to win to swing across the golf ball. We need to do the completeMoreYour swing to move more out to win to swing across the golf ball. We need to do the complete opposite to that we want to fix a slice we've got to hit more from the inside of the golf ball.

Why does my drive always go right?

A slice is any shot that curves hard to the right in the air (for a right-handed player). Golfers often find themselves in the woods after hitting a slice. A slice shot is caused by a poor grip and setup, an outside-to-in downswing path and an open clubface.

How do I stop hitting my driver into the ground?

To help you stay down, think about keeping your right knee flexed and your right heel on the ground for as long as possible. This encourages you to stay bent at the hips and prevents your legs from straightening and lifting the clubhead farther off the ground.

How do I hit my driver higher and straighter?

1:546:09HOW TO HIT HIGHER, LONGER DRIVES - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou want to take a second typically you're going to place that just less than a foot behind the golfMoreYou want to take a second typically you're going to place that just less than a foot behind the golf ball pop it right the way down into the ground so it's pretty. Low.

Why am I hitting the ground before the golf ball?

When a player hits the ground before the ball it is generally because their club is attacking the ball from too shallow an angle. Golf coaches refer to this as the "Angle of Approach".

Why does my shot go left of the target?

There are a variety of reasons that your shot could end up going left of the target whether you drew the ball too much or did not fade it quite enough. The problem with the pulled shot is that the ball starts left of the target, in a direction that you did not think you were aiming. It is like everything else went right except for the direction ...

What happens if your golf club shaft is too short?

If your shaft is too flexible or not flexible enough, you can pull the ball. Also, if your clubs are too short and make you reach or too long and force you to put the ball too far forward in your stance, you have the wrong clubs. I would suggest getting fitted for clubs and allow the golf pro to tell you which clubs fit best with your height, power, and swing.

What Do I Need To Fix A Pulled Golf Shot?

The following section includes what you’ll need as well as step-by-step instructions for curing your pull.

How to fade a golf ball?

1. Pull Fade/Slice. A pull fade/slice is when the ball starts left and then moves back toward athe right. You may be thinking that this is what you want your ball to do, but the problem is when you pull the ball just to fade it back towards the target, you lose a lot of distance and accuracy.

What is the first move in golf?

Your first move when you start the swing, your takeaway, usually dictates how your downswing will go. Many golfers, when they are struggling with their golf game, immediately try to fix what is wrong at the top of their swing or during their downswing.

What does it mean when a golf club is pointed in the right direction?

Alignment sticks (or a golf club pointed in the right direction) can show you the natural direction the ball should be taking based on where you are aiming. If you are aiming left, you may not actually be pulling the ball, you may just be hitting a good shot aimed in the wrong direction.

How to get a better grip on a golf club?

If your grip is too strong for your swing, you may just have to move to a more neutral grip. Simply rotate your hands backward on the club until the “V” shape between your thumb and index finger are pointing straight down or slightly backward. A strong grip helps players who slice the ball or who desire to draw the ball, but it can also cause your club face to be closed at impact.

Why is my golf swing flat?

Cause: Swing is too flat – If your swing travels around the body on a flat (horizontal) path, the clubhead will approach the ball from inside the target line, effectively reducing its loft.

What happens if you hit a golf driver ball too low?

If you are fighting a golf driver ball trajectory too low at the moment, you are probably wasting your swing speed early in the downswing and not saving it up for impact. That leads to weak contact with the ball, and a shot that lacks the speed and spin to really get up into the air.

How does spin affect golf?

Spin makes the ball climb. While the launch angle of your shots determines the initial height of the ball flight, it is the backspin that you put on the ball that really determines the trajectory. If a shot has too little spin, it will remain close to the ground and take a ‘flat’ trajectory toward the target. Too much spin, however, will cause it to climb high into the air quickly, and it will likely fall short of where you expected it to land. The ideal amount of spin combines these two so the ball will hang in the air and travel the maximum distance down the fairway.

How to get better at driving a golf club?

Cure: Stand closer to the ball: By inching up on it, you’ll be forced to swing in a more vertical or upright manner, creating a steeper clubhead path, utilizing the club’s full loft and boosting the height of your drives. Also, make sure you aren’t teeing the ball too high, which flattens the swing.

What is low trajectory golf?

Low trajectory is a common affliction among golfers who lack clubhead speed, but even powerful players sometimes hit the ball lower than they’d like. Let’s tackle some causes and cures for both groups.

Why does my golf ball launch at 90 mph?

Cause: Insufficient clubhead speed – If you swing the driver at 90 mph or less, the ball won’t compress as much on the clubface and , therefore, it will launch on a relatively low trajectory without enough backspin to send it higher .

How to improve driver trajectory in golf?

One of the best golf swing tips to improve driver trajectory that you can get is simply to swing all the way through the shot with no hesitation at impact. Too many golfers struggle with a lack of confidence as they get toward impact, so they slow down their swing in fear of hitting a bad shot. Obviously, this is going to lead to poor results. Instead, make a confident swing and accelerate the club all the way through the hitting area to a full finish. You aren’t going to hit a great shot every time, but you will be far more successful this way than if you doubt yourself at the last moment.

What causes a golf club to make contact when it is still swinging to left field?

Ball Position: You might have the ball too far back in the stance. This causes you to make contact when the club is still swinging to left field. Backswing: You could be taking the club back too far inside, pulling the club away from the target line.

What is the best way to hit a push golf ball?

Set-up: Make sure you aren't aiming too far to the left of the target line, or that your shoulders are aligned too far to the left. Ball Position: You might have the ball too far back in the stance.

What is a pull in golf?

A right-hander whose ball starts to the left and flies left with no additional curve left (a straight shot to the left of the intended target) is hitting a pull. The divot, if there is one, will match the ball's direction. Here is Roger Gunn's checklist for a right-handed golfer hitting a pull: Grip: Not normally a factor.

What is the difference between right and left handed golfers?

Are you hitting lots of golf shots that start out left of the target and continue flying left, on a straight line, until they land left of your intended landing area? If you are right-handed, you are pulling the ball or pulling the shot; if you are left-handed, you are pushing the ball or pushing the shot .

What is a left-hander hitting?

A left-hander whose shots start to the left of the target line and continue flying left, on a straight line ( not curving left), is hitting a push. Again, the divot, if there is one, will match the ball's direction.

Where should the golf club be on the shoulder?

The club should be over your shoulder at the top, nor over your head. Downswing: Your arms might be pushing away from the body at the transition into the downswing. Keep your arms in so that they pass close to your right pants pocket on the approach to impact.

Who is the golf instructor who mishits?

Below, golf instructor Roger Gunn gives us a checklist of possible causes for these types of mishits, but the faults and fixes differ depending on the golfer's handedness.

What happens if you hit a golf ball too steeply?

If you swing too steep, the common fault of players who slice the ball, you will most likely make a mark nearer the toe. The result of this type of action is generally toe heavy divots and more shots struck out the toe of the club.

What happens when you hit a few shots on a lie board?

The dynamic fitting then takes place when you hit a few shots on a lie board, as shown below. As your club hits the board at impact, it will make a mark – either on the sole or on the lie tape stuck on the sole. This mark then highlights your current swing plane.

How far should I adjust my lie angle?

Unless you have an unusual body type, such as long or short arms for your height, you should avoid bending your lie beyond 2° as it will only prevent you from making improvements to your swing.

What is the lie angle of a golf club?

Your lie angle is the angle between the centre of the shaft and the sole of the club , and it’s important as it can affect how your club enters the turf at impact, and consequently, which direction the ball travels in.

Why do you get your dynamic lie angle closer to neutral?

Why do they do this? By getting your dynamic lie angle closer to neutral, your face is more like to remain square at impact, so your shots should fly straighter and finish closer to where you want them to.

Is a lie angle good?

More often than not, if you are using the correct length clubs and swinging reasonably well, your lie angle should be a good fit.

Can a tall player hook the ball?

Beware though, tall players who hook the ball, and shorter players who slice the ball, may make their problems worse by making a lie angle change, so it's always worth going through the process with a knowledgeable fitter or professional.

Why do golfers shoot low shots?

Low shots are the result of a faulty impact position (the position of the clubface as it strikes the ball) that de-lofts the clubface . Impact is the moment of truth in golf. Ben Hogan said, "The ultimate judge of your swing is the flight of the ball," and impact determines ball flight.

What happens if your shots are too low?

If your shots are too low, there must be a flaw in your impact position. At impact, the shaft of the club must not lean too far forward (toward the target) or too far back (away from the target). Every degree that the shaft leans toward the target reduces the loft by the same amount.

What is a weaker grip?

A weaker grip (thumb and forefinger "V's" more towards the middle of your body) will encourage a square or slightly open clubface. For more, see The Golf Grip.

How to play a drive in tennis?

Play your drives off the inside front heel. Moving the ball back of center in your stance encourages a low hook or push. Tilt your spine slightly away from the target so that your head is behind the ball.

Why is it important to keep your head behind the ball?

It is imperative that your head stay behind the ball for a powerful impact. Jack Nicklaus always said, "I hit (make contact with the ball) past my chin.". If your chin is behind the ball at impact, your shots will be higher and more powerful. For more, check out our guide to a great golf setup position, which covers posture ...

How Fix Low Golf Shots

Most people who come to our schools do not have a problem with hitting the ball too low but sometimes we do have a person in that category.

Lengthen Your Backswing for More Height on Shot

To cure those things the first thing would be speed, I am not going to get into that now, I am going to talk about the person that lags the ball too much or has too short of a backswing.

Watch Your Knee Action for a Better Swing

For the person who lags the club too much, drives the ball into the ground and takes the loft off of the club they usually have too much knee action, they lean on the golf ball this way and really burn out too low, they never get the ball up in the air and can not hold the greens. To stop that takes some work.

What happens when you get to the top of the backswing?

2. By the time they get to the top of the backswing, their torso and pelvis have “re-centered” back over the ball.

Do fat shots recenter late?

Inevitably, they’ll often re- center too late, which causes inconsistencies and fat shots.

How to hit top shot golf?

One way to hit topped golf shots is to use only your arms as you swing the club back and through. If your legs aren't involved in the swing, you will have trouble transferring your weight onto your left foot, and you will be prone to hitting ground balls as a result.

Why does my golf ball go to the bottom of the arc?

Cause: Poor ball position Play the ball too far forward (left) in your stance and the club will reach the bottom of its arc too soon, nicking the top of the ball on the upswing. This may be exacerbated by the reverse pivot described above.

How to get a golf ball to be airborne?

Once you've set up to the ball, don't hold the club too tightly. A grip pressure of 5 (on a 1-10 scale) or less will keep your arms loose and foster a nice, full backswing. Finally, focus intently on the back of the ball until it has left the clubface – chances are, it'll be airborne.

Why does my golf club bottom out?

Cause: Reverse pivot – Your weight should shift to the right foot on the backswing (for right-handed golfers), then left on the downswing and finish. Far too many players suffer from a “reverse pivot,” when the exact opposite shift occurs. This can cause the club to bottom out well behind the ball and barely graze it on the upswing.

What is the difference between amateur golfers and professional golfers?

One of the big differences between amateur golfers and their professional counterparts is the way that the pros use their entire body in the golf swing. When you watch a professional swing the club, it is obvious that they are using their lower body and upper body together in harmony to hit powerful and accurate shots.

How to get the ball in the air?

Getting the ball into the air requires a combination of good technique, ample preparation, and focused execution. Simply hitting a few shots on the driving range prior to starting your round might not be enough to get the job done. Instead, you might need to set aside time for some dedicated practice sessions where you can fine tune your mechanics and work on repeating your swing over and over. Fortunately, these practice sessions don't have to be lengthy to be effective – even spending a half an hour at the driving range once or twice a month can get you on the right track.

What is poor balance in golf?

Poor balance. Many amateur golfers struggle with poor balance, and one of the side effects of that problem can be topped shots. You need to have your center of gravity in the correct place if you are going to strike the ball cleanly time after time.

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