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why does my golf club strike the ground well before reaching the ball

by Cameron Nitzsche Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

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".Feb 20, 2015

Full Answer

Why do I hit the ground instead of the golf ball?

Failing to transfer your weight through your swing correctly can cause a disconnect between you and the club, causing you to hit the ground instead of the ball. On your backswing, your weight shifts to the back foot, if you cannot transfer your weight back through the ball to your front foot, then the ground will end up between you and the ball.

Why does my golf club bottom out before the ball?

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 I hit the ball first when hitting it?

Trying to get a little more power often causes your back shoulder to dip, which can cause you to hit the ground first. Practice hitting the ball first by standing on your front foot and hitting golf balls at the range. Standing on one foot causes you to hit down on the ball, which helps you to hit the ball first.

Why do I hit the ground before the ball drop kick?

We call hitting the ground before the ball drop-kicking and it can happen with all clubs, but is pretty common with woods. Hitting the ground before the ball can have many causes. Among them are: 1) Hanging back or fall back with your weight onto your rear side through impact.

How do I stop hitting the ground before the ball?

1:318:00TOP 3 TIPS - STOP HITTING BEHIND THE GOLF BALL - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is your center marker this is where you want to stay centered to so make sure you do a practiceMoreThis is your center marker this is where you want to stay centered to so make sure you do a practice swing keeping the sternum. And the belt buckle. Over the top of that golf club as you rotate.

How do I stop hitting the ground first in golf?

3:1511:10How to consistently hit the golf ball first - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo unless you fix your clubface unless you get that clubface in a better position as it's coming.MoreSo unless you fix your clubface unless you get that clubface in a better position as it's coming. Down your body's not going to allow you to allow you to get into this position on the way through.

Why does my swing bottom out before the ball?

A swing bottom that is too far in in front of the ball causes golfers to hit topped or thin shots. But to fully understand the importance of where the swing bottoms out, you have to consider the concept of angle of attack. You can hit behind the ball in two ways: with too shallow of an angle OR too steep of an angle.

Why do I hit the ground before the ball when chipping?

The most common movement that causes a chunk shot is that the golfer's weight moves too far behind the golf ball and causes the club to bottom out before the ball. We call this movement a lateral shift.

Why am I hitting the ground first with my irons?

Generally speaking, a thin or fat shot is caused by having your swing center too far behind the ball at impact. This error causes your club to bottom out too far behind the ball and will cause you to hit the ground first (a fat shot) or hit the top of the ball (a thin shot).

Why can't I hit a golf ball off the ground?

If the divot does not take out, or break, the front tee, it means you are not getting enough of your weight moving forward. You aren't moving your “fixed-point” forward enough in the downswing. If there is no divot at all, then you know that you need to be swinging down at the ball into the ground more.

Why am I hitting the ground first with my driver?

Hitting the ground first is because your angle of approach (angle at which the club is striking the golf ball) is too shallow. To put it in another understandable way, you are trying to hit the ball with an upwards motion.

Should you stay behind the ball on all golf shots?

8:0010:39GOLF IMPACT - HOW TO STAY BEHIND IT FOR SOLID IRONSYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOn target all right so that's why we want to learn how to stay behind the ball. This one is trickyMoreOn target all right so that's why we want to learn how to stay behind the ball. This one is tricky okay but it is absolutely vital if you see every pro in the world.

Should you look in front of the golf ball?

If you're continually hitting the ground before the ball, focus your eyes on the front edge (target side) of the ball during the swing. It may not seem like much—the diameter of the golf ball is just 1.68 inches—but shifting your sight line forward even this small amount nudges your center of gravity toward the target.

What is the rule of 12 in Chipping?

The Rule of 12 In Golf Chipping. The rule of 12 is a golf chipping technique that explains the exact relationship between the loft on a golf club and the amount of roll you will get on a chip shot. We use 12 yards as the total distance we want the ball to carry on the chip.

Should you hinge your wrists when chipping?

2:019:44IT'S ALL IN THE WRISTS: STOP BLADING and CHUNKING chip shotsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause actually if you do this one-handed. Your wrist naturally. Makes this nice motion. SoMoreBecause actually if you do this one-handed. Your wrist naturally. Makes this nice motion. So remember this is our chipping motion thumbs are still staying pointing to the ground.

Why is chipping in golf so hard?

If you can't chip, it probably comes down to one of four reasons: practice, acceleration, weight and stance. If you never practice your chipping then you will struggle, and trying to chip with the ball dead centre in your stance will also cause problems.

Why am I hitting my driver off the bottom of the club?

If you frequently hit your driver low on the face, even top the ball, you're probably releasing your wrist hinge too soon on the downswing. You're trying to help the ball get up by making a flipping motion with your hands. It's impossible to generate much clubhead speed doing that.

Why do I hit my irons low and left?

Another reason you hit it low is that your club bottoms out too soon. You're probably trying to pick the ball off the turf. The bottom of your swing might be an inch or so behind the ball, but a tour pro's club is still moving downward a few inches past impact.

Why am I hitting so far behind the ball?

During the backswing, the player's weight is on the back foot. Failure to naturally transfer the weight through the ball and onto the left commonly causes the club to drop behind the ball. The body and the club must work together in a proper weight transfer.

Why am I hitting behind the ball with my fairway woods?

A common problem is to whip the club inside on the takeaway and over rotate the hips. When this happens the backswing becomes flat and inside and it's very easy to hit behind the ball. To avoid this, feel as though the hands, arms, and club move away as one piece during the takeaway.

How to get a golf club to hit the ground?

Loosen your grip on the club, so it is relaxed and you are not squeezing. Loosening your grip helps relax your arms and shoulders and provides a smoother swing. Refrain from swinging too hard when you take your shot. Trying to get a little more power often causes your back shoulder to dip, which can cause you to hit the ground first. ...

When hitting a fairway iron, should your clubhead strike the ball first?

When you hit a fairway iron your clubhead should strike the ball first, and then continue downward to take a divot. Try to sweep the ball off the ground without taking a divot when you hit a fairway wood.

Why are tee shots not a problem?

Tee shots are usually not a problem because the ball is elevated, but hitting from the fairway is often a completely different story.

What happens if you take a divot in golf?

If you take a divot -- whether it's in front of the ball or behind -- put the turf you dislodge back onto the bald spot you created in the fairway. Failure to replace your divots is a violation of golf etiquette.

How to improve ball striking?

To improve ball striking and to make a pure contact with the ball before the ground, the angle between the wrists and club shaft needs to be maintained during the down swing to just before impact when the wrists unhinge, the arms straighten and then extend through the ball. There are a few drills players can use to help maintain the angle ...

What happens when you rush through the swing?

When you rush through the swing and don't stick with your normal tempo, your lower body doesn't have time to turn through the shot and the club will likely hit the turf before the ball. Timing is essential in golf, so you can't let yourself feel rushed for any reason.

How to know if you have a swoosh on a golf ball?

This will show you have maintained the wrist angle all the way through the down swing and only straightened the stick and arms after impact. How Not To Strike Turf Before the Golf Ball.

What hand do amateur golfers fire?

Countless amateur golfers fire the right hand too early, and they are left with fat shots as a result. Excellent lower body movement. Another essential piece of the ball striking puzzle is quality movement in your lower body.

Why do fat shots come up short?

This is because there is not a clean transfer of energy between the club and the ball at impact. Some of the force of your swing is lost due to the contact you made with the turf, and the shot will fail to reach the target.

Why are my shots lacking power?

Even if the player does manage to hit the ball cleanly from time to time, those shots are still lacking power because the lower body was not used effectively. Learning how to engage your lower body in the downswing is a skill which can pay off in a big way from a ball striking perspective. Stable head position.

How long should your right hand stay out of the action?

You need to make sure that your right hand stays out of the action for as long as possible if you are going to avoid hitting the turf first. During the downswing, your right hand should play a passive role in the golf swing, with the rotation of your body doing most of the work that is needed to move the club.

What is the low point of a golf ball?

A professional golfer will have a low point which is in front of the ball for almost every shot which is struck with the ball resting on the ground. This is seen below

What happens if you hit the highest line of the swing?

In the above scenario, with the lowest point of the swing behind the ball, any subtle variation in swing arc height can cause massively different (but equally as poor) results. If you are to swing on the highest line, you hit above the equator and the ball dribbles along the ground.

How high is the lowest point of a swing?

The lowest point of the swing is around 4-5 inches in front of the ball, and the strike with the ground is just in front of the ball. However, if we were to raise the height of the swing arc, we would get this; In this picture, the swing arc height has been raised about half a ball height. The low point remains in the same place, and ...

Is a low point the same as a pro?

In the above pic, the swing has been raised a full ball height. Low point is the same as the pro version (transparent), but the result is certainly not. The reverse is true – having the low point as far forwards as a professional golfer does not guarantee ball/turf contact like most people think.

Does hitting a ball earlier in the arc mean you have less loft?

The above is relative to the same swing. Hitting a ball earlier in the arc does not mean you will always create a steeper AOA with less loft, depending upon other variables which are changed.

Can you have the same depth of swing and not contact the ground in a functional place?

It is also possible to have the same depth of swing and not contact the ground in a functional place, depending on the position (more towards/away from target) of the lowest point of the arc. For example, If the swing arc were the same height, we may see a topped shot if the arc shifts too far forwards (as seen below).

Is a golf swing circular?

The swing is Circular. In the downswing, the clubhead makes a semi-planar movement, similar to a big hula hoop (although it is not perfectly planar and not perfectly circular). From a front on view with a 2D camera, it looks something like this;

Why does my head move forward in golf?

Moving your head forward causes your weight to shift incorrectly, changing your position over the ball before the club makes contact, causing it to hit the ground.

How to avoid hitting the ball?

To avoid this, focus on your movement after striking the ball and ensure you are doing the following: Follow your swing and allow the momentum to turn your body towards your target. Keep your front foot planted and pivot your back foot to aid proper rotation.

What does it mean when your back shoulder drops?

Dropping the Back Shoulder. Similarly to a loose leading arm, dipping your back shoulder can give the same issue from the opposite side of your body. Allowing your back shoulder to drop causes you to make a scooping motion towards the ball, rather than hitting right through. The scooping motion causes you to take a divot and lose the shot.

What happens when you hit behind the ball?

Hitting fat, hitting heavy, chunking the ball, grounding the club, whatever you call it, hitting behind the ball can cause huge issues in your game. Hitting behind the ball causes a divot to get between your club and the ball, resulting in an ugly mis-hit which tends only to jump 5 or 10 yards forwards. Hitting behind the ball can happen ...

Why release the club early?

Releasing the Club Early. Also known as ‘casting’, releasing the club too early disrupts your swing plane, causing you to hit across the ball rather than through it . Not only is this an issue by itself, but it also promotes the hip movement we spoke about earlier.

How to keep your lead arm straight?

Your lead arm should be kept straight throughout your swing as if it is bent at the point of impact. Bending the lead arm will shorten your swing and cause you to miss the ball and hit the ground instead. Concentrate on keeping your arm straight, but not tense, at the point of impact.

How to follow through on a golf shot?

Using these tips, your follow-through should become natural and smooth for every shot. Remember; if your follow-through is off balance or inconsistent, your shot will be as well.

Why is it important to get the ball in the air on each swing?

Golf becomes far more interesting when you can reliably get the ball in the air on each swing, because you will be able to start planning shot shapes, picking specific targets, and more. Put in the time now to learn how to get the ball in the air and your future on the golf course will be much more exciting.

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.

How to get fear of the ground ball out of your mind?

Simply by seeing the ball get into the air on a consistent basis, you can take the fear of the ground ball out of your mind prior to your next round. Hitting topped shots on the golf course is never a fun experience. You may have to listen to a few jokes from your playing partners, and your score will suffer as well.

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.

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.

What happens if you don't hit down?

If you don't hit down, you will always run the risk of having the leading edge contact the ball first – leading to a topped shots. The problem is that hitting down through an iron shot requires plenty of confidence when you are actually out on the course.

Why is it important to stay on balance in golf?

Staying on balance will allow you to control the positioning of the bottom of your swing, which will allow you to avoid the dreaded ground ball. Arm-only swing. The whole body needs to be involved in a good golf swing – and when it isn't, bad things can happen.

Why is the lead hand the most powerful way to throw a ball?

Because the lead hand is ahead and it's the most powerful way to throw a ball and to generate speed - watch from 7 mins to see this exact drill. Get one of these as it will help you add speed and power to this motion. Now make some small swings with it, and toss the dog ball thrower into your practice net.

What is the club face?

1) Most people who hit the ground behind the ball, when they approach impact, the club face is an open position. Your body is smart, so what it does instead is it tries to do its best for you as you flick your wrists and try to the face up to the ball at impact. As a by-product, you will likely hit the ground first before the ball, or you will top it or thin it.

Does Danny Maude use a dog ball thrower?

One of his drills involves the use of a dog ball thrower. Yes, a dog ball thrower... ...

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