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hitting down on the ball vs. scooping

Dr. Slice
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Dr. Slice Dedicated Member

Dr. Slice

what makes hitting down on the ball so much better than scooping it. i know that is how you create backspin and stuff but is it worth really learning to hit down on the ball when ive been scooping it my whole life and doing good doing that?

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DaveLeeNC Well Established Member

DaveLeeNC

what makes hitting down on the ball so much better than scooping it. i know that is how you create backspin and stuff but is it worth really learning to hit down on the ball when ive been scooping it my whole life and doing good doing that?

I'm not sure exactly what "scooping" is in your swing. But what is critical is to create (with shots not hit off a tee) ...

1) an angle of attack that is level or downward 2) a shaft angle at impact that is verticle or (better) forward leaning Anything else (for shots not hit off a tee) leaves you absolutely no margin for error. Downward is far less important than "not upward". dave

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wedge player Great Member

wedge player

what makes hitting down on the ball so much better than scooping it. i know that is how you create backspin and stuff but is it worth really learning to hit down on the ball when ive been scooping it my whole life and doing good doing that?

i cant remember his name but a champions player does that i think jim thorpe.i saw him talking about it on tv one night

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Dr. Slice Dedicated Member

Dr. Slice

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by scooping the ball i mean i dont really take a divot when i hit my irons. i always hear people say that you should be hitting the ball first before you hit the ground, im pretty sure i dont do that

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WEDGEPing 60 & Mizuno MP R Series 56 PUTTERSeemore FGPLOWEST 9:36LOWEST18:74

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DaveLeeNC Well Established Member

DaveLeeNC

by scooping the ball i mean i dont really take a divot when i hit my irons. i always hear people say that you should be hitting the ball first before you hit the ground, im pretty sure i dont do that

if the bottom of your swing is at or ahead of the ball and your shaft is verticle (or better) forward at impact, it isn't a big deal (IMHO).

dave ps. Despite what you might think it is possible to hit down on the ball with a shaft that 'leans backward' at impact. That is not a good solution - take it from experience

In The Bag:
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- Wishon 525 F/D 3W
- Wishon 515 949MC 5W
- Wishon 60* Cx Micro LW- Wishon 550M SW (55*)- Wishon 550M GW bent to 50* - Wishon 550C 6i - 9i (9i bent to 45*)- Wishon 321Li 3i/4i/5i hybrids- Odyssey Two Ball Putter

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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what makes hitting down on the ball so much better than scooping it. i know that is how you create backspin and stuff but is it worth really learning to hit down on the ball when ive been scooping it my whole life and doing good doing that?

The shaft will lean further forward the lower your handicap. I'm not trying to be rude about it, but your handicap's listed as 12. You have plenty of room to improve.

Hitting down on the ball helps to ensure better contact, better distance, better spin, more control, and so on. Tom Watson was a "picker" of the golf ball, but he wasn't a "scooper" at all.

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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HSip Well Established Member

HSip

by scooping the ball i mean i dont really take a divot when i hit my irons. i always hear people say that you should be hitting the ball first before you hit the ground, im pretty sure i dont do that

The shaft will lean further forward the lower your handicap. I'm not trying to be rude about it, but your handicap's listed as 12. You have plenty of room to improve.

I think we might have a difference in perception. Dr Slice says "i dont really take a divot when i hit my irons" (I assume if you're a 12 HCP you're not topping the crap out of it?!?) and iacas points out "Tom Watson was a "picker" of the golf ball" so it looks like Dr Slice is a "picker" of the ball also. I know the course I play most has fairways that will get really hard so I tend to pick the ball a bit and when I get to play a course with a little softer fairways I will take a small divot w/ irons.

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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so it looks like Dr Slice is a "picker" of the ball also.

There's a difference, though, between "picking" the ball and "scooping" the ball. If he's truly doing the latter - and without video we can't really say - then he has a lot of room to improve.

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

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Dr. Slice Dedicated Member

Dr. Slice

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what are some ways that can help me hit down on the ball?

i guess im not really even sure what that means exactly i know its where you hit the ball before you take your divot but thats pretty much all i know.

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timtim Established Member

timtim

I disagree with the "point" of hitting down on the ball being "to create more backspin", as discussed in the below video. I would recommend it to improve consistent ball direction and distance. I fully believe that if you went to any good golf coach, and told them your goal this year was hitting more greens in regulation from the fairway, and you took several lessons from them, and you got better, even if those teachers never used the phrase "hitting down on the ball", I fully believe that what they would teach you would have you "hitting down on the ball" after that period of lessons.

Please note in the below video that the hips of this young man do not move away from the target on his back swing. Please note that when he starts his back swing his hips are turning and pulling the club along. Please note that when he hits the ball his left shoulder is the center of the radius of the clubhead movement, and that his left shoulder is in front of the ball at the moment of contact, therefore the radius of the clubhead movement continues the clubhead down to the bottom of the swing arc several inches in front of the ball. So those are the things you need to do to hit "down" on the ball.

907D2 driver and 906D4 3 wood
Idea Pro Gold 3 4 5 hybrids
Apex Plus 6 7 8 9 E irons
900 52 gap 56 sand 60 lob wedges
Rossa Suzuka Putter

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timtim Established Member

timtim

Another video, I am sorry that this is basically a sales video, but it has some excellent high speed video:

907D2 driver and 906D4 3 wood
Idea Pro Gold 3 4 5 hybrids
Apex Plus 6 7 8 9 E irons
900 52 gap 56 sand 60 lob wedges
Rossa Suzuka Putter

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timtim Established Member

timtim

And then some more tips:

907D2 driver and 906D4 3 wood
Idea Pro Gold 3 4 5 hybrids
Apex Plus 6 7 8 9 E irons
900 52 gap 56 sand 60 lob wedges
Rossa Suzuka Putter

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timtim Established Member

timtim

And Tom Watson picking the ball.

907D2 driver and 906D4 3 wood
Idea Pro Gold 3 4 5 hybrids
Apex Plus 6 7 8 9 E irons
900 52 gap 56 sand 60 lob wedges
Rossa Suzuka Putter

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timtim Established Member

timtim

Now. Young Tom Watson. Hitting down on the ball.

907D2 driver and 906D4 3 wood
Idea Pro Gold 3 4 5 hybrids
Apex Plus 6 7 8 9 E irons
900 52 gap 56 sand 60 lob wedges
Rossa Suzuka Putter

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timtim Established Member

timtim

Ben Hogan. Short iron. Down on the ball.

907D2 driver and 906D4 3 wood
Idea Pro Gold 3 4 5 hybrids
Apex Plus 6 7 8 9 E irons
900 52 gap 56 sand 60 lob wedges
Rossa Suzuka Putter

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timtim Established Member

timtim

Ben Hogan. 4 wood. Down on the ball.

907D2 driver and 906D4 3 wood
Idea Pro Gold 3 4 5 hybrids
Apex Plus 6 7 8 9 E irons
900 52 gap 56 sand 60 lob wedges
Rossa Suzuka Putter

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timtim Established Member

timtim

Jack Nicklaus. 2 Iron. ON A TEE! Still hitting down on the ball enough to hit the ground after hitting a teed up ball. Watch the slo mo later in the video to see the tee flip up in the air and the grass get ripped up.

907D2 driver and 906D4 3 wood
Idea Pro Gold 3 4 5 hybrids
Apex Plus 6 7 8 9 E irons
900 52 gap 56 sand 60 lob wedges
Rossa Suzuka Putter

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timtim Established Member

timtim

Woody Austin hitting down on the ball instead of down on his head.

907D2 driver and 906D4 3 wood
Idea Pro Gold 3 4 5 hybrids
Apex Plus 6 7 8 9 E irons
900 52 gap 56 sand 60 lob wedges
Rossa Suzuka Putter

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