Hitting down by aiming forward of the ball?

[dr_faustus]

I've never been able to hit down on the ball, and my only divots were before the ball. So I've been picking the ball, with very uneven results.

I read Bobby Clampett's "The Impact Zone," and while he doesn't explain the technique real well, he seems to be advocating not looking at the ball during your swing but a spot 3-4 inches ahead. (I may have misunderstood it though.)

The theory seems to be it that you want your swing to bottom out in front of the ball, so if you aim a few inches ahead on your target line, this will make the bottom of your in front of the ball, so the clubhead is moving down at impact. Also it prevents you from releasing the club too early, so you retain lag late in the swing.

Been playing pretty scrappy later so I tried it this weekend. Really hard to do at first, and I hit a few bad shots. But a few great ones also, and as the first round went on I did better and better. The divot was usually in front of the ball, and the ball tended to fly a lot straighter with the irons. And the feel of the shots was totally different than picking - felt great when I caught one. And distance control was spot on, as the ball tended to fly really high with tons of backspin and check up a few feet behind its pitch mark.

I was hitting driver so bad I started doing it off the tee also, which was really unnerving at first. By Sunday I was hitting it though. Played my best 9 ever - 37 - and hit driver consistently longer and straighter than ever before. And impact just felt great, really felt like I was driving through it, not hitting at it.

The whole idea still seems a little crazy though, but of all the golf tips I ever heard, none have made such an impact on my game.

Anybody else do this? I'd feel a lot better if I wasn't alone.

[TinCupTampa]

I've heard about the book... never read it. Changed my ball position this year in order to swing more down and through it. After 4 months of inconsistant ball striking I went back to the Jack Nicholas style. I will trade the 5yds loss of distance in order to quit duffing the ball.

[JackLee]

I have read about this in other forums, so I can tell you that others have had success with it. You are not alone, so I would say if it continues to work well, then keep on doing it.

I have not tried it. I have no trouble hitting down. I use an old tip that says, "In the downswing, look under the back of your ball." This gives me the correct spine and head tilt away from my target, and focuses my eyes where I want the leading edge of my clubhead to come in just under the back of my ball.

[tm22721]

How does this square with Hogan who states that you should use the lower body to initiate the downswing and not use the hands to manipulate the club ? How do you control a club head moving at 100 MPH ?

[jambalaya]

I used a drill at the range to test this thought. I picked up broken tees on the range and sticking them down into the ground about two to three inches on the target side of the ball. The drill is to try and clip off the top of the tee that is in front of the ball. Sounds good in theory but didn't work for me.

[$2 Nassau]

One drill that works good for me is to take a 7i and set up as you normally would, but the ball you are going to hit is well forward (A little forward of your front foot). Basically what you do is set up and start your swing as you normally would for your normal ball position, but obviously when it comes time to hit the ball you need to rotate your hips, get your weight forward and really extend out to hit the ball.

First few swings you may top the ball. I think that's normal. A good strike will result in a slight pull, maybe even a pull hook. That's okay because at that point in the swing the club is tracking back to the inside.

Hit 3/4 of your bucket in this fashion, then spend a little time hitting balls with your normal ball position, but still keeping that thought of extending well forward towards the target. You will be amazed at how pure, and far you'll hit them.

[jambalaya]

One drill that works good for me is to take a 7i and set up as you normally would, but the ball you are going to hit is well forward (A little forward of your front foot). Basically what you do is set up and start your swing as you normally would for your normal ball position, but obviously when it comes time to hit the ball you need to rotate your hips, get your weight forward and really extend out to hit the ball.

Thanks. I am going to try that one.

[dr_faustus]

I have read about this in other forums, so I can tell you that others have had success with it. You are not alone, so I would say if it continues to work well, then keep on doing it.

Hmm, very interesting. Thanks a lot.

[o9z1]

I have to really concentrate to hit good iron shots. In my head I am telling myself to aim in front of the ball to ensure that I hit down on the ball. It works for me and has really improved my iron striking.

[Lange]

I use an old tip that says, "In the downswing, look under the back of your ball." This gives me the correct spine and head tilt away from my target, and focuses my eyes where I want the leading edge of my clubhead to come in just under the back of my ball.

This sounds like a good way to go, i'm having a horrifying time with my high irons 3 and 4 iron that is. I might give this a try because i'm always duffing the ball alot with them or closing the blade big time. And i know it's because i don't know how to set up my body stance with those long clubs. I also swing way to fast.

[rstyle]

It helped me.
The instructor had me either putting the ball off my front foot and hitting 75-100 yard shots with a 5 iron or clipping a tee in front of the ball.

It helps me to try to make a small divot or at least see the club touch the ground in front of the ball on my practice swings.

[ClairefromClare]

I've been told to aim about a half inch in front of the ball, and that helps some. But what works for me is to make sure I dig my left (your right) shoulder down on the forward swing. When I can do that consistently, I'm great in the fairway.

[jambalaya]

I've been told to aim about a half inch in front of the ball, and that helps some. But what works for me is to make sure I dig my left (your right) shoulder down on the forward swing. When I can do that consistently, I'm great in the fairway.

This is a little off topic, but given what you have said here can you or anyone else explain what this guy is talking about

: http://www.articledashboard.com/Arti...ay-Golf/485042

[jambalaya]

I have read about this in other forums, so I can tell you that others have had success with it. You are not alone, so I would say if it continues to work well, then keep on doing it.

You see, that is what I want to do. This looking at the ground ahead of the ball doesn't work for me. However, can you really see under the back edge of the ball when lined up with a wedge? I would really have to a noticeable spine and head tilt to see under the ball with a wedge in my hand and ball position in the center of my stance.

[JackLee]

You see, that is what I want to do. This looking at the ground ahead of the ball doesn't work for me. However, can you really see under the back edge of the ball when lined up with a wedge? I would really have to a noticeable spine and head tilt to see under the ball with a wedge in my hand and ball position in the center of my stance.

With a center ball position, I think you could still look under the back just a wee bit. I can't say for sure because I never play the ball quite that far back.

[ClairefromClare]

This is a little off topic, but given what you have said here can you or anyone else explain what this guy is talking about

Oh jeez--by the time I got halfway throught that, there were just too many swing thoughts involved. When he says, "down," he doesn't mean down? Then he should say what he means. And draw pictures.

[john tuttle]

Thats funny... I have also just started looking a bit ahead or the ball too! It really helped my consistency.

[longfornothing]

I've never been able to hit down on the ball, and my only divots were before the ball. So I've been picking the ball, with very uneven results.

Ummm.....You just described, to a "T", my experience after reading the book.

Just too add to that a bit. You mentioned iron shots and driver swings, but made no mention of the increase of consistency in the pitching and chipping. My short game has never been better. It works to a certain extent on putting as well. It does take some getting used to. I find that I still forget about "not" looking at the ball. I catch myself on the downswing "remembering" and getting all effed up and hit some really bad shots. But the more I do it, like in the backyard pitching it 30 yds to a bucket in the evenings, the more consistent I get, which has been resulting in one of the best playing stretch I've had. I encouraged people to read it b/c it helped me out a lot.