Making Contact

[Reid Jones]

I've been playing a lot of golf lately. And one of my worst habits, it's not making solid contact on the ball every time. Whether it's topping the ball, chunking it, or not making contact with the center of the club...Every round, i probably hit 6-8 mis-hits. It's frustrating. I know to keep my head down, and watch the ball. I focus on a letter on the ball, like a nike sign. Any tips or drills i can do to improve consistency in contact with the ball? BTW..it's with the driver, woods, and irons.

[Smw]

My best advice would be to ensure a consistant setup and maintain your posture while swinging.

[Marinemike]

Grip, stance, and posture are so important. If you do those the exact same every time, it'll be a lot easier to diagnose your problems. That diagnosis will be done by a pro instructor, not a website!

[deafheaven]

I know this frustration well. I've drastically cut down my iron mishits by concentrating on making a divot after the ball. Same for the hybrids. For all my clubs I take practice swings before addressing the ball and won't address the ball until I"ve had a practice swing that properly simulates what I want my actual swing to be. Usually takes 2 or 3 swings.

[SubPar]

  deafheaven said:

I know this frustration well. I've drastically cut down my iron mishits by concentrating on making a divot after the ball. Same for the hybrids. For all my clubs I take practice swings before addressing the ball and won't address the ball until I"ve had a practice swing that properly simulates what I want my actual swing to be. Usually takes 2 or 3 swings.

Right. You have to get comfortable with hitting the ball first and going down into the ground in front of it. Hitting 40-50 yard shots with a SW is a good way to groove this feeling.

J. Miller said the other day that where the hands/grip are at impact will determine where the divot is. If the handle is not in front of the ball when you hit it, you can't hit down on the ball to impart spin and also maximize club head speed. SubPar

[BeeZero]

I too suffer slightly with the occasional heavy shot. What I found works for me is this. Kind of like a boxer's goal is to punch through their target (ie Back of the head not front of face). I use the front of the ball as my impact target and think about making contact there. Has improved my contact consierably on all shots.

[lumpuckeroo]

  Reid Jones said:

I've been playing a lot of golf lately. And one of my worst habits, it's not making solid contact on the ball every time. Whether it's topping the ball, chunking it, or not making contact with the center of the club...Every round, i probably hit 6-8 mis-hits. It's frustrating. I know to keep my head down, and watch the ball. I focus on a letter on the ball, like a nike sign. Any tips or drills i can do to improve consistency in contact with the ball? BTW..it's with the driver, woods, and irons.

What helps me make solid contact is not move my head until my right should pushes my chin to the left.

[Incognito]

Hit down on the ball. If you are hitting down on the ball, but catch it thin or fat, you're gonna lose distance, but u'll at least get it airborne. Skullers are usually a result of sweeping/hitting up on a ball and catching it thin.

[imtomtomim]

grip, setup, stance. But I'd say, most importantly is grip. My biggest problem was that I'd let momentum carry my swing and the club would come looser in my hands because I was comfortable with the momentum. That little bit of laxity takes away that precise control that you naturally have over the club. Keep those hands connected to the club at all times.