Iron Play - Hitting down on the ball

[Scott_K]

TW,
As far as the thoughts, I rely on the mindset that the bottom of the arc is in front of the ball. I stare at the back of the ball as I've never felt comfortable looking at the front of the ball. It just doesn't work for me.

I also have a foward press to iniate my swing which over the years lead me to "good" divots. It also ties into the bottom of the arc idea. By the time I return to impact, the hands are ahead of the ball. My divots are usually deeper and longer with wedges and short irons, while my mid irons are usually just getting into the dirt. My long irons I'm just taking the grassroots out. So there's different levels of divots for me. When I don't execute properly, I run into too much of a pick or sweep and similarly end up a club short. The ball usually flies way to high and I know it as soon as the ball is in the air.

Here's another thought. If you put a club on the ground and step on the face, the shaft will point into the air. The shaft line is kind of like the trajectory the ball will fly on. This isn't an exact science, but I try to explain this to others I teach. It helps envision the shot a little and rely on the clubhead to lift the ball into the air instead of helping it up with the swing. It helps keep the head down through the shot and let the head come up naturally with the follow through. I'm guessing you're past that part though.