Ball Striking

[Bogeyman68]

I have had a pretty good season this year but I have noticed that I really need to improve my ball striking. Driver through wedge could use improvement. I know that everyone would like to have this problem solved but when a round goes south for me it looks as though I am a person who is just learning the game. As everyone else is I am wanting a little distance and I feel with better striking this will come. Any ideas to simplify the swing to improve ball striking?

[The Recreational Golfer]

Get a lesson, or several lessons, from a good teacher, the point of which is to find out the two or three things that you have do to hit the ball straight. Then work on those things and nothing else until they have become your habits. Plan on having a few lessons along the way, too, because you will stray and need to be brought back into line.

Just learning those two or three things will simplify developing a good swing, and when your swing gets off during the round, you will know exactly what to do, because you are likely leaving out or shortcutting one of those very things.

[delav]

There are tons of drills out there to improve ball striking. The most important thing is to look at your current impact position and see what needs to be changed. Things to consider:

- Are you sliding toward the target enough at the left hip at impact?
- Are you leading at impact with the back of your left hand?
- Do you have a majority (>75%) of your weight on your left foot at impact?

Most amateurs confuse ideal timing and flipping for solid impact positions, because you can get a decent shot every now and again. Grab a $20 impact bag, fill it with towels and clothes and work on a few impact drills. Improving your impact position will add distance and accuracy while improving your feel for punch shots, short pitches and overall ballstriking confidence.