Ground Before Ball

[Andrew24]

Hi, I just started playing golf in June, and I took my 2nd lesson today off a mat, and I practiced on grass afterwards and seemed to be taking a divot before even hitting the ball. I only hit about 25% of the shots well. Btw, this problem was only with my irons. I was hitting my hybrid, wood and driver great. What would cause me to hit the ground before the ball? Thanks in advance.

Also, let me know what other information you need.

[GJBenn85]

Several things can cause you to hit the ground before the ball with irons including your right shoulder dipping down on the downswing, standing too close to the ball, and playing the ball too far forward in your stance.  Since you are hitting your driver, wood, and hybrid well, it tells me you are likely playing the ball too far forward in your stance assuming your swing plane is not an issue as well.

[Andrew24]

Alright thanks I was going to ask if I should play it further back in my stance. I appreciate the feedback :)

[GaijinGolfer]

Id agree it sounds like the ball is too far back in your stance.  With irons you want to play the ball in the middle of your stance to promote hitting down on the ball.  With short and mid irons you always want to hit down on the ball.

[inthecup]

In most cases with a new player fat shots are caused by poor or non-existent weight transfer.  If you just started playing get some lessons before you ingrain bad habits.

[sacm3bill]

No one has mentioned flipping yet as a possible cause, so I will.  In fact I would venture to say that flipping might be the most likely cause of fat (and/or thin) shots.

[inthecup]

Originally Posted by sacm3bill

No one has mentioned flipping yet as a possible cause, so I will.  In fact I would venture to say that flipping might be the most likely cause of fat (and/or thin) shots.

+1 flipping and weight transfer are the most common.

[inthehole]

I hit way too many fat shots too - biggest help for me is to concentrate on not dropping the right shoulder.     If I concentrate on that & keeping my head centered & weight shift forward ... I try to reinforce those three things with every iron shot - alot to concentrate on at once, but it's improving (slowly) through repitition.   Nothing good about fat shots - my clubs sometimes look like gardening tools after a round