Why do I hit my Irons so high and short?

[Tyler2234]

I have an idea why I'm hitting so short with not only my irons but also my driver. First I seem to get under the ball so much, that it pops the ball up, and puts a good amount of back spin on the ball. I can hit a 4-5 iron and hit it as high as someone would hit a 7. My hybrid and driver are the same. I have tried to tee the ball lower causing me to swing down on it, which causes more problems. I hit the ball straight with my irons but I have developed a slice with my driver unless I hit with a gentle fluid swing in which case the ball goes nowhere. Any Idea why I'm popping everything up? Right now I'm playing bogie golf because I can't get any distance in my mid game so any help would be appreciated. btw I use R-7 irons and a Titleist 910 D2 12 degree driver.

[uscfan]

NEED A PIC BUT JUST OFF OF WHAT YOU SAID YOUR FLIPPING THE CLUB AT IMPACT

[Paradox]

i would also guess that you're flipping.

What do your divots look like?

[JetFan1983]

Flipping, which a lot of the time, adds loft. Golfers who do this turn their 5 iron into like an 8 iron when they actually make decent contact with the ball.

[jamo]

Flipping for 200, Alex.

[hanalei]

+1 on this.... Ive played for years and have developed this issue. My buddies tell me all my practice swings are perfect then when I hit the ball I'm flipping. Think I'm pausing my hands at impact...Guess its my version of the yips I need to conquer...

[Pablo68]

Are your misses either fat or thin shots? If so, you probably are flipping but is that a symptom of something else? Perhaps you're not getting a good weight shift?

I fight this too and it's a terribly hard habit to break. I'm to the point where I'm going to go get a couple lessons myself.

[Lihu]

Are your misses either fat or thin shots? If so, you probably are flipping but is that a symptom of something else? Perhaps you're not getting a good weight shift? I fight this too and it's a terribly hard habit to break. I'm to the point where I'm going to go get a couple lessons myself.

How do you feel the flipping? Can you sense that you are flipping? Does weight shift prevent flipping? If so, what is the feeling that you get when the flipping is being "offset" by the weight shift?

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by Lihu

How do you feel the flipping? Can you sense that you are flipping? Does weight shift prevent flipping? If so, what is the feeling that you get when the flipping is being "offset" by the weight shift?

Sometimes you can feel it, sometimes you can't. When I miss, it's usually a fat shot or hitting it a line or two thin. The shots usually go straight but short in most cases. When I'm striking the ball well I feel like my right wrist is firm through impact. I don't trap the ball well but keeping that wrist firm helps me from breaking down totally at the bottom.

I've struggled for years getting a good weight shift and it's something I occassionally have to work on. I wouldn't say it totally prevents flipping because there might be other things that cause 'flipping' like loosing your grip and then regripping near impact.

I hit the ball well with my 7-PW and get good distances but then I start seeing a bit of a dropoff as the clubs get longer. With the driver and woods, I get pretty good distances because I can sweep the ball off the tee/turf.

[Pablo68]

Here's a pretty decent video that helps explain it a bit........

[RonTheSavage]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

Here's a pretty decent video that helps explain it a bit........

Thats a good video. Thanks for posting.

[lisevolution]

I'm working on fixing this issue right now with my coach and even when I'm paying attention to not flipping my wrists early I do it... the drill he has me doing is basically a more dramatic  version of the L to L drill which he calls L A X meaning that at the top of your back swing your wrists make the club and arms form an L then you're carrying that same lag as long as possible to the point that the club creates an A with your legs and then your wrists rolling over in the follow through create an X.  Of course with this drill you're exaggerating all of the movement but it definitely helps to teach your muscles when to release and for me specifically to help with a complete follow through instead of cutting it off short and not rolling the wrists over...

[Sacman]

I hit my driver 280 to 290 and yet have a tendency to flip my hands instead of releasing. To fix it I try to swing like steve stricker (he doesn't hinge his wrists) and make sure that my finish is like rory mclroys (have the club finish at the knap of your neck). If you aren't swinging properly your arms won't let you finish in this position. Try swinging with your right hand open through impact. Its really tough to finish like mclroy if you swing like this.

[Tyler2234]

What is flipping? And when you say don't hinge your wrist you mean don't bend them? I feel like I'm using my arms to much almost like I'm swinging a bat. My wrist are also very active I've noticed. I played with this tall wiry kid the other day and while he lacked him his mid game he crushed his driver, he also went back really far with his swing. I don't go back very far because I feel like I loose control of the head of the club. I'm about to pay for a couple lessons. Also I'm looking at the Titleist ap1 irons or the RBZ irons, any other suggestions and are these good for intermediate players? Some of the game improvement irons like the RBZ are more weighted underneath the head to allow more lift apparently so I'm not sure thats a good thing for me.

[Tyler2234]

Ok didn't see that video until after I replied. So yea I'm pretty sure I'm flipping now with that explanation. So does most of the power come from my back and lower body?

[Lihu]

Sometimes you can feel it, sometimes you can't. When I miss, it's usually a fat shot or hitting it a line or two thin. The shots usually go straight but short in most cases. When I'm striking the ball well I feel like my right wrist is firm through impact. I don't trap the ball well but keeping that wrist firm helps me from breaking down totally at the bottom. I've struggled for years getting a good weight shift and it's something I occassionally have to work on. I wouldn't say it totally prevents flipping because there might be other things that cause 'flipping' like loosing your grip and then regripping near impact. I hit the ball well with my 7-PW and get good distances but then I start seeing a bit of a dropoff as the clubs get longer. With the driver and woods, I get pretty good distances because I can sweep the ball off the tee/turf.

Got it. Right wrist feels firm through impact. Thanks for the tip. I tried it this evening, and it does feel more solid.

[Paulinfl]

I like Mike Bender's approach, which I think is derived from Homer's golfing machine not sure though.   Imagine a straight line from top-of-swing hand position to the ball (or a little in front of it).  On your downswing, make your hands follow this path, fast, into follow through.  Of course they don't actually travel in a straight line, but it promotes holding lag, and bringing hands (or club handle) in front of the ball for impact, which of course eliminates flipping.

I highly reccommend his book, and swing.  I've read them all, and in my opinion this is one of the best explanations of a great swing that's easy to learn, and more importantly, repeat.

http://www.mikebender.com/Book-Build-the-Swing-of-a-Lifetime.html

And no, I'm not affiliated, just flabbergasted at how his methods described in the book changed my swing for the better, literally overnight.  I never flip now, and I gained 15 yards easy on every club.   I just turned my buddy on to it a week ago, and he's already seeing huge improvements with his swing and consistency.

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by Tyler2234

Ok didn't see that video until after I replied. So yea I'm pretty sure I'm flipping now with that explanation. So does most of the power come from my back and lower body?

Your swing should feel 'connected'. If you only use your arms, you're not going to reach your potential power in your swing.

It's like a catepult. Your arms are the sling and your body is the base or tree. If the base or tree isn't involved, the sling won't shoot the projectile far. Your upper body coils against the lower body. When it unwinds properly (timing), your arms reach maximum speed at impact or just past impact which is the lowest point of your swing.

When you 'flip' you're reaching your maximum speed too soon and the bottom of your swing occurs early. If your timing is right, you just sweep the ball off the turf and hit pretty decent shots but not the best you can. When your timing is off, you hit it fat or thin.

Originally Posted by Lihu

Got it. Right wrist feels firm through impact.

Thanks for the tip. I tried it this evening, and it does feel more solid.

When you master that feeling combined with your hands leading the clubface through impact, you'll be amazed at your shot making. It's just being able to hit down and through the ball that's difficult to get for us flippers. Some guys seem to master it naturally and can't understand why we flippers can't just do it. It's a very hard habit to break.