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Hitting at, rather than through, the ball...

deekay

By deekay
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deekay Well Established Member

deekay

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Hello all,

I have been playing for 6 years now, having started in my late forties. I still have a serious issue in my game and was hoping for some insights...

I still hit at the ball, rather than through it. I can make great practice swings, just brushing the turf ahead of where my ball would be. I check this regularly with tees to ensure I am not fooling myself. Yet as soon as I put a ball down things go wrong. Out of 30 balls on the range, at least 3 or 4 are massive chunks.

I know a practice swing is often not as great a swing as it feels, but in my case there doesn't seem to be any problem with the low point.

As we are looking at the ball when we swing, is it that all players actually hit at the ball, and the difference between a talented player and a hacker is in the ability to continue into a good follow-through?

Has anyone else had, and overcome, this problem?


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boogielicious Incredible Member

boogielicious

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The chunks are because you are not getting your weight forward at impact.  That should be a focal point for your practice at the range.  Check out Key #2 drill in the video below.

As for focus, some of us look at the ball and some in front of the ball as in Bobby Clampett's, The Impact Zone .  But the real issue is we need to make getting our weight forward and automatic movement.  Even the best players in the world occasionally chunk a shot.

Scott

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deekay Well Established Member

deekay

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Oh I don’t doubt that fat shots are primarily the result of not getting one’s weight forward. My question is more  “How come I hardly ever chunk a practice swing?”

A related question may be “How come I can make a slow, relaxed practice swing, but any attempt to “swing easy” with a ball is nearly always a disaster?

I feel that if I don’t overcome this “hitting instinct” I will never really improve my golf.


Hammer 4 Great Member

Hammer 4

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In a practice swing, there isn't any pressure... ;-)

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isukgolf Great Member

isukgolf

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For me it was a steady head with weight forward ... key #1 and Key #2 ... I practice them slowly with small swings prior to taking it to the course for a full swing ... I chunk when I do not follow those keys ... "looking up" to see if I got over something, or to the target is much more a problem than on the range ... for me anyway

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Lihu Incredible Member

Lihu

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[if gte mso 9]>

Hello all,

 

I have been playing for 6 years now, having started in my late forties. I still have a serious issue in my game and was hoping for some insights...

 

I still hit at the ball, rather than through it. I can make great practice swings, just brushing the turf ahead of where my ball would be. I check this regularly with tees to ensure I am not fooling myself. Yet as soon as I put a ball down things go wrong. Out of 30 balls on the range, at least 3 or 4 are massive chunks.

 

I know a practice swing is often not as great a swing as it feels, but in my case there doesn't seem to be any problem with the low point.

 

As we are looking at the ball when we swing, is it that all players actually hit at the ball, and the difference between a talented player and a hacker is in the ability to continue into a good follow-through?

 

Has anyone else had, and overcome, this problem?

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This should not even be considered. Many people start golf later in life.

If I chunk, it's usually because I fail to get key 2 correct (weight shift forward). Everyone except the golf prodigy has this issue. This is one of my serious issues right now.

Look up 5SK key 2 on this site. The search should yield some threads/drills to help you understand the problem.

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dchoye Great Member

dchoye

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I like Rory's follow through It seems like he releases the heck out of the club to finish wrap around his neck. And he holds his finish around his neck longer than anyone else Reminds me of Freddie C

vangator Great Member

vangator

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If I chunk a shot or hit it heavy, it is because I tense up my hands and arms prior to the hit. Focus on relaxing your arms and hands and you won't be chunking. On your practice swings you are not mentally preparing to make impact with the ball. When a ball is in front of you, you are "bracing" for the impact and hense tightening up. Practice using a tee. When the ball is on the turf, you'll probably be trying to pinch it, which causes tenseness. You'll be surprised how much club head speed you can generate with relaxed muscles. More than tense muscles. Playing stoned reduces tenseness in your muscles too. :-D
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Lihu Incredible Member

Lihu

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If I chunk a shot or hit it heavy, it is because I tense up my hands and arms prior to the hit. Focus on relaxing your arms and hands and you won't be chunking.

On your practice swings you are not mentally preparing to make impact with the ball. When a ball is in front of you, you are "bracing" for the impact and hense tightening up. Practice using a tee. When the ball is on the turf, you'll probably be trying to pinch it, which causes tenseness.

You'll be surprised how much club head speed you can generate with relaxed muscles. More than tense muscles.

Playing stoned reduces tenseness in your muscles too.

I agree with everything else you stated, but I think driving stoned can lead to potentially dangerous situations. B-)

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deekay Well Established Member

deekay

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Thanks for the comments,

Last evening I made some practice swings in the garden, and it struck me that perhaps I am looking at this from the wrong perspective: I should focus more on why the practice swing feels so relaxed, rather than on why the actual swing at a ball feels so awkward.

I then made a couple of nice practice swings and realized that I am letting the club find the ground naturally, without any attempt to steer it. In my actual swing the tension created by trying to steer the club into the ball could be what inhibits my weight shift, hence the fat shots.

This means that in my real swing the ball position is crucial. It must be on that natural path, particularly as far as my distance from the ball is concerned. Then the ball just waits for the club to arrive, rather than me steering the club to the ball.

There are a number of clips on Youtube about distance from the ball, but they all seem to depend on the instructor’s own posture and setup. I must find a way of using my practice swing to establish distance from the ball for the particular club I will be using.

How do you establish distance from the ball? Do you set your club first, and then build your posture around the position of the handle, or do you first settle into your posture and then lower the club to the ball, shuffling further away or closer?


vangator Great Member

vangator

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I have single length clubs which makes ball position real easy. It's the same every time. I go behind the ball and pick a spot a few inches in front of my ball on the same line as my target. When I get over the ball, I make sure my left arm is straight at address. Keeping your head still and your spine centered on your takeaway is vital. You'll find your divots are much shallower when you start hitting thru the ball rather than trying to beat it into the ground.

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kr99 Newbie

kr99

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Sir the best solution that I have found was from Hogan's book.  Waggle the club a bit before every shot, I know it sounds elementary but it will help loosen you up and prepare your body for what's next.  I also find it much easier to stay in rhythm when I make a flinch move forward to start my back swing.

Hope this helps!


deekay Well Established Member

deekay

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Hi all,

I was hoping for some tips for establishing the correct distance from the ball to stand. Do you step into the ball while holding the club in one hand? Or do you ground it behind the ball with both hands on the club?

How do you establish your distance from the ball?


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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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Hi all,

I was hoping for some tips for establishing the correct distance from the ball to stand. Do you step into the ball while holding the club in one hand? Or do you ground it behind the ball with both hands on the club?

How do you establish your distance from the ball?


Isn't this a different thread? Seems like a new topic to me.

Hitchhiker thumb from zipper to butt of club, roughly.

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deekay Well Established Member

deekay

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Just some feedback for anyone else struggling with hitting at (rather than through) the ball....

It was definitely a distance-from-the-ball issue. When I checked where my practice swing brushes the grass, it is clearly further from me than the ball would be in an actual swing.

Spent an hour at the range on Saturday, and played 9 holes yesterday, paying particular attention to having the ball a little further away at address. Immediately my swing felt much more fluid. I was able to swing through the ball, with much better weight shift. And no more chunks!

The key was having the ball on my natural swing path, rather than having to chop down at the ball.


wadesworld Dedicated Member

wadesworld

Posted
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[if gte mso 9]>

Just some feedback for anyone else struggling with hitting at (rather than through) the ball....

 

It was definitely a distance-from-the-ball issue. When I checked where my practice swing brushes the grass, it is clearly further from me than the ball would be in an actual swing.

 

Spent an hour at the range on Saturday, and played 9 holes yesterday, paying particular attention to having the ball a little further away at address. Immediately my swing felt much more fluid. I was able to swing through the ball, with much better weight shift. And no more chunks!

 

The key was having the ball on my natural swing path, rather than having to chop down at the ball.

 

 

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That definitely helps.  But the core issue is - what is your target?

I'd bet a lot of money you're making the ball your target.  The ball is not your target.


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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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I'd bet a lot of money you're making the ball your target.  The ball is not your target.

Sure it is. It's what you're trying to hit.

The simple point I'm trying to make is that this "swing through the ball" stuff will work for some people, and the feeling of hitting the ball will work for others. And for what I imagine is the majority of better players, neither of these things occur to them during the swing. I don't think of either, I know most of the low single-digits to scratch or + players I've talked to don't either.

I think it probably helps with tempo or mechanics slightly, but once those are okay… you don't have to think of these types of things.

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • Author, Lowest Score Wins
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wadesworld Dedicated Member

wadesworld

Posted
Posted

Well, I certainly agree that different thoughts work differently for different people.

However, I would argue that the vast majority of beginning players with a poor swing develop that over-the-top with not-much-turn swing because they're trying to hit the ball.  The "natural athlete" on the other hand recognizes the goal is to deliver the energy to a target and the ball is simply an obstacle in the way of the swing.  Therefore, they develop the good turn, head behind the ball, full-extension release-to-target swing much more quickly than the poor schlub that's directing his focus down to the ball.

I'm convinced of this because I did the wrong version for 40 years.


Note: This thread is 4055 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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