Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.
Hitting iron shots that fly high in the air and land softly on the green is something all golfers strive for. When you watch a pro mark an iron to set up an easy birdie, it’s impossible not to dream of you doing the same.
However, this requires proper technique, which most recreational golfers sorely lack. Instead of hitting the ball and forcing it into the turf, they scoop through the impact and lose tons of spin and distance. So instead of watching the ball shoot into the air, they produce a low, weak ball flight instead.
This is usually due to the front axle not leaning sufficiently in the event of a collision. If you want the pros to hit iron shots, you’ll notice that their hands are in front of the ball and the club is essentially de-lofted. And while it may seem counterintuitive, this blast will send the ball flying high into the air, as long as you do it correctly.
Recreational players often struggle with this concept and with executing a swing that causes a forward slope of the shaft. However, with a little adjustment to your setup, it can be easier to lean more forward than you might think.
GOLF Top 100 teacher Jeff Smith explains how in the video below.
A trick to make the forward axle lean
Many recreational golfers have the misconception that they need to return the club to the correct position to hit solid shots, but in reality that is not the case. What you really want to do is lean the shaft a little more forward, with the handle in front of the club, so you can hit the ball and press it into the turf.
So, to help yourself out a bit in that regard, try approaching the ball with your hands already pressed slightly forward.
“If we understand how our club is built, we can start that way,” Smith said. “And then we can deliver [the club] by rotating through the shot and driving the hands forward. Then we suddenly have more compression, a better ball flight and better spin control.”
If you are someone who has trouble getting the forward shaft lean and proper compression of the ball, try this trick. If you do, you’ll soon be hitting the irons sharper and setting yourself up for more birdie looks.
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