If you’re near a pro who’s hitting an iron shot off the fairway, one thing you might notice is the sound it makes. A compressed ball off the centre of an iron’s face creates this distinctive noise as it cuts through the air, like a burst of steam releasing from a pressure cooker. If you want your shots to sound like that, you’ve got to hit down on the ball. That’s key.
Here are four steps – including a drill – to make it happen.
– with Ron Kaspriske
‘You’ve got to hit
down on the ball.’
1. Set It
Being in good position to compress the ball starts with improving your setup. You can help yourself hit down on the ball by favouring your left leg a little more than normal at address. Also, let the shaft lean slightly forward so the butt end is closer to your target than the clubhead.
2. Cover It
When you swing, feel like your chest stays on top of the ball instead of being more upright. This will steepen your angle of attack, making for better contact. When I simulate impact and hang a club down from my sternum, it should be pointing just in front of the ball.
3. Lean It
That forward shaft lean you had at address should be even more pronounced as you contact the ball. It’s often described as letting the hands lead. In other words, the clubhead should trail the grip end of the club until just after the ball is struck.
4. Drill It
Here’s a great practice drill that can be modified into a swing image when you play. Place a tee on the ground a few inches behind the ball’s position. When you hit shots, strike the ball but not the tee. Do that, and you’ll hear that magic sound the pros create.
– David Leadbetter operates 34 golf academies worldwide.
