Fat? Thin? I'm not talking about your weight!

Are you struggling with hitting your irons fat (hitting the ground first) and thin (ball only and no ground)? Today we are going to dive into intention and low point control and how it impacts your ball contact with your irons.

Intention

Your brain and body need to be connected on what you are trying to accomplish with your golf swing. Some of our students have not been clear on what creates a good strike with their irons. Your irons, wedges and fairway woods all require a descending strike on the ball whereby the ball is struck first and then the ground. This compresses the ball into the head of the club resulting in the optimal ball speed, spin and carry distance for the loft of that club and your swing speed. The club does all of the work and doesn't need your assistance to get into the air. Once that is clear, your body and brain can work together to perform a good strike. See picture below:

Ball then turf in a descending strike

Low Point Control

The club travels in a slanted arc similar to a Hula hoop tilted on its access. See picture below:

Ball position is key to good strike

If your low point control is good, that is your club is hitting the ground in the exact same spot than adjusting your ball position will lead to better strikes. However, if your low point is moving than you probably are having trouble with your hips not moving properly. There are two swing characteristic associated with poor low point control, sway and slide. The sway is when your hips moving back from the target and the slide is when your hips move towards the target. Both results in poor ball strikes.

Your Hips are like Hinges on a Door

What is the engine in your golf swing? It's your hip rotation. The importance of hip rotation in a golf swing cannot be overstated, as it serves as the fundamental mechanism that drives the entire motion. When you initiate your swing, the rotation of your hips acts as the central axis like a hinge on a door with the rest of your body moves around. This rotation creates the necessary torque and power that translate into clubhead speed, ultimately affecting the distance and accuracy of your shot.

Proper hip rotation allows for a more efficient transfer of energy from your lower body to your upper body, ensuring that the arms and club follow through in a smooth, coordinated manner. When the hips rotate correctly, they help to maintain balance and stability throughout the swing, which is crucial for achieving consistent results. Conversely, inadequate hip rotation can lead to inconsistent ball striking resulting in fat and thin strikes as well as a loss of power and control.

There are two reasons why your hips aren't moving properly in your golf swing. The first is mobility. As part of the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) mobility screen, we test your pelvic tilt and pelvic rotation and provide a mobility exercises if required. The second reason is we sometimes see adequate pelvic mobility but the client is unable to move their hips in the proper manner because they literally don't know how. Understanding the movement of the hips and utilizing practice drills that focus on hip movement can significantly improve your ball striking performance. By prioritizing hip rotation, you are essentially harnessing the engine that fuels your golf swing leading to improved results and a more enjoyable experience on the golf course. Book your initial assessment today and let us help you get started on improving your ball striking.

Golf is 4 Life! Lets enjoy it along the way!