Question:

I struggle with hitting “behind the ball.” What are some suggestions or tips?

Thanks

Claude

Answer:

Hitting behind the ball is usually the result of 3 possible issues:

1. You are swinging too much “up” at impact!

In golf we are looking for a slightly descending hit where you strike ball and then turf. Many golfers feel that in order to get the ball airborne, they must get “underneath” the ball in order to lift it upwards. This type of action puts the bottom of the swing behind the ball creating an early strike or “fat” shot.

To remedy, make some rehearsal swings where you set up “next to” the ball and then strike the turf forward or on the target side of where the ball is sitting. After a few successful swipes, step in and swing with confidence.

2. Your down swing is too “steep!”

A down swing that is too “steep,” is a down swing that is traveling too much down into the ground. A common way that a golfer counteracts this excessively downward hit is to try to shallow the hit by throwing their weight to the back foot as the club moves into impact. This throwing of the weight backwards again makes the club head strike the turf early behind the ball.

Imagine if an airplane was flying straight down into the ground. This would be considered too “steep” of a descent. In order to avoid crashing, the pilot would try to pull back on the yoke to “shallow” that descent and have a smooth landing. This is essentially the same thing that is happening in your golf swing when the club is swinging too steep. Your body must find a way to shallow the hit or create a smooth landing.

To remedy, make some “baseball swings,” as if you were hitting a pitch waist high. This will flatten your swing shape. Gradually bend over from the hips until the club head again strikes the turf and you will have a swing that is both “on plane,” and striking the turf on the target side of the ball.

3. Your swing lacks rotation!

Your downswing sequence should be “Squeeze, Turn, Hit!” Squeeze, meaning adding pressure to the front foot. Turn, being a rotation to the left. And then “Hit,” being the strike itself. Turning in the down swing is a key component to bringing the club head forward and striking the turf ahead of the ball. If your down swing lacks leftward rotation, you may very well again strike the turf early.

To remedy, feel your left hip and chest rotating more to the left as if you were trying to hit a baseball into the left field bleachers. A full and proper finish will have both the lower and upper halves of your body face well left of your target!

I hope this helps!

Jeff