There are few sounds in golf more humbling than the sickening “thud-skip skid” of a topped shot. Not a majestic soaring iron. Not even a respectable low screamer. No…this one travels about 42 yards while your buddies drive their carts by you, unsympathetically. And yet, topped shots are one of the greatest teachers in golf…if you understand WHY they happen. Most golfers top the ball because they are unknowingly trying to help it into the air. Somewhere along the way, the brain decides: “Ball on ground…must lift ball UP!” Seems logical, right? Unfortunately, golf is not logical. In fact, the harder you try to lift the ball, the more likely you are to swing the club upward too early and hit the top half of the golf ball.
Now here comes the important part. Sorry but this is where physics holds the facts. Here’s your self-administered quiz and you must be CERTAIN of the correct answer. Where do you think, the club is supposed to hit the ground?
- A) Just behind the ball
- B) Under the ball
- C) After the ball
If you answered A or B, don’t worry. You are officially normal, but sadly WRONG! The correct answer is C. On a normal iron shot, the golf club strikes the ball FIRST and THEN the ground! That’s the entire secret: BALL FIRST, TURF SECOND…always has been! The descending clubface compresses the ball against the ground, launching the ball upwards with spin and power. Your job is not to scoop it into the air like you’re flipping pancakes at a diner. Watch great players closely. Their divots don’t start behind the ball. The divot begins in front of where the ball was sitting. That means the club was still traveling downward when it contacted the ball.
Here’s a drill to help you experience your new delivery system and discover your new swing’s LOW POINT. Head to the dollar store and buy sidewalk chalk. Draw a straight line on the ground perpendicular to your target direction. Then place four or five golf balls on low tees on that line…moving away from you. Hit small shots first maybe a 1⁄2 pitching wedge. Having 60% of your weight on your lead leg, allowing the handle of your club to be slightly in front of the clubhead, will help move the bottom of the arc of your club more forward than you’ve ever experienced!
Your mission is simply: MAKE THE CLUB STRIKE THE GROUND AHEAD OF THE LINE. Not on it. Not behind it. Ahead of it! AFTER IMPACT! In the picture, I’ve hit the first ball, and you can see the mark on the target side of the chalk line. After little swings, move through your bag… Yes, even hybrids. Build confidence. Soon, those ugly topped shots will begin to disappear. You’ll be hitting the WHOLE ball for the first time. Who knew…hitting down would make the ball go up!
