The practice range is a great place to observe golfers trying to get that little golf ball into the air — and, hopefully, get it flying straight. One of the most common misses is a ball that is topped or simply doesn’t get into the air as much as it should.
Here are five ways to improve your contact and launch the ball higher and more solidly.
1. Understand how the ball gets into the air
How a golf ball gets into the air isn’t intuitive, in my opinion.
Ask yourself this question before you read the rest: How does the golf ball actually get into the air? Really think about it. You don’t get underneath the ball. You don’t scoop it or lift it. And while you might say you “hit down” on the ball, if the low point of the swing only gets to the ball and not the ground, the ball still won’t launch properly.
This is why understanding the answer is so important.
You need to get the club all the way down to the ground to get the ball into the air. The club should hit the ground and make a bit of a mess. Women in particular may not like this! More specifically, when the ball is sitting on the ground, the club should contact the ball on the way down and then hit the ground on the target side of the golf ball.
The proper divot happens after the ball.
It may seem obvious when you watch a good player do this, but it often doesn’t resemble the motion many golfers make when they incorrectly try to lift the ball into the air.
2. Establish proper posture
To get the club down to the ground, proper posture is essential. Bend forward from the hips so your arms can truly hang, with your hands positioned directly below your shoulders.
This posture also places your eyes a little closer to the ground. That should be what lowers the club to the ground — not excessive bending of the knees. Consistent spacing between your hands and thighs with each club can also help you return the club to the ground consistently and find the center of the clubface.
3. Allow the trail arm to straighten
During the backswing, the trail elbow folds to create leverage and help produce speed. This is correct and necessary. In order for the club to return to the ground, however, that arm needs to actively straighten, much like a throwing motion directed toward the ground. This helps get the club down to the turf while also allowing the clubface to release as the trail arm returns toward its natural hanging position.
As the arm straightens, allow your body to be naturally pulled toward the target. The trail heel will release from the ground, helping the divot occur in the proper location — after the ball.
4. Practice on low tees
A golf tee can be one of the best training aids, especially when you’re learning to get the ball into the air properly. It’s readily available, inexpensive, and provides immediate feedback. Something as simple as teeing the ball very low and making sure you also hit the tee when you hit the ball can train you to get the club all the way down to the ground.
Adjust the tee height based on your success. If you’re struggling, tee it a little higher. If you’re succeeding, create a greater challenge by lowering it. Then repeat. I often notice that newer golfers make better swings when hitting a ball from a tee. The inclination to try to lift the ball is reduced, and the golfer can actually see whether the tee gets hit—or even broken—with speed.
5. Make peace with an occasional “chunk”
The opposite mistake needs to be OK, too.
Topping and thinning shots can be frustrating, but understand that as you learn to consistently hit the ground, you won’t always find the correct location immediately. And that’s OK. During the learning process, hitting the ground is a step in the right direction.
If you’re unwilling to accept the occasional fat shot, you may unconsciously return to the old motion of avoiding the ground—and that can cause your learning to stagnate. So realize that hitting the ground is progress. When the club hits the ground before the ball, first check your ball position. Then make sure your swing finishes in balance on your forward foot.
