This article was created by Steve Thomas and featured in Today's Golfer magazine for their July 2024 (May 16th – June 12th) edition - Issue number 452.
The article content:
TOP 50 TEACHER Steve Thomas
www.stevethomasgolf.com, Head of Instruction & Fellow PGA Coach at Three Hammers Golf Academy, Wolverhampton.
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'Helping' The Ball Up
It’s no surprise that trying to help the ball up into the air is one of golf’s most common crimes. Even when we understand our clubfaces are designed with loft to achieve that very job, it still feels so logical that to send the ball skyward, we have to create launch through the release of the club. However, every accomplished golfer has learned to overcome this instinct; as we will see, it leads only to poor striking and frustration, while the opposite attack – slightly downward, ‘squeezing’ the ball – delivers far superior results. Let’s take a closer look...
A representation of the classic assisted-launch impact, this image shows why trying to help the ball up doesn’t work:
Weight hangs back as we try to get ‘under’ the ball, compromising path and power.
A typical flip or scoop sends the clubhead past the hands, causing it to bottom out well before the ball; you’ll either catch the ground first, or thin the ball.
Clubface loft is dramatically increased, reducing power and promoting weak, high shots.
In getting the better of this poor impact position, your first job is a mental one. It is the club’s job to send the ball upwards: it is your job to swing the club forwards, or ideally slightly downward, at impact. Commit to this before moving on to the simple, effective drill opposite to promote it.
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1. We don’t need a ball for this exercise, at least not yet. Instead, take your regular address, placing an alignment stick or club shaft just inside your lead heel. Check your upper body position by hanging a club from your lead armpit; it should hang over the stick. Finally, place a small piece of card – a business card is perfect – off the end of the stick to represent ball position.
2. Now take your 7-iron. Address and swing at the card. Try not to think technically; just place your attention on the leading edge and sole of the club making contact with the card as you swing through. With that unwanted, scooping release the club will strike the ground a long way behind it, but an intention to strike the card will help you move the swing’s low point back to where it should be.
3. Keep at this exercise until you are hitting your target regularly. With no ball to hit or launch to assist, swinging at a card makes your task easier. As you persevere with this intention, allow yourself to become aware how it forces you to shift weight forwards, into your front foot, and delay the release or throw of the clubhead. Simply through a different intention, you’ll develop far better impact mechanics.
4. When you’ve struck the card five times in a row, introduce a ball. Play it in that same position: inside the lead heel – place it on top of the card if it makes the transition easier. Look to make the same swing, with the same feelings: ‘pinch’ card and ball with the leading edge and sole. Get it right and you’ll deliver a cleaner, stronger strike, the hands leading the clubhead and the loft taking care of launch.
Written by Fellow PGA Coach Steve Thomas
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