Hitting off the ground

[MJE77]

I've been playing for about 2 months now and have mostly played a par 3 course where the holes average out at about 150 yards (a 6I to me). I've only played a full course 5 times and two of those were 10 holes.

On the par3'er I can hit irons off a tee and can strike it beautifully. However, when on a full course and hitting 2nd shots off the ground I quite often chunk it quite bad.

What fundamental differences are there for hitting off the ground as opposed to a T? Ie differences in posture etc. if there are any.

I seem to be able to hit it better out of light rough than the fairway too. I hit some excellant shots sometimes (hit a 3I almost 200 yards onto a par5 green last time) but I chunk it way too often.

I hit a 3wood about 240 yards straight down the centre of the fairway (further than I normally hit it) on a par5 the other day and was thinking how I could possibly reach in two but opted for a 7I and was going for the green in 3. However, my next 4 shots collectively went about 40-50 yards and also into the rough!!! I chunked em all. Although the ground was sloping in two directions I still chunk it too much.

Could this just be a mental thing? Or should I work on trying to retain my spine angle as I presume dipping your spine/head causes fat shots?

[ubizmo]

Re: Hitting off the ground

It may be that when you use an iron to hit the ball off the tee, you are teeing it up higher than you should. Then you get used to striking the ball at that height with your irons, and when you try to hit them off the turf you over-compensate and swing the iron into the ground.

When using a tee for an iron shot, you shouldn't think of teeing it "up", but just positioning it in a perfect lie for your normal iron shot. That way you don't have to have two iron swings, one for the fairway and one for a teed ball. The fact that you find it easier to hit out of light rough also suggests that you like the ball to be "teed up" by the grass.

So you probably need to tee the ball lower, so that the tee is nearly flush with the ground--I'd say no more than an eighth of an inch up, maximum. Really the teed iron shot should just be an idealized version of the fairway iron shot.

[ogallalabob]

Re: Hitting off the ground

I would agree with the spine angle, I know when I try to really hit the ball hard I have a really bad tendency of droping my shoulder or changing my spine angle and end up hitting the worst chunk shots imaginable.

But in regards to the diference in fairway and using a tee. I think the key for hitting good iron shots is to strike the ball first, using a tee increases the margin of error in that when the ball is setting up, you can still hit slightly behind the ball without catching the ground.

I would guess practiceing without the tee and working on striking the ball first may help, or moving the ball a fraction back in you stance (less then a ball)

[jeffgladchun]

Re: Hitting off the ground

The tee is a crutch. I agree that the teed ball intended to be played with an iron should be an idealized version of the fairway lie.

the ball is hit first and the divot is taken after. if you tee the ball up like you should, the divot should not be taken until after the tee.

[MJE77]

Re: Hitting off the ground

Okay, thanks guys. I'll try teeing it lower from now on and see if that helps.