Topping and hitting fat from the turf

[jweighell]

Well, after a bit of practise at the range, I have mostly fixed my slice. The problem I want to focus on fixing now is hitting the ball cleanly straight from the turf...

I guess because I've practised lots at the driving range, I am quite confident with tee shots, but when I come to play shots from the fairway (or often the rough!) I'm really not confident about hitting the ball at the right height and will often top the ball or hit it fat.

Anyone got tips to make sure I swing down at the right height?

[shootin4par]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

your wording makes me wonder. you say hit the ball cleanly straight from the turf. Are you aware you are supposed to drive the ball into the ground, squeezing it between the club and the ground.

[jweighell]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

Possibly you could be right.

I know I'm meant to be hitting down, but as I swing I probably go into auto-pilot and try and hit the ball up...

Now I think of it, a lot of my tee-shots do go very high, so maybe I'm not hitting down on these either.

Something to work on this week!

[doogkie]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

youre not supposed to hit your tee shots downward, rather a slightly upward blow

[jweighell]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

ok! I'm fairly new to this, if you hadn't guessed!

Am I right in thinking that it's more to do with the ball position, so the further forward the ball is, the less I hit down on it?

I was just thinking about fairway woods, but I guess as the ball is further forward, then I won't be hitting down so much.

[doogkie]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

right, you are sweeping fairway woods

[shootin4par]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

if you are hitting irons off a tee you still want to hit down

[doogkie]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

yeah, i meant using driver

[chappy01]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

The problem of inconsistent contact can be caused by changing your spine angle during the swing. By spine angle I mean the amount you lean away from the target. If you staighten up during the swing you will hit the ball fat. You can test this by setting up to the ball in your proper address position and then lean slightly towards the target. You will find the the bottom of your swing has moved back. Conversely if you lean more away from the target you will move the bottom of your swing forward. That is why it is critical that you maintain your spine angle throughout the swing.

[BigdazUK]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

Well, after a bit of practise at the range, I have mostly fixed my slice. The problem I want to focus on fixing now is hitting the ball cleanly straight from the turf...

I guess because I've practised lots at the driving range, I am quite confident with tee shots, but when I come to play shots from the fairway (or often the rough!) I'm really not confident about hitting the ball at the right height and will often top the ball or hit it fat.

Anyone got tips to make sure I swing down at the right height?

I had the same problem as you. What I did was spend a few days not hitting full shots. Went on my local field and to the driving range and started hitting Pitch shots making sure my technique was good and I was making great contact with the ball. Than after a day or so I started making the swing longer say a 9 o'clock swing, 10 o'clock until I was hitting a full swing again. This really helped me, I think you should try it out.

Daz

[jweighell]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

Thanks guys for all the suggestions - I'll be playing a round sometime in the next day or two, so I'll try some stuff out.

I think to make matters worse is that I've been falling into the usual beginners trap of trying to hit the ball too hard, so I think I should relax a bit. I think that keeping my spine angle constant should help and also focussing on hitting down on the ball.

I'll let you know how I get on!

[jweighell]

Re: Topping and hitting fat from the turf

I'm planning to go to the driving range tomorrow morning - is it worth spending time trying to hit irons straight from the mat? Or does this give the wrong feeling? I mean, you can't exactly take a divot on the mat?!