hitting the ground

Hi,

I have a problem with my iron shots. I have a tendency to hit the ground first on the right side of the ball.
What can the problem be and how to practice ?
Any suggestions would be very much appriciated.

Best regards
Martin Moller

[jscerbo]

Fat shots can be caused by several things.

Your spine angle lowering and rising. If your spine angle gets lower to the ground you will hit behind the ball.

Second is casting or throwing the club from the top in an effort to get the ball airborne.

This is what is happening most likley. At impact your left wrist is breaking down (it should be slightly bent or supinated), by this I mean the left wrist should be flat, or bowed a little bit, and your right wrist has straightened out (it should be slightly bent at impact)

I'm also assuming that your chips shots are hit fat and occasionally bladed over the green.

This is from overactive hand manipulation.

You are scooping or trying to lift the ball with your hands.

Here is a drill

Grab a club a 7 or 9 iron put the clubhead agianst the doorjamb notice the shaft angle how the butt end of the club (where the grip) is is bent slightly forward this where your hands should be leading the clubhead. notice that your left wrist is straight or supinated, and that your right wrist is bent. This is a model impact position.

Another drill that you can do (at the golf course for chipping) what ever happens in your short game is magnified in your fullswing.

Here is a chipping drill you will need a 9 iron or what ever you chip with and a shaft or stick that will extend up toy our shoulder. put the shaft or stick on the grip end of your club to the side then take your grip. Put the ball back in your stance off of your right foot, weight on the left foot, and tilt the handle forward slightly. A good acronym for this BLT(Ball Back, weight Left, Tilt shaft stightly forward)

After addrssing the ball stroke a chip shot
Did the shaft or stick hit you by your armpit on your left side?
If it did you have too much hand manipulation in your sroke
You are flipping your wrists in an ascending motion,the chip stroke is a descending motion.

Make sure that you use your shoulders when done correctly it will freeze the wrists and the shaft or stick will never touch you, when you can accomplish this you are making progress.
You can accomplish this in a reasonable amount of time.

Keep me posted on your progress

Jordy Scerbo
Teaching Professional