We all know how important it is to stay down, focus on the ball, and have our weight on our forward foot at impact when striking an iron shot, especially on the short and middle irons. But how do we practice this critical ”hitting area “and learn to trust ourselves to do so?
Like everything else we learn in life, there is a beginning. We should start slow and have patience. We work our way up to a better understanding, better execution, gaining confidence, and finally, we arrive with improved performance.
This is THE process for success! ESPECIALLY for GOLF!
For players of any skill level, it is so important to define your balance at impact! Generally, every great ball striker has all of their weight firmly on their forward foot at impact!!! Establish confidence in this by setting up for some short swings (waist to shoulder high) with 95% of your weight planted on your front foot and hit some easy pitch shots off a good lie without a target. Get the sensation of an exaggerated impact position, and it will carry forward later when you practice your full swing.
Build some confidence in your ability to stay down, striking the ball first. All of the great players practice some version of this drill every day to maintain confidence in their impact position. Have a plan, and focus on every swing to get to that place. It is somewhat counter-intuitive to new players, but trust me, this is the foundation of every great golf swing. In 58 years of golf, I have yet to see a good shot struck with any weight on the back foot. (with the exception of an unusually crazy bunker shot or an extreme uphill lie)
This is advice passed on from all of the great players and teachers of the game. It is the single common denominator of every well-played golf shot! As always, enjoy the game and the process of understanding the game and playing better.