Most beginning golfers struggle with the basic goal of just getting the ball up in the air consistently.
The main reason it is difficult for some players to hit the ball in the air is because they don’t strike down on the ball. When you try to scoop up on the ball, it doesn’t work. Scooping up on the ball seems to be using common sense.
You want the ball to go up so it stands to reason that you should try to get under the ball and lift it. However, there is something in the way when you try and do this….the ground. So, often times you hit the ground first and the ball goes nowhere.
If you don’t strike the ground, your weight is still behind the ball which causes the bottom of the swing to be behind the ball. This causes you to hit the ball on the upward arc, striking the ball in the middle or top of the ball and guess what…If doesn’t get up in the air.
To get the ball airborne you must do the following.
1. Have your weight mostly on the left foot at impact.
2. Have your hands ahead of the ball so the shaft of the club angles toward your left hip area.
3. Don’t scoop under the ball but allow the club to strike the ball as it is on the downward arc.
4. Make sure you make ground contact under and in front of the ball but never behind it.
Follow these tips and you will be hitting it high and straight in no time.
Don DeLorenzo is a PGA-certified instructor at Gilroy Golf Course. To schedule a lesson, call Gilroy GC at 848-0490.
