STAY IN BALANCE
CHUNK FIX
Golfers who chunk their irons often try sitting back into their heels to avoid lunging at the ball. The only way to hit the ball from that position, though, is to lunge towards the ball through impact, and then you’re right back to digging. The proper weight distribution for cleaner contact can be trained by putting alignment rods under the balls of your feet ( left ). The rods will give you awareness of where your weight is, and how to maintain a sense of balance between the toes and heels. You’ll also notice that I’m hitting my iron off a high tee here. This is another drill to help cure dig- ging by helping you manage the low point in your swing. By hitting off a high tee, you have to shallow your swing to the level of the ball or you will swing right underneath it.
THIN FIX THIN FIX
DRIVE DOWN AND THROUGH FOR BETTER CONTACT
FEEL MORE ON TOP OF THE BALL
Many players who thin it start to move the ball back in their stance to make better contact – and that might work briefly, but the shots fly too low. Over time, the golfer will then try to scoop the ball up to raise the trajectory, and then it’s back to the skulls. Instead, let’s do the opposite. To help your con- tact, practice hitting shots with the ball off your lead heel at address. You’ll soon realise you have to shift your weight for- ward and drive down and through to hit crisp irons ( above ). Practice this way, but play the ball in a more centred position after you groove this move.
Players who skull the ball often slide away from the target in the backswing, which causes them to try to find an unortho- dox way to get the ball airborne while swinging from the back foot. Instead, set your weight more on your front foot and keep it there throughout the swing. This allows you to feel more on top of the ball, so you can compress it and take a good divot. Imagine the target side of your body is against a wall, so you form a straight line with that shoulder, hip, knee and ankle. Then hit shots rotating around your lead side, keeping it pressed on the wall ( above ).
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 91
JULY/AUGUST 2025
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