TOUR TECHNIQUE
Keep It Down, Hit More Greens The wind is not your friend When hitting iron shots BY DAVIS THOMPSON
A LOT OF MISSES WITH your shorter irons are a result of hitting the ball too high. I
should know: I’m a high-ball hitter, and I’ve been working with my coach, Eric Eshleman, to flight my irons down more. I want to keep them out of the wind as much as possible – and so should you to take advantage of your proximity to the hole. Next time you’re at the range, grab your 7-iron or 8-iron and hit some shots with these key things in mind: 1) Stand a little taller at address with more weight on your left side than normal and the ball roughly centre in your stance; 2) take the club back without your weight noticeably shifting into your right foot (near right); and 3) make a three-quar- ter swing, both length and pace. Eric says to think about centring up your pivot and covering the ball with your chest at impact. These adjust- ments will help you hit more down on the ball and produce less backspin, lowering its trajectory. It’s kind of like a stack-and-tilt swing. – WITH RON KASPRISKE DAVIS THOMPSON shot 28-under-par to win the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic in 2024. It was the lowest score to par in tournament history.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY J D CUBAN
94 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
MARCH/APRIL 2025
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