Golf Course
Golf Tips
BALLSTRIKING: Hit the “LITTLE BALL” Before The Big Ball
Fairway Shots
You know those shots you hit every so often that feel really good, but you don't really know what you did or how to reproduce that feeling? It's called ball striking. One of the premiere goals in the game is to become a good ball striker whereby you are constantly trying to improve your contact of the ball.
Proper ball striking might seem quite advanced but it is actually very elementary when you have some key pieces of information. If you notice the pictures you will see how the ball is contacted first, then the turf is struck. This is a standard way for a good player to hit an iron shot. The turf doesn't always come out like this because it will depend on how wet it is, and the club you are using relative to the amount of power. You will again notice in the pictures I have hit the ball on the downswing, this is a very key point! Golfers that never really learn this action constantly try to lift or scoop the ball up off the ground whereby they try and hit the ball on the upswing, instead of on the downswing. They even promote scooping by constantly saying damaging phrases like “I gotta get under it” which is a phrase that should be abolished from the game!
Of course to be a good ball striker one must first have some solid swing fundamentals to work with but even as a beginner it is extremely important that you understand this “advanced basic” right from the get-go, it can't hurt to know the correct way to hit a ball from day one right? A very key point in all this is to think of hitting all your golf shots on a low trajectory (not high), this will include your chipping and pitching as well. Trying to hit everything low is essential in keeping the hands ahead of the club thru impact, which will help to hit the ground after the ball. (see pictures)
You should want to hit the ground with your club, you must hit the ground with your club, you need to hit the ground with your club................then it will just depend on WHERE you hit the ground, and hopefully you will always say – after the ball of course! Hit little ball, then big ball.
by Scott Minni
Teaching Pro - University Golf Club
1999 BCPGA Teacher of the Year
4-Time BCPGA Champion
