Struggling to compress your irons and achieve solid contact? In this blog post, we’ll break down common mistakes golfers make in their golf swing, and introduce three effective drills to help you master the “ball then turf” concept for crisp, compressed iron shots.
JT Thomas with the Performance Golf YouTube channel shows how to master these ball compression drills in real time, so be sure to watch the video for a visual before we break down the reasons why many golfers don’t compress their irons correctly.
The Most Common Mistakes
Many golfers fail to compress their irons due to these three common issues:
- Weight Stuck on the Back Foot
- Incorrect Hip Movement in the Backswing
- Poor Ball Position
Let’s explore how these problems affect your swing and how you can fix them with simple, practical drills.
1. Shifting Weight Forward with the Water Bottle Drill
The Problem:
If your weight stays on your back foot during the downswing, the club strikes upward on the ball, leading to poor contact.
The Fix:
- Place a water bottle just outside your trail heel at address.
- During your swing, focus on shifting your weight forward to avoid knocking over the bottle.
- This helps you strike the ball first and then the turf, producing a satisfying divot in front of the ball.
Why It Works:
This drill trains your weight to move forward, ensuring solid contact and improved compression.
2. Keeping Your Hips Back with the Alignment Stick Drill
The Problem:
Moving your hips toward the ball during the backswing causes your chest to pull away, making it harder to reach the ball for solid contact.
The Fix:
- Place an alignment stick or similar obstacle behind your trail hip.
- As you swing back, push your trail hip into the stick to maintain proper hip movement.
- This keeps your chest down and ensures the club moves downward through impact.
Why It Works:
Proper hip rotation keeps your body aligned for a descending strike, crucial for compressing irons.
3. Adjusting Ball Position
The Problem:
Positioning the ball too far forward in your stance makes it harder to compress the ball. Instead, you’ll likely hit thin shots or fail to make clean contact.
The Fix:
- Move the ball slightly back in your stance, closer to center or even just behind center for irons like a 7-iron.
- Take half swings to focus on hitting the ball first and creating a divot after impact.
Why It Works:
A more central ball position allows the club to move downward through the ball, enhancing compression and control.
Master Your Contact with These Drills
To hit better iron shots and compress the ball, focus on:
- Shifting your weight forward using the water bottle drill.
- Maintaining proper hip movement with the alignment stick drill.
- Positioning the ball correctly in your stance.
Practice these drills, and you’ll see noticeable improvements in your ball striking and overall game. For more free, helpful golf tips from some of golf’s most experienced coaches, be sure to subscribe to the Performance Golf YouTube channel!
