Tip From the Archives

Downward Blow

Problem

You hit your woods better than your irons and want to improve on your iron shots. You may even notice a divot that begins before contact with the ball instead of after the ball as it should be when using your irons.

Cure

You need to use a sweeping motion when using your woods but a successful iron shot requires a more descending swing or downward blow.

Therapy

A great way to practice making a more descending swing is to place a tee into the ground at an angle in front of the ball, on the target side. Set up to the ball as you normally would. Now take a three quarter backswing and make a downward blow onto the ball so that the tee is pushed down hard into the ground. Practice this several times until you have a correct feel for an iron shot. Now practice without a tee and notice how your iron shots fly farther and leave a proper divot after contact with the ball.

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7 votes

 
Tommy | 5 years ago, at the end of June

To clarify, are you suggesting that one should tee-up the ball or merely place the tee in front of the ball?

ChanG | 5 years ago, at the end of June

I read this drill, and I think it means 'in front of the ball'

Kenn | 5 years ago, at the end of June

Yes, that's my thinking as well. The "target side" of the ball, I'm thinking means the side that you will hit with the iron. "At an angle" seems to me to mean that the tee should be immediately infront of the ball with the head pointing toward the oncoming iron at about 45* (degreees), or so.

Golf Medic | 5 years ago, at the end of June

It is suppose to be on the side of the ball away from your club. You want the tee set into the ground so the top of the tee is angled towards the ball. If you are able to take a steep enough swing, then the ball will move into the tee and bury it. Thanks for your comments!

MGM | 5 years ago, mid-October

This drill works well with my short irons, but it does not translate well to my 3-iron. I'm getting very little distance because the ball trajectory is so low. What do you recommend?



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