Tip From the Archives

Duffing the Ball

Problem

The clubhead digs into the ground before contact, causing the ball to fly short. If your swing decelerates during your forward swing, it will cause your hands to fall too far behind the clubhead at impact and you will duff the ball.

Cure

Your grip might be too tight, the ball can be too far forward in your stance or your hands are too far behind the ball at set up. Remember that as you reach the top of your swing, your arms should start to accelerate and continue to do so throughout impact.

Therapy

Focus on relaxing your arms to help loosen your hands on the grip. Notice at the top of your backswing that you are not throwing your wrists as you lead into your forward swing. This would cause you to take the club in a wider path, resulting in hitting the ground before impact. Your weight should be shifted onto your forward leg for a strong and balanced finish. When using a wedge, your hands need to be ahead of the ball or just even with it and accelerate through impact. If your hands are even with, or ahead of the ball, and you accelerate the club through impact, you will find that high, soft shots are easier to hit with a lob wedge than with any other club.

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