Are You Struggling With Poor Ball Striking?
If you’re tired of topping, fatting, or thinning the ball even off a perfect lie, you’re not alone. I see so many golfers come to me frustrated with inconsistent contact, especially when the ball is on the ground. The good news? There’s one simple move that separates the best ball strikers from the rest, and it’s something you can start working on straight away.
The Secret: Controlling Your Low Point
The most important factor for solid ball striking is controlling your low point. That’s the spot where your club reaches its lowest point in the swing. For crisply struck irons, hybrids, and fairway woods, your club should be travelling downwards at impact, reaching its lowest point after striking the golf ball.
Too many golfers have no awareness of where their low point actually is. Often, it moves around too much from swing to swing, or it’s simply too high, leading to poor contact. You might have a solid address position, but if your impact position doesn’t improve from there, you’re always going to struggle.
The Tour Player Impact Difference
One thing all great ball strikers have in common is a very different impact position compared to address. At impact, top players have their weight moved into their lead side, their hips opened up, and the shaft leaning forward. The key move? By impact, their hips are at least 5 inches closer to the target than they were at address.
Most amateurs I see keep their hips almost in the same position, or even fall back. This makes good contact nearly impossible. If you want to start striking the ball cleaner and more powerfully, you have to learn this 5-inch magic move.
The 5-Inch Magic Move Drill
Here’s a simple, effective drill to help you master this move:
- Set up as normal.
- Make a short swing to waist height.
- As the club moves back, shift your hips towards the target and slightly lower your body. Think of it as falling towards the target.
- Turn your hips open as you come through.
- Pay attention to where you strike the ground. It should be after the ball, not before.
The real magic here is that by moving your hips 5 inches closer to the target before impact, you create forward shaft lean and move your low point after the ball. This is the foundation of crisp, consistent ball striking.
Gradually Build Into Your Full Swing
Start with small swings using this drill. Once you’re consistently striking the ground after the ball, begin to lengthen your swing, always focusing on that movement towards the target. Don’t wait until the top of your backswing to shift your hips. Begin this move as your hands reach chest height on the downswing.
You’ll quickly notice that your club speed and ball speed both increase, and your strike becomes much more predictable. As an added bonus, because your low point stays consistent, your club path and face control improve as well.
Monitor Your Progress
If you practise at a driving range with ball tracking data, keep an eye on your ball speed and carry distance. As you deliver more forward shaft lean and strike the ball from the right position, you’ll see your numbers improve. Focus on carry distance, as that’s what gets your shots to the green.
Why This Move Matters
It’s easy to get bogged down chasing endless positions in the golf swing. In reality, the only position that truly matters is impact. Most golfers are capable of getting their hips much closer to the target at impact, just like the pros. Get this right and you’ll see a huge improvement in strike, distance, and consistency.
If you want more personal feedback on your ball striking, I offer online lessons through Skillest where we can dive into your swing and help you master this move.
Watch the Full YouTube Video
For a detailed walk-through and more insights, watch the full YouTube video here.
