ball striking

Question
QUESTION: Hello
at the moment im having problems striking the ball especially with fairway woods and wedges im wounding if i had more lag in my swing would that help if not what else could i do?


ANSWER: Hi Ryan:
Without getting into a discussion about lag (because most golfers really have no idea what that is), please share with me exactly what your ball is doing when you hit fairway woods and wedges.  Once I know what you ball is doing, I can suggest many fixes for you.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: the ball dosent do much it go's pretty straight but all ways a lot short of my target

ANSWER: Ryan:  Does the ball fly low or high?  Do you hit it solid most of the time?  If not, do you tend to hit the ground first before the ball, or do you tend to hit the top half of the ball sending it real low?  When you miss hit it, do you tend to hit it to the right or the left?  

Eddie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: my ball flight is pretty high most of the time i hit it fat and it go's straight

Answer
Ryan:

Your question about lag is great relating to what you do.  However, no need to think about that, because it's too confusing to write about.  Here is your first step.  Start with a 9 iron or a wedge.  If I asked you to hit the ball as low as you could, you would have to deloft the face somehow.  NOW PICTURE THIS RYAN.  In order to deloft the face of the club so the ball would go lower, the shaft of the club must be angled forward towards the target at impact.  That means the handle of the club (grip) would be closer to the target at impact than the clubhead.  In order to do that, you need to use your arms more than your hands.  The reason you lose your angle too early is because you take your hands and try to throw the clubhead at or under the ball in an effort to lift it up.  Once you throw the clubhead somewhere in the downswing, the clubhead bottoms out too fast, you hit the ground behind the ball and your shots always come up short.  So make some small swings, like little three quarter shots.  Play the ball in the middle of your stance, and practice trying to actually hit the ball lower.  What you'll find once you get better at this is you strike the ball first, then the turf.  You will squeeze the ball against the turf, and actually feel what a solid golf shot feels like.  Good luck, but take it slow and use a 9 iron or wedge to stay in control of your swing.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member