Fairway woods and irons

Question
I cannot seem to get my fairway woods-(5,7 ) airborne. I occasionally hit a good shot but most of the time i top it and it travels along the ground. I also have trouble getting height to my irons off the grass.The ball flight is usually a lower trajectory and i would really like to add height to those shots.This occurs with irons from 5 to 9. Can you help?
Thanks

Answer
Hello Richard:
Of course I can help.  The reason you are topping most of your shots is because the clubhead is moving up when it gets to the ball, thus the leading edge of the clubface (the bottom of the face) is striking the middle to the top of the ball, which of course will produce a low liner or if you strike above the equator of the ball, overspin makes the ball move downward along the ground.  So here it is in a nutshell, then I will give you a drill to practice.  Look at your clubface (of a 7 iron).  Notice that the face has lines on it.  Those are called scoring lines which react against the dimples of the ball to produce spin which creates lift.  Much like an aircraft.  If the clubface never touches the ball (like when you top it), you cannot expect it to go into the air.  The more golfers top it or hit it really low, the more they will try to get "under it" in an effort to lift it up.  WRONG THING TO DO!!  So the leading edge of the clubface (at the bottom) MUST BRUSH THE GRASS when it passes through the impact area.  The ball MUST BE STRUCK WITH THE CLUBFACE.  So make some practice swings and start feeling what's it's like to take some turf with the leading edge of the clubface.  Watch the divot fly out of the ground.  Brush, brush, brush, brush.........  Then, put a ball there.  Start with a 9 iron.  Make a swing and make sure you brush the grass.  As the club hits the ball, the angle of the face will launch the ball (with spin) into the air.  You do not try to get under it (because the face won't contact it!!!).  So here is your drill.  Set up to your ball.  Put a tee half way in the ground about 2 inches directly in front of your ball on the target line.  Now, make some swings and make sure you hit your ball and the other tee.  If your clubhead is moving upwards, then you will miss the tee in front of the ball.  You must learn to swing the clubhead more forward towards the target, not up in an effort to lift it up.  This is true with any club.  Swing the club more forward towards the target, not up.  Practice and let me know what happens.  In no time Richard, you will be getting your balls airborne.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member