BALL-STRIKING

CREATE COMPRESSION AND POWER

Watch golfers compete on any of the world’s elite professional tours and divot-taking is very much part of the experience. Top golfers arrive at impact with the handle of the club leading the head, a position that leans the shaft forwards and promotes a squeezing, downward strike. This is a move that delofts the clubface and allows a lofted face to apply pressure to the ball; both key to striking strong, powerful iron shots. For the best players, the iron striking sequence is very much ball/turf.

For any golfer looking to improve the quality of their ball-striking, Charley Hull’s aggressive, punchy action is a great one to visualise. As she reveals here, over the past few years she has worked on retaining her posture better during the downswing – a move that helps her squeeze down on the ball through impact. It’s an important lesson for any golfer. Following on, you find two more drills to help you add some squeeze and pop to your irons.

CHARLEY SAYS...

I'm a natural golfer and don’t think too much about technique. When I was young I was told to hit as hard as I could, and that’s great advice for juniors starting out. However, as a youngster I used to swing more upright than I do now. I developed a tendency to ‘come out of the shot’, losing my posture and finishing on my toes. While I could hit it quite a long way like that, I didn’t have the control I wanted and could hit a big block to the right. So in 2015 I began working with my current coach, Matt Belsham. He helped me build a swing from the ground up, one where I make a stronger turn around my spine and stay in the shot better. Now my action feels much more compact. I stay in my pivot better; I feel like I can compress my irons a lot better, and I'm probably a cluband-a-half longer. While my preferred shape of shot remains a draw, I'm more comfortable working the ball both ways.