Forward Shaft Lean at Impact

Forward shaft lean (at impact, the shaft is leaning with the grip end of the club closer to the target than the head of the club) is an absolutely mandatory ingredient for making solid contact. This is a must if you hope to compress the ball (squeeze it between the clubface and the ground) and make your divot after the ball, not before. This is the true secret to both power and control and the element you absolutely must have if you want to hit Tour player golf shots. Here is a drill that might help you to achieve this great position at impact. By placing a head cover behind the ball about a foot and slightly inside the target line, you can learn to strike the ball with a proper descending blow and achieve forward shaft lean. Start with practice swings without the ball, each time concentrating on hitting the turf on the target side of the head cover without making contact with the actual head cover. Once you feel comfortable with this move, place a ball in front of the head cover and try to hit some shots. You should quickly get the proper feel of a descending blow. If you swing with a scooping motion (hitting the ground before you make contact with the ball), you won’t be able to hit the ball without first hitting the head cover. Ultimately at impact with our irons we want our hands under our left shoulder. In this position your hands are ahead the club head, the shaft is leaning forward and you’re hitting shots like Rory! For game improvement lessons you can reach me at john@jmlongdrive.com or by calling me at 404-405-1403.