GOLF COLUMN: Tips to ensure a perfect strike

PGA professional Sam Shaw, from Hayfield, gives tips on the perfect ball strike in his latest golf column.

Improving your golf game begins by improving your ball striking, as there’s nothing in golf quite like making pure contact.

A pure golf shot is truly a magical feeling!

Once you experience this sensation, you’ll be hooked, trying to repeat it over and over again.

Achieving solid contact tends to be difficult for many golfers; it’s what separates the pros and better players from average to higher-handicap golfers.

The good news is that if you experiment with my tips and drills I promise your strike will improve.

As you strike the golf ball, the grip end of the club needs to be leading the hands and club head through the hitting area (a mandatory ingredient for hitting solid iron shots).

This move causes the club head to compress the ball into the ground, which helps make your divot after the ball, not before.

Many times you hear golf instructors say strike the ball first on iron shots - this is what they are talking about.

Golf ball drill: By placing an extra golf ball behind your ball (12 to 14 inches behind the target line), you will learn to strike the ball with a descending blow and have your hands leading the club head through the hitting area.

If you use a scooping motion (hitting the ground before you make contact with the ball), you won’t be able to strike your ball without first hitting the extra ball.

Contact me on 01614 275759 to book a lesson at Mellor & Townscliffe Golf Club.