How to learn to hit down the, the short version:

1)Start with a flat left wrist and a bent right wrist
2)pick the club up w/o letting it roll open
3)aim your hands (not the club) about 4-5" in front of the ball
4)punch the ground with the heel of your right hand.

:)

Nothing more than Feelings . . .
 

Well sir . . . if I'm the Colonel (Private Parts may be more appropriate) the you are the COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF STAR SYSTEM of G.O.L.F. All though there may be other owners you OWN IT my split green pea soup colored amigo.

All is cozy and warm in the foxhole . . . the Colonel is ready and on stand-by.

Thanks for the input. What do you mean by "strike the ground with the heel of your rignt hand"? Do you mean punch at the ground or am I not understanding the drill? Would this be the same with all the clubs (except the driver)?

Thanks

Michael

Didn't say strike...said punch. :)

Ever see any martial artists punch someone in the chest? They do it with the heel of their hand with it "bent back."

Do the same "punch" but at the ground.

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The 4 step drill above is basically a quick and dirty hitting motion to make you learn how to hit down with your hands ahead without getting too wordy. :)

Jim,
That is such a descriptive thought, Punch the ground with the heel of the right hand. Not sure why but that has really struck a chord with me, thanks. Was that one of your own, or did you borrow it from someone!!!

I'm sure i borrowed it from someone...but i do say A LOT "punch the ground."

I just wanted to re-iterate the "heel part" because if you dont, people might start flipping. If you make them do it with the heel of their hand, it almost ensures a foward leaning shaft.

When you say "in front of the ball" do you mean toward the target side of the ball or the trail side?

aim your hands parallel to your target line but keep them ahead of the ball.

Where Do Divots Come From?
 

Here is a response to a Private Message that I thought could serve in this thread.

The geometrically-carved Divot is taken because the Club is descending correctly Down Plane to Low Point, not because there is a new Low Point. With the non-teed Ball (and with many teed Balls) positioned back in the Stance (Up Plane), Low Point is always in the ground.

If the Club does not descend all the way to Low Point, it is usually because the Left Wrist has Bent. When this happens, the Club immediately ascends, and the player has thus established a new Low Point (opposite the Bending Left Wrist, not the Left Shoulder). This mechanical disruption destroys the Clubhead's true Three Dimensional Orbit (Down, Out and Forward) and, unless intentional, will result in less than optimal results.

Great post yoda....that's why if you position the ball towards the middle of your stance and you truly drive the clubhead into the ground TO LOW POINT....you'll have one looooooooooooooooong divot ;)