golfrewind.com

Ahoy thar!

I am 25 yrs old and have been playing at Heysham Golf club in England for about six months. I used to have a major problem topping the ball and after a host of lessons, i have started to duff the ground before i hit the ball!
This is with both my irons and woods.

I have been predominately concentrating on keeping my left arm straight in my back swing, letting my wrists cock naturally and driving my hips round during through swing. But the depressing thud as the club hits and drags along the ground takes everthing out of the work i have tried to put in!

HELP!!

Work on fat, thin and perfect shots:

1. Fat Shot ("duffed the ground before I hit it"): Make a fat shot on purpose and think of it as a shot you would hit out of a sand trap going over a high lip or whenever you need an extra high shot form any place on the course. Higher shots with less distance and more backspin.

2. Thin Shot: Make a thin shot on purpose and think of it as a shot out of a fareway bunker that has little or no lip or off of a thin lie, or ball resting on leaves. Lower shots with more distance and more forward spin.

3. Perfect Shot: After working on the first two the perfact shot will be easier to make.

Balance is the key for you first. The body motion is similar to turning and walking toward the target. So on your forward swing, start taking a step toward the target on the finish. Yes, you heard me right... actually take a step with your back foot toward the target as you go to your finish. The golf swing is not a spinning maneuver. Then, forget about a stiff left arm and think extended through relaxation... much like a swinging limp noodle. You do not need tension to have a straight left arm, as long as you stay fully relaxed it will stay extended for you.

I would also check to see if you are too close to the ball at address. Set your arms on top of your chest, set the club head behind the ball and then set your feet for balance between the toes and heels.