The Importance of Solid Contact

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DeepRedCee

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Hey folks

I picked up an injury earlier in the year and didn't get to play much but then whilst rehabbing I often walked the course for exercise.

Anyway after watching countless golfers it seems to me that the real problem shots are not a slice or hook, it was actually tops, thins and fat shots and with Woods all of the above plus numerous skied shots
When I thought about it I realised that my own 'bad' shot would be a thin one, but because it generally still a fair distance and is straight or slight fade I hadn't really paid it much thought.

So the million dollar question is are there any 'contact' drills you'd recommend to help with poor contact in general and are fat/thin shots related in any way?

Many thanks
Dan
 
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QSPILOTCMH

New
I could not agree more. This week I hit a 240 yard tee shot with my 5 wood in the fairway (which is good for me as I shot in the high 90's and normally hit it 220). I have 135 yards left which is a 9 iron. I end up topping the darn thing!

Actually almost every tee shot was good this week it was the approach shots that killed me. I hit another long drive on a par 5. I pull my hybrid for 185 yards and top it. Hit it again and top it. I still have 200 left so I try it one more time and I hit it on the green! Crazy game!
 
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Jim Kobylinski

Super Moderator
Most people with topping problems are simply flippers...that's why they can get off the tee but can't hit the ball off the fairway to save their life.
 
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QSPILOTCMH

New
Jim Kobylinski said:
Most people with topping problems are simply flippers...that's why they can get off the tee but can't hit the ball off the fairway to save their life.
Click to expand...

I am currently using NSA but I have started to back off on the twistaway since I started to hook the ball. Should I look into CFF or am I doing something wrong in NSA?

I don't always top it from the fairway, however it does happen more than I like. I have started focusing on a dimple on the back of the ball and it has helped with solid contact.

Thanks.
 
J

Jim Kobylinski

Super Moderator
My hunch if you are using NSA and topping the ball you are losing the twist on the way down and/or coming too outside/in. Hard to tell w/o seeing video
 
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dsmith2296

New
I agree with Jim. Flipping is the culprit. That's why flippers tend to like hitting off a tee and from the second cut- with a nice cushy lie in case they mistime the flip. This is most illuminated by the 40 yard wedge shot off a tight lie.
 
Erik_K

Erik_K

New
DeepRedCee said:
Hey folks

I picked up an injury earlier in the year and didn't get to play much but then whilst rehabbing I often walked the course for exercise.

Anyway after watching countless golfers it seems to me that the real problem shots are not a slice or hook, it was actually tops, thins and fat shots and with Woods all of the above plus numerous skied shots
When I thought about it I realised that my own 'bad' shot would be a thin one, but because it generally still a fair distance and is straight or slight fade I hadn't really paid it much thought.

So the million dollar question is are there any 'contact' drills you'd recommend to help with poor contact in general and are fat/thin shots related in any way?

Many thanks
Dan
Click to expand...

Couple of things to work on:

Ben Doyle sand trap work---> draw a line in the sand, address the line, and take divots just in front of the line. Do this with wedges at first and progress up to the longer clubs. When you start swinging the longer clubs (vs the shorter clubs) you realy feel the difference. That is to say, you need to swing the longer clubs 'easier' in my opinion for solid contact.

The divot should be relatively straight. LOOK at the divot. LOOK at where contact was made. See how many swings in a row you can make by taking divots in the sand at the right place. There is no better drill to train low point, which helps develop solid contact.

In my opinion, it's hard to flip with this drill. You'll need to hit down on the sand and take a 4" divot just in front of the line.

If you are struggling with this drill and are confident that your grip, stance, and posture are correct - I would focus on the pivot. The pivot, according to our very own Brian Manzella, is transportation. The rotation of the hips and proper shoulder movement brings the clubhead down to the ball. Stop the pivot at the wrong time and the contact becomes very poor.

Now, you could have awesome control of lowpoint but still have poor clubFACE control. This is another issue altogether.

Erik
 
curtisj76

curtisj76

New
Erik_K said:
Ben Doyle sand trap work---> draw a line in the sand, address the line, and take divots just in front of the line.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't it be better to say "take divots right ON the line" instead of "in front"? In front to me means hitting it fat.
 
curtisj76

curtisj76

New
Oh yeah, oh yeah. My brain is still on sleep mode.

I've thought about building almost like a sand box to do this in my backyard. I bet it would work pretty good.

I think it would be good for my kids as well.
 
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vjsinger

vjsinger

New
I also think Jim is correct flipping is the culprit. How do you get rid of a really bad flip??, usually its because of the pivot. The arms don't fall in the slot properly and you're in trouble. IMO most people that have these issues are way,way too active with their lower bodies/legs in transition. They lunge at it, throwing their hips and getting out of sequence, the club goes below plane then you really have to slow down fit it in and get lucky with the timing of your flip..quiet the legs.
 
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Erik_K

Erik_K

New
Yes - 'front' meaing the line past (toward the target) the ball. The divot would start on, or just in front of the line.

Erik
 
curtisj76

curtisj76

New
Have you guys read the magazine article where the writer took a lesson from Ben? He said they worked in the sand for a long time and then when he played he said the contact was MUCH better. Very interesting read, I think it's on his (Ben's) website.
 
vjsinger

vjsinger

New
Another good way to feel what its like to make good contact and not flip at it is to hit balls from varying extreme lies,uphill, downhill,sidehill.
 
D

DeepRedCee

New
Erik_K said:
Couple of things to work on:

Ben Doyle sand trap work---> draw a line in the sand, address the line, and take divots just in front of the line. Do this with wedges at first and progress up to the longer clubs. When you start swinging the longer clubs (vs the shorter clubs) you realy feel the difference. That is to say, you need to swing the longer clubs 'easier' in my opinion for solid contact.

The divot should be relatively straight. LOOK at the divot. LOOK at where contact was made. See how many swings in a row you can make by taking divots in the sand at the right place. There is no better drill to train low point, which helps develop solid contact.

In my opinion, it's hard to flip with this drill. You'll need to hit down on the sand and take a 4" divot just in front of the line.

If you are struggling with this drill and are confident that your grip, stance, and posture are correct - I would focus on the pivot. The pivot, according to our very own Brian Manzella, is transportation. The rotation of the hips and proper shoulder movement brings the clubhead down to the ball. Stop the pivot at the wrong time and the contact becomes very poor.

Now, you could have awesome control of lowpoint but still have poor clubFACE control. This is another issue altogether.

Erik
Click to expand...


Hey Erik

Thanks, this sounds like something I need to try, got a few weeks off now so I'll
give it a shot

Cheers
Dan
 
P

pecky987

New
DeepRedCee said:
Hi

I tired to find some 3 ball drills on youtube, but all I found were Pool trick shots...


What is the drill?

Cheers
Steve
Click to expand...

simple. put 3 balls in a line perpendicular to the target line. try to strike the middle ball with a divot infront of the line. keep doin it till you can do it everytime without trying to - till it becomes automatic.

like i say, keep this line forward of middle so as to ensure you dont cheat the drill
 
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