keeping the ball down for a natural high hitter...

[slugger]

One thing about my game is that i find it very easy to get the ball up in the air from most lies.

This, however, is a problem when it's a tad windy. At the weekend, i really stuggled hitting into the 25mph winds (more at some points). Thing is, this weekend, we're playing Craigielaw and it looks like being another windy one.

So, any tips out there for a naturally high hitter to keep it low and less affected by the wind, especially off the tee or long fairway shot?

 

[ColinR]

How about going a club higher, but moving your hands down the grip ?

Or half a swing with a higher club ?

I need to try both of the above as I will be playing north of Inverness for 5 rounds in the summer on links courses. Will need to practice what I preach !!

 

[Adi_Dassler]

Do what I do, top it!

 

[bobmac]

Two things make the ball go high. Launch angle and spin.
The more spin, the more height you get.
The harder you hit it the more spin you get.
To hit it lower, take more club and hit it softer.
Off the tee, you can't take more club than a driver, so tee the ball a bit lower and move it back in the stance a inch or two (experiment) and don't hit it full out.
When you are against a strong wind, you are going to lose distance so just accept it and club up.
Swing with ease, into the breeze.

 

[Macster]

My father in law who got me started in the game, played off 5, and sadly no longer around,....... always told me the aim was to 'sweep' the ball away from rest with as wide an arc of swing as you could naturally find, not 'hit' into the ball in an effort to get it airborn.

This I think would help in finding a natural trajectory for each of the irons you use.
You would expect (and want) a higher ball flight with your lower irons, which their loft will give you, than you would with a 3-5, so sweep it away and see if that swing thought helps ?

Footnote: I could be talking bollocks.

 

[bobmac]

The sweep idea is good. The opposite is hitting down as a lot of people tend to do against the wind. Unfortunately, hitting down on the ball produces more spin which as you know makes it go higher.
So not all bo**ox

 

[birdieman]

I used to hit it high for everything, turned out my grip was too weak in turn making my address position wrong and in effect increasing the loft on each club. Now that's sorted I have a more powerful hit on a lower trajectory through the bag.

Could be the eye of a Pro might sort this out with regard to your grip.

 

[ColinR]

Do what I do, top it!

 

[Sneds]

The sweep idea is good. The opposite is hitting down as a lot of people tend to do against the wind. Unfortunately, hitting down on the ball produces more spin which as you know makes it go higher.
So not all bo**ox

My sweep = scoop

 

[USER1999]

Use a harder ball. Donnay would do it. It takes all the spin off. Bores through the wind like a bory thing on a windy day.

ProV1X, Nike one black, etc rather than standard ProV1s.

 

[stevek1969]

With your irons ball back in the stance 3/4 swing and punch into it the ball wiil fizz out and the wind wont affect it have played that way all my life and it seems to work

 

[Sneds]

Bores through the wind like a bory thing on a windy day.

If only there were more bory things.

 

[HTL]

Low punch into the wind - Ask Sammmebee he is ace at it.

I had the same problem with nailing the ball too high, I use to flick at the ball and lean back, now have to make sure im getting onto the left foot and keeping my left arm strong and stricking down onto the ball. Sounds good but im still hitting it waaaayy too high.

 

[Cernunnos]

Another vote for the punch shot. Use more club, swing smoother/slower, set up back in your stance. & if thinking true punch then the face will be slightly hooded too. Though that's really for getting yourself out of a tight spot.

 

[mono217]

Another vote for the punch shot

 

[USER1999]

If you are playing this weekend, I think you may have left it a bit late to worry about learning punch shots etc. On the course is not the time to be experimenting with new shots.

 

[slugger]

yeah, i know, but at least if i'm really struggling i've probably ruined my card anyway and i may as well try!

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Redwood]

Another vote for ball in back of stance, take more club (even 2 more) and swing 3/4, nice and easy. Try and keep your chest over the ball, as this should stop you from leaning back and adding more loft to the club.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

You'll need a minimum of one club more for the punch shot. The key is to make the length of the backswing and follow through a mirror image of each other and not to hit at the ball but trust the extra loft and the ball position (back in the stance) to do the work

 

[USER1999]

No, the key is to play these in August, when you can play your natural game, not phaffing about in March when the elements are aginst you.