When you watch high-level golfers hit their irons, you’ll notice they typically take a chunk of the ground with them. That’s because when they are hitting the ball, they’re also hitting the ground, creating divots — i.e., compressing the ball.
Taking divots isn’t just for show — it serves a specific purpose. When good players are hitting their irons, they’re hitting the ball first and then the ground, hence the term “ball-first contact.” This type of contact is essential for solid ball striking.
When you create ball-first contact, you are de-lofting the club into impact while also generating tons of spin. These are crucial ingredients for crisp iron shots and what allows the best players in the world to hit those high, towering approach shots.
So, how can you create compression of your own? GOLFTEC Director of Teaching Quality Josh Troyer explains in the video below.
How to compress the golf ball
When weekend warriors try to hit their irons, lots of times they will add loft to the clubface in an effort to get the ball up in the air. But in doing so, they rob themselves of solid contact and can’t generate any spin.
If you want to hit it like the pros do, you’ve got to create compression, which you can achieve by focusing on three simple keys:
1. Keep the handle of the club in front of the ball at impact
2. Keep shaft leaning forward, which de-lofts the clubface
3. Clubhead descending as it impacts the ball
So, how can you teach yourself to do these things? Troyer suggests starting small.
“Make a backswing until the shaft is parallel to the ground,” Troyer says. “[Then] move your hand more over the golf ball. This will help to push your hips forward as well. And then from here you’re just going to try to swing down and hit the ground in front of the ball.”
Don’t be afraid to do this drill slowly as you start. Just focus on nailing those positions and feeling the sensations of getting the club hit down on the ball and creating a divot in front of it. As you start to get the hang of it, you can start making longer backswings and adding speed. Before you know it, you’ll be making full swings and hitting it like the pros do.
If you want to get some expert insights into your swing — and learn how how to compress the ball under the guidance of a coach — book a swing evaluation with GOLFTEC below.
