John Daly’s ‘best thing to do’ to hit solid shots with an iron

We’ve all struggled with our ball striking from time to time. Sometimes, our swing gets out of whack and we just can’t seem to find the face. And when it happens, it can feel like you’ll never hit a shot solid again.

This, of course, isn’t true. While it can feel like solid shots are a thing of the past, in reality there is good golf in your future. Sometimes all it takes to get out of your funk is making things as simple as possible.

In the video below, John Daly explains an easy trick you can use to make sure you’re making solid contact.

Daly’s solid contact trick

It’s typically easier to find the sweet spot when you are hitting a short pitch than when you are making a full swing. So next time you’re struggling to make solid contact, apply the techniques of a pitch shot to your full swing.

“Let’s shorten the club,” Daly says. “I just choke down and hit it normal — like a chip, almost. Swing gets a little shorter, but the ball is going to be more solid because the shaft is a little stiffer and the club is a little shorter. So, your chances of hitting a solid shot are much better than you are trying to grip an eight iron on the heel of the grip thinking it’s going to make you hit it longer.”

The longer your swing is, the more time there is for something to go awry. By shortening your swing, you’re limiting the time there is for something to go wrong — and increasing your chances of hitting the ball solid.

“Best thing to do I’ve always told amateurs is hit that three-quarters shot,” he says. “Choke down and just hit it normal.”

Next time you find yourself struggling to make solid contact, take Daly’s advice. With a shorter swing, you’re almost guaranteed to hit the ball better than with your full swing.