In 25 seconds, Top 100 Teacher reveals feel for ‘tour-level compression’

Hammer the nail. Hammer it again. 

Master that feel, then adjust. Master that feel, then adjust again. 

The result of expertise at the end?

“You’re going to start to achieve that tour-level compression,” Cameron McCormick says. 

The GOLF Top 100 Teacher was speaking on a video recently posted to his Instagram page — which you can watch in full here — and the subject is a popular one among players. Compress the golf ball, after all, and you unlock crispy shots. 

But how?   

Over the 25-second video, McCormick demonstrated a drill. He lined up three tees about six inches apart, driving each nearly fully into the ground at about an 11 o’clock angle. That’s the nail, he said. 

The clubface acts as the hammer. 

“And we’re going to drive, very short swing, down through the golf ball,” McCormick said on the video as he did so to a ball. 

He moved on to the second ball. 

“Blending into a little longer swing,” McCormick said on the video as he hit, “down through the golf ball.”

He moved on to the third ball. 

“Blending into a full swing,” McCormick said as he hit again, “down through the golf ball.

“You’re going to start to achieve that tour-level compression.”

Key for McCormick was the “down through” movement. He wanted to hammer the nail. Notably, the author of this story, who struggles with compression, tried the drill — and it takes a while to master, but the feeling is a good one.

The complete video is below: 

Also on McCormick’s post was a series of questions, and we’ll share those here, should you have similar ones:

Asked one commenter: “What if the player is missing right when they are ‘driving the nail into the ground; but not when they pick it clean?”

Answered McCormick: “Then pick it clean.”

Asked one commenter “Should this encourage a draw shot shape? Or straight?”

Answered McCormick: “Neither, as all are possible no matter the dynamic loft.”

Asked one commenter: “Is it too much shaft lean at address if the butt of the club is pointing at the front hip?”

Answered McCormick: “I’d say yes”

Asked one commenter: “I know it is a funny question… but is it possible to have too much shaft lean? I think when I play on a course, my hands get crazy far ahead.”

Answered McCormick: “Yes, it’s possible but not probable.”

Editor’s note 1: To watch more instruction videos from McCormick, please click here. 

Editor’s note 2: To read more thoughts on compression, click on this story here, here and here.