Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.
Golf swings are a bit like snowflakes in that no two are exactly alike. But while every swing has its own unique look and flair, there are certain elements that are present in just about every good swing.
This fact used to be tough to illustrate. We were pretty sure we could see certain commonalities, but quantifying them was all but impossible.
With the advent of new technologies in the sport, though, it’s become easier than ever to quantify certain swing elements that are found in all good swings.
Sportsbox AI — a state-of-the art app which analyzes swing videos and spits out hundreds of datapoints about your body movements — is one such tool that can be used to do just this. And in a recent Instagram post, they shared three key movements for solid ball striking with your irons.
Check them out below.
1. Forward shaft lean
You’ve probably heard the term forward shaft lean before — and with good reason. To make consistently solid contact that generates plenty of power, you must have your hands in front of the ball when making contact with your irons.
When you don’t get forward shaft lean, you’re just asking for poor contact. Most of the time, this shows up in chunks and thins, but even if you hit the ball on the face, you won’t get the same power as you would when hitting with forward shaft lean. Instead, you’ll add loft and “scoop” the ball off the ground, which robs you of power.
Next time you head out to practice, make a conscious effort to get some forward shaft lean. If you do, you’ll have a much easier time generating ball-first contact which will produce more crisp iron shots.
2. Hips toward the target
You want to make sure your lead hip is closer to the target at impact than it was at address. This is a move that is seen in 100 percent of Tour players swings, according to Sportsbox AI data. At the same time, you want your chest to be a little behind your pelvis. This is called a “negative sway gap” and is key for hitting down on the ball while maintaining a neutral swing path.
This combo of moves can be a tricky to master, but it’s something that will begin to feel natural once you get the hang of it. Better yet, it’ll have you flushing your irons like never before.
3. Pelvis turn greater than chest turn
The last must for solid iron strikes is to have your pelvis turned more than your chest at impact. This move is also seen in 100 percent of Tour players, according to Sportsbox AI data.
When the chest is more open than the hips at impact, it indicates poor sequencing and causes an over-the-top move. This results in big fades and weak slices, which rob you of power and consistency.
