Golf Digest Schools
Fix your iron contact with this simple practice drill
Many golfers are sacrificing power and consistency with their irons—and you probably are, too. According to Golf Digest 50 Best Teacher Erika Larkin, the best way to become a proficient iron player is to learn to control the low point of your swing. Not only will this improve your contact, but it’ll help you produce predictable distance and direction. In short, you’ll hit more greens, and your misses will be much more playable.
Follow along with Larkin’s 3-Tee Drill to practice controlling the low point in your swing, so you can add more zip to your approach shots.
Watch the video below:
Tee up three balls in a row. The first ball should be on a high tee, the second on a medium tee, and the third on a low tee—basically flush to the ground. The point of this drill is to help you check your swing’s low point when hitting each ball, Larkin says.
For the high tee, start with the clubhead hovering even with the ball. Then, try to match your swing to the height of the tee. This elevated tee should help you visualize where your swing needs to bottom out for you to make solid contact. Steep swingers might find it a challenge to not swing right under the ball at first.
“As far as the divot goes, obviously you’re not going to take one, but you don’t want to break the tee under the ball,” Larkin says. “That would mean your release is either too early or your contact point is not happening in the right place.”
When you move to the medium tee, do the same: Hover the clubhead and try to match your swing to the height of the ball. For the lowest tee, continue to make the same adjustments for the height of the ball, focusing on grooving that low point for solid contact. Larkin says to work on this drill until you can strike it solid from each tee.
For more help from tee to green, check out “Best Lessons,” a six-part guide from some of Golf Digest’s top teachers, including Larkin, Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter and Michael Breed. You’ll get some great tips for your driver down to your wedges.