I think that a lot of the golfers out there would just like to have a round of golf where every shot gets up in the air. This not only plagues beginners but golfers who have played the game for many years as well. First we must understand the game of golf has a lot of opposites. If you try to scoop, lift or “get under” the ball, it will almost certainly not get airborne. The reason is that all of these actions force your weight onto your back leg and cause the club head to travel upward. As a result you strike the middle of the ball with the edge of the club on the way up.
But the proper way to get the ball in the air is just the opposite. Hit the ball as the club is on the downward arc of the swing and your weight is on the front leg. This allows you to strike the back of the ball with the center of the club to put backspin on the ball and create the lift we all seek.
Don DeLorenzo is a PGA-certified instructor at Gilroy Golf Course. To schedule a lesson with Don, call Gilroy GC at (408) 848-0490..
