Forward Shaft Lean
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I love this photograph taken by Robert Beck yesterday at the Open Championship. It reveals what it takes to hit compressed and penetrating iron shots - forward shaft lean. If you tend to hit the ball too high with your irons or haven't taken a divot all year this is a fantastic image for you to keep in mind the next time you practice.
Remember these important points to help you get into this position at impact:
- If you have a weak grip it is almost impossible to get here. Strengthen your grip a touch and that will encourage the hands to lead and hold through the strike.
- Your weight must be forward at impact - favoring the lead foot 80%/20%. Drive the hips forward in the downswing with out the head shifting in front of the ball for proper weight distribution at impact.
- Deloft the clubface as much as possible at impact. Top players actually launch a 4 or even a 5 iron at a height similar to that which they launch the driver. Practice hitting low, punch type shots until you can hit the ball at head height.
A few additional articles to help:
