Creating solid contact on the golf ball is every golfers goal. It is not something that can be overlooked because control, distance, and accuracy are negatively affected if we cannot hit the ball well. I have tried many different drills that promise to create solid contact, but many of them are an illusion because my swing abilities did not meet the expectations. Well, Kevin (an avid reader of The Grateful Golfer) sent me this video that solves my previous challenges. It is simple to follow, easy to replicate, and sustainable. All the tenents of a great golf drill.
This drill deals with focus. Not the mental kind what quiets your mind, although that is very important, but where to focus your vision when hitting both woods and irons. Not surprisingly, the focus point is opposite for each and does require a bit of practice to determine the point of contact required to produce your best contact.
As I mentioned in previous articles, the lesson of ball placement with respect to the bottom of our golf swing keeps smacking me in the face. Surprisingly, I struggle with this skill and execution from time to time. I am not sure why I do, but it is a common fault for most amateurs. Fixing this challenge is simple by using the advice offered in the video above. If you want to read more and see a different video you can go to my article Why Is It So Difficult To Find The Bottom Of Our Golf Swing?
Where we focus our contact point is determined by where the location of the bottom of our swing. This piece of information is vital for making better contact with the golf ball. I have used this above drill in the past, but I think I will give it a bit more focus when spring comes. I think it will sharpen my swing and in turn improve my overall game.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
Playing in wet conditions is always a test. Ball first contact becomes even more critical then. It’s the only thing I want prioritized when the ground is soggy.
Steep or flat doesn’t matter nearly as much as whether we make first contact with ball or ground.
In wet conditions, I think the same adjustments we use to hit from fairway bunkers helps me the must. Choke up a little, move that ball slightly back in the stance. So basically I get steeper rather than more shallow to help me get ball first contact.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kevin, I agree. Ball first contact during wet conditions. It does not always happen, but at least we are aware that it needs too.
Cheers Jim
LikeLike
It’s something I’ve picked up naturally over the years. I noticed long ago that with my practice swings I tend to bottom out where I focus, so I just started focusing to the other side of the ball with my irons. Then I adapted it to my driver and pick a point about 3 inches in front of the ball.
It does two things. We still see the ball. We see our focal point too. Our brains will draw us a line between them and we will try and swing that path to the focal point almost by default. At least that’s how it works for me today. I really can’t remember if it came that easy that quickly. I just know I still do it, so I assume I must of found benefit right away since back then, I didn’t have a ton of patience. I tried a lot of things all those years ago. Something new all the time. lol
Today I find that by setting the focal point this way and using that imaginary line between ball and focal point or focal point and ball, I can shape shots easier too. I still have to get the face aligned properly, but I get a perfect image of the direction I want the club to travel through the ball and that’s a big help.
I used it today to hit a big bomb of a draw. Turned it 20 yards in the air. Aimed it out over a 2 hundred yard long waste area and bent it back to just left of center. Rode the wind the whole way. Hit 280 with an easy swing thanks to that and a good landing kick forward.
I haven’t bent one like that in years. Felt awesome. I should clarify though. I didn’t aim out there with my body. My body was aimed down the center line as was my club. It was that imaginary line I aimed out over all that sand and shell and bush and palm tree. lol
I bring it up now because I watched the video below last night. I didn’t go all long drive or anything today, but I got my weight shifting back and forth more before starting and got the weight shifted better to the back foot and was pretty much mauling the ball. I didn’t miss a single fairway until hole 7 where I drove through it for the first time in at least 6,7 years. On wet ground. I felt like I was snapping the whip better than I have off the tee in years without trying to overswing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a whole lot to unpack there, Kevin. It is all good as you have found what works best for your swing. That is always good news. As far as wet conditions, I have tried flattening my swing, but that does not always work. Everything seems to be a work in progress.
Cheers Jim
LikeLike