Send It Higher, Send It Lower...17

There is seldom a round played in which there is not at least one shot where you would like to adjust the trajectory of the ball. You would like it to travel a “little” higher or lower. Too often players get so caught up with making swing adjustments to accomplish this that they do not make a good swing.

Here is a simple way to accomplish the task without getting in the way of making a good swing.

When you want to have the ball travel one club higher (i.e. the difference between a 7 iron and an 8 iron) play the ball one ball forward from your standard setup. It is important to note that in this case you want the club to be positioned at setup in its normal position. That will put the equivalent of one ball’s diameter between where the club is and where the ball is. When you make your swing the club will arrive down to its normal position. When it gets there it will not find the ball. It then continues moving forward and upward. An instant later, as it is ascending and the clubface is slightly more lofted it will find the ball and send it slightly higher.

• This ball will travel slightly left

• This ball will be about one club higher and the distance will be about ½ club shorter.

When you want to have the ball travel one club lower, play the ball rearward by the diameter of one ball. In this case the club at address is placed directly behind the ball as it would be normally. Because the ball is back in your stance, the shaft will be leaning slightly forward de-lofting the clubface.

• This ball will travel slightly right of target

• This ball will be about one club lower and the distance will be about ½ club longer.

Bottom Line: This simple method enables you to alter your ball flight trajectory without any alteration to your normal golf swing.

Each Thursday we’ll bring you a helpful insight.

Swing to the target,

Ed

Heartland Golf Schools

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