Irons Downwind and on Slopes: The Morikawa School
On the course, no iron shot is like a shot on the driving range. In his “flight school,” Collin Morikawa reads the lie and the wind, selects his club, and demonstrates two ways to play the shot each time: high and carried, or low and rolling.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
First shot, in downhill, ball above your feet, tailwind. Morikawa doesn't struggle: he knows the wind will die down and the ball will fly lower, so he uses a slightly shorter club. He keeps the ball in almost the same position but adds a little more weight on the left leg to regain his balance at impact. With a tailwind, the ball spins less: he abandons his usual fade and plays it straight.
Second shot, between two clubs, with a tailwind. High option: a 9-iron with a high draw. Low option, which reduces uncertainty: an 8- or 7-iron positioned slightly back in the stance, same swing length, smoother rhythm. As for the effects, the rule remains the same: face toward the target, closed stance for a draw or open stance for a fade, and swing along the line of your feet. Third shot, with a wedge on a slight uphill slope: he cuts the elevation gain in half as indicated and never fights the slope. He shows a high 56°, then a lower 50° that lands short of the flag and rolls out.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Look at the lie: slope, ball above or below your feet.
- Assess the wind and its effects: a tailwind means less lift and greater distance.
- On the downswing, maintain the ball position and shift your weight slightly to the left.
- Choose your shot path: high with a shallower clubface, or low with a steeper clubface.
- For a low ball, position it slightly back in your stance, keep your weight over the ball, and swing smoothly.
- To achieve the desired effect, keep the clubface pointing toward the target and simply narrow or widen your stance.
- When playing an uphill wedge shot, halve the elevation difference and work with the slope, not against it.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Trying to adjust a shot that will inevitably come out lower on the downhill slope.
- Position the ball well back in your stance on a sloping lie.
- Play your usual shot with a tailwind, since the ball will spin less.
- Hit the low ball harder instead of slowing down your swing.
- Counteracting the wedge's loft: contact and spin become inconsistent.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Same distance, two clubs: the top one is the most open, the bottom one is the most closed
- Low ball: same swing length, slower rhythm
- On a slope at the driving range, shift your weight slightly to the left, keeping the ball position the same
- Before each shot, say aloud the target, the trajectory, and the landing zone.
Your Questions
On the downswing, should you move the ball back in your stance?
Not necessarily. Morikawa maintains almost the same ball position and shifts a little more weight onto his left leg. That's what helps him regain his balance at impact.
Why sail close-hauled downwind?
Because the ball spins less with the wind at his back. There’s no need to struggle: he aims slightly to the right of the flag and hits a straight shot.
Between two clubs with a tailwind—which one should you choose?
Morikawa demonstrates two options: a high draw with a 9-iron that takes advantage of the wind, or an 8-iron—or even a 7-iron—played low and softly. A low ball minimizes the effect of the wind and reduces uncertainty about distance.
How does he calculate the elevation gain with the wedge?
He halves the distance shown by the rangefinder or the scorecard. Since the wedges fly very high, the actual distance played changes very little.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Collin Morikawa). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.