Tommy Fleetwood's Iron Trajectory: Play with Ball Position
To hit a 7-iron higher, lower, or with a “stinger,” Tommy Fleetwood doesn’t reinvent his swing: he moves the ball one ball-width and lets his setup do the work. A lesson from the “Pros Teaching Joes” series, where making solid contact remains the priority.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
It all starts with the standard shot. Fleetwood prefers a ball positioned slightly forward rather than back, because he tends to lack side spin, and a ball positioned forward forces him to put more spin on it. As for height, he keeps the ball in place and moves his feet a ball's width apart: A ball positioned further forward results in a higher trajectory; another ball, even higher. He calls this “working around the ball” in his setup: the swing itself hardly changes. But a ball positioned further forward requires shifting more weight to the left or rotating more, and sometimes aiming a little differently.
His rule: Connection comes first. If you keep thinking, “I have to clear the tree,” you’ll end up hitting the tree. To hit low, position the ball far back: less loft, lower launch. In the wind, he adds a slower swing—imagine a long backswing and a short finish. For a stinger, place the ball very far back, hands that remained in the same place (a lot of clubhead tilt) and the feeling that the right hip, right shoulder, and right ear stay up through the ball, with a short finish. His very distinctive finish, he explains, doesn’t affect the shot at all: it stems from drills his former coach had him do to correct a swing that was too inside and too “flippy.”.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Hit a few standard 7-irons to establish your reference ball position.
- To step up, leave the ball in place and move your feet back by one ball's width.
- Turn more or shift more weight to the left to maintain the same contact.
- To lower your stance, move the ball back in your stance without changing anything else.
- When playing into the wind, slow down your swing: take a long backswing and a short finish—almost like a “punch” shot.
- For the stinger, move the ball back even further while keeping your hands in the same spot.
- Swing through the ball while keeping your hips, shoulders, and ear high and straight, then finish with a short swing.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Adjust your swing for each shot path instead of starting with your setup at address.
- Focusing only on height and forgetting about contact.
- Move the ball forward without turning or shifting your weight any further.
- Move your hands with the ball on the stinger.
- Dive under the ball when you want to keep it low.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Series 7: standard, high, higher, low, stinger
- A ball's width between each position
- Each ball is judged first on contact, then on height
- Low swings in the wind: long backswing, short finish
Your Questions
How far do you need to move the ball to change the height?
Fleetwood talks about a ball width: he leaves the ball in place and moves his feet. One ball further forward brings it up a little higher.
Does a backhand shot go farther?
A little, according to him: by moving the ball back, you reduce the loft. He gives the example of a 60° club that becomes a 57° or 58° and can travel three or four yards farther.
Where should you place your hands when hitting a stinger with a 7-iron?
In the same position as for a normal shot. The ball moves backward, but not the hands: the clubhead tilts sharply toward the target, then keeps the right side high through the ball and finishes short.
Should we copy Tommy Fleetwood's finish?
That's not necessary. He explains that his finish has no effect on the shot: it comes from drills he did with his former coach when his swing was too inside, and the rest is mainly a matter of momentum.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Tommy Fleetwood). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.