Compress the Ball with Your Irons with Jean-Baptiste Gonnet
A hard feel in the fingers, no divots, erratic ball flights? Jean-Baptiste Gonnet debunks a common misconception: you don’t compress the ball by swinging down sharply and forcing the shot. Your hands need to be ahead of the clubhead at impact, and he explains what prevents this from happening.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, the premise is simple: At impact, the hands should be in front of the clubhead. If they come in from behind, we take the angle, block, or intercept the ball. First reason: the ball's position. With short irons and wedges, she positions her feet more toward the center; with long irons, slightly to the left, but never too far forward, otherwise she’ll take the club as she swings up. Second cause: the loss of the angle between the arm and the shaft. Maintaining this angle doesn’t mean swinging vertically: the more vertical your swing becomes, the more you have to rise up, and the more likely you are to hit the ball with a fat shot or hit it off the top. He prefers a club a little laid back on the downswing, “shallow”, which allows the hands to pass in front.
Over-swinging causes the same problem: the hands push the club toward the vertical. The compression comes more from support: At the start of the downswing, he pushes into the ground and lowers himself very slightly, which maintains the angle, and then he rotates. Standing up with his weight shifted backward causes him to uncoil too early. Final tip: The wrist of the glove should be somewhat rounded. during the downswing and straight through impact, never breaking backward. He recommends practicing these sensations by taking plenty of practice swings without a club.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Position the ball according to the club: in the middle of your feet for short irons, slightly to the left for long irons, and never too far forward from your stance.
- Take your backswing without trying to force it: a smooth swing is enough.
- As you begin the downswing, push into the ground and lower yourself very slightly to maintain the angle between your arm and the handle.
- Let the club lie a little flatter (shallow) instead of holding it upright.
- Then turn: your hands move in front of the clubhead, and the ball is struck before it hits the ground.
- Check the wrist of the glove: slightly curved on the downswing, straight at impact.
- Practice these sensations with practice swings before hitting balls.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Believing that you have to come in at a steep angle to compress the ball.
- Placing the ball too far forward with an 8-iron: you'll hit it on the way up.
- Using your arms to force the swing, which makes the clubface vertical and causes you to hit the ground before the ball.
- Stand up with your weight shifted backward and break the angle too early.
- Bend your wrist backward at impact: hands behind you and in a spoon position.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Check the ball's position before each set
- Test swings without a load: push off the ground, then rotate
- Downswing with the club slightly laid off, hands ahead
- The glove cuff bulges when the arm is lowered; check this while stationary
Your Questions
Do you have to swing down sharply to compress the ball?
No. Jean-Baptiste Gonnet explains that the more vertically you swing, the more you have to rise up to avoid hitting the ground, and the more you lose the angle. He prefers a club that’s slightly laid back on the downswing, which allows your hands to lead the way.
Where should you place the ball when using an iron to compress it better?
Position your feet more toward the middle when using short irons and wedges. With long irons, position your feet slightly to the left, but not too far forward, because the lowest point of the swing is ahead: if the ball is too far forward, you’ll hit it as you swing up.
Why do I lose my angle on the downswing?
According to him, it's often a matter of weight distribution: if you rise up with your weight shifted backward, the uncoiling happens too early. By pushing into the ground as you begin the downswing, you maintain the angle before turning.
What role does the left wrist play in compression?
The wrist of the glove should be slightly curved downward as it comes down and straight at impact, with the hands just in front. If it bends backward, the hands go behind the ball, and the ball is caught.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Jean-Baptiste Gonnet). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.