Irons: Compress the BallImpact PositionClub Position Relative to the Ball Irons Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 19 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Hands in front of the clubhead at impact to compress the ball

Name: Hands in front of the clubhead at impact to compress the ball
Uploaded: 2023-09-01T12:00:00+00:00
Duration: 19 min 15 s
Channel: Gabriel Anglade
Description: Do your iron shots fly high without penetrating? In this Ecole Golf lesson, compression doesn’t come from a steeper angle of attack but from dynamic loft. Stance, timing of the weight transfer, hands forward, and a cupped left wrist: four steps and four exercises.

Do your iron shots fly high without penetrating? In this Ecole Golf lesson, compression doesn’t come from a steeper angle of attack but from dynamic loft. Stance, timing of the weight transfer, hands forward, and a cupped left wrist: four steps and four exercises.

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Gabriel Anglade · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

Schedule · Step 5 of 7Hit Your Irons Pure in 7 StepsWhen it's considered valid: You hear a clear impact, and the divot starts in front of the ball 7 times out of 10.

Step 6 →

To be continued

8 minSame problemFat Shot from Tipping Back: Right Shoulder Toward the BallLewis Wallace · Intermediate 8 minSame problemShaft Lean at Impact: Brake to ReleasePadraig Harrington · Intermediate / Expert 16 minFrom the same pro3 Downswing Exercises: Weight Transfer, Sequence, PlaneGabriel Anglade · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

A common swing mistake: thinking that compressing the club means bringing it down very steeply. With a more vertical angle, the lowest point drops too low, and the club hits the ground before the ball. The lowest point must remain after the ball, 4 to 6 cm deep, slightly into the soil. The compression occurs mainly at the dynamic loft, clubface angle at impact: According to TrackMan, a PGA Tour pro hits an 6-iron with an average loft of about 28° to 20.5°. High, shallow-trajectory shots: The lowest point of the swing is often good, but the loft is too open.

The process: the ball between the feet and sleeve toward the left groin crease at address; pass at the right moment, checked with a stick placed outside the left foot; hands ahead of the clubhead, practiced with a bag on the floor and then a wand against the grip. Final key: a curved left wrist, otherwise the clubface opens and the ball goes to the right. It takes several weeks of practice.

The Exercise, Step by Step

Place the ball between your feet (8-iron) and tilt the club shaft toward the crease of your left groin.
Place a stick on the outside of your left foot: as you lower yourself, touch it when your left arm is parallel to the ground.
If you don't have a ball, lay a bag flat on the ground and take slow swings, bringing your hands in front of the bag.
A more difficult variation: the bag is at the level of your left foot, with your hands and club at the same height.
Hold a club against the left side of the grip and practice half and three-quarter swings without letting it touch your ribs.
Slip a tee into your glove and feel it point toward the ball as you swing down.
Make sure you've mastered each step before moving on to the next one—start by practicing with small swings.

Key Takeaways

A steeper angle of attack does not result in greater compression.

The lowest point is located behind the ball and slightly into the ground.

The compression is achieved through dynamic loft, which is tighter than the original loft.

At address, the barrel points toward the left groin, not toward the waistband.

The transfer should be done early: many hobbyists wait too long to transfer.

Hands forward without a cupped wrist: the clubface opens, and the ball goes to the right.

Mistakes to Avoid

Aim for a steep angle of attack to compress.
A handle pointing toward the belt loop at the address.
Stay on your back leg and shift your weight after impact.
Extend your hands forward without bending your left wrist.
Maintain the exaggerated starting position of the baton exercise: at address, keep your hands at the level of your groin.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

Left-footed pass for timing the transfer
Slow swings, hands in front of the bag
Stick Work Against the Grip on Three-Quarter Swings
Tee in the glove, pointing toward the ball
Return balls to the right at the beginning

Your Questions

Why do my shots go to the right when I do the "baguette" drill?

It makes sense: when moving their hands forward, many golfers open their clubface. The video advises accepting this at first, then using a cupped left wrist to bring the clubface back into alignment.

Which way should the handle point at the address?

Toward the left groin crease. Pointing toward the belt, it leaves much more distance to cover before the hands reach the front at impact.

How can I check the timing of my transfer?

With a club positioned outside your left foot: you should make contact with it when your left arm is parallel to the ground as it comes down. If you make contact after impact, you’re transferring your weight too late.

What is the purpose of the tee in the glove?

Check your left wrist: during the downswing, the tee should point toward the ball and the ground, not forward. This is a sign of a cocked wrist.

Learn More

All “Irons - Compressing the Ball” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you All “Impact Position” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you All videos on “Club Position Relative to the Ball” →Find the lesson that's right for you Clubface at the Start of the Backswing: Keep It Looking at the BallAt the start of the backswing, the clubface should still be looking at the ball when your hands pass your back thigh; otherwise the swing gets too flat. Fat Shot from Tipping Back: Right Shoulder Toward the BallThe “gratte aux fers” comes from tilting the upper body backward: the sternum in front of the ball (“right shoulder toward the ball”), controlled by a stick. The Arm-Shoulder Triangle in Golf: Bringing It Back at ImpactMaintain the arm-shoulder triangle from address and bring the clubhead toward the inside of your front thigh at impact, first on a half-swing and then on a full swing. Gabriel AngladeAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Gabriel Anglade). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.