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Irons: Compress the BallImpact Position Irons Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 15 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Cover the ball to compress it: Athletic Motion Golf

Are you standing too far back from the ball, and are your irons lacking compression? The Athletic Motion Golf team provides a precise interpretation of the advice to “cover the ball” using 3D data from a top-level player: position the ball between the center of your pelvis and the center of your chest, followed by a live-action exercise.

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Athletic Motion Golf · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

8 minSame problemShaft Lean at Impact: Brake to ReleasePadraig Harrington · Intermediate / Expert7 minSame problemStop Hitting Your Irons Fat: Water in the Left EarChris Ryan · Intermediate5 minSame problemJustin Rose's Tips for Making More BirdiesJustin Rose · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

The perfect shot everyone is looking for is one where the iron hits the ball and then the ground, strikes the center of the clubface, and produces that whistling sound as it leaves the club. For the Athletic Motion Golf team, the number one requirement is to cover the ball, an expression with thirty definitions. Their definition: controlling the body’s two centers. In the downswing, the lower body moves forward and puts the center of the pelvis, right in front of the ball; the upper body follows through until the delivery phase, then The center of the chest aligns with the back edge of the ball. The ball is framed: this lets you keep your hands ahead and the shaft leaning forward. “Staying behind the ball” comes from impact photos: halfway down, both chest and hips have moved forward, and “behind” means the back edge of the ball, not several inches.

Ball position matters: Most golfers cover the ball at address; as they take their swing, they end up with a the ball is dynamically too far back, resulting in premature release and wrist action. The pro positions the ball further forward, roughly in line with the logo on the left side of the chest, and moves toward it. Both arms move forward accordingly until the hands are at waist level, at which point the hips level off and the left foot pushes off the ground; the chest then moves back slightly in response. The exercise: draw two lines on a live video, along the outside of the left leg and the left side of the head. During the slow downswing, the hip moves past the mid-thigh line, then the head returns to its starting position; the movement ends with a small, slow stroke, which is repeated immediately.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. With an iron, play the ball opposite the left side of your chest.
  2. Film yourself from the front and draw a line along the outside of your left leg and another along the left side of your head.
  3. Swing to the top, then come down slowly, moving your hips and chest forward.
  4. Let your hip move past the line by about half a thigh.
  5. Upon impact, make sure the clubhead has returned close to its starting line.
  6. Finish with a slow, gentle stroke and watch the video again.

Key Takeaways

To cover the ball, position it between the center of your pelvis and the center of your chest.
Upon impact: hips on the front edge of the ball, chest on the back edge.
Covering the ball at address causes it to lag too far behind once you start moving.
The two centers move forward together until the hands reach waist height.
The slight backward movement of the chest upon impact is a reaction, not an intentional action.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Covering the ball at address, which leaves it too far back at impact.
  • Pushing your hips far forward while leaving your upper body behind.
  • Staying several inches behind the ball at impact.
  • Deliberately leaning your upper body back as you reach the ball.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Slow downswings filmed with two reference lines, at the leg and at the head
  2. Slow, short shots replayed immediately on video
  3. A few 7-iron shots with the ball opposite the left side of the chest

Your Questions

What does "covering the ball" mean?

For the Athletic Motion Golf team, it’s all about aligning the ball at impact: the center of the pelvis over the front edge of the ball, and the center of the chest over the back edge.

Should you stay behind the ball?

Just a few millimeters: the chest reaches the rear edge of the ball. Staying significantly behind it causes you to lose compression.

What is the correct ball position when using irons?

Roughly in line with the logo on the left side of the chest. A ball positioned too far back forces you to compensate for another flaw in your swing.

How can you train on your own?

Film yourself from the front with a phone, draw a line along your left leg and another on the left side of your head, then make slow, short strokes.

Learn More

All “Irons - Compressing the Ball” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Impact Position” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Shaft Lean at Impact: Brake to ReleaseThe “lean” of the clubhead is not a position to imitate: you "pull the handbrake" at impact so that the clubhead accelerates, rather than pushing with your hands. Stop Hitting Your Irons Fat: Water in the Left EarTrust your loft, keep your upper body above your lower body, and feel the water run down your left ear for as long as possible. Justin Rose's Tips for Making More BirdiesFrom the drive to the putt, Rose provides a tip for each shot: maximum speed after the ball, shift your weight to the left to compress the ball, and use your upper body when hitting wedges.

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* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros