Irons · Tip
Hit a Low Knockdown Iron
Part of our irons programs for weak contact. Build a program with it
A knockdown keeps the ball under wind or branches. Take one more club. Put a little more weight on your lead foot. Press your hands slightly forward. That takes loft off for you. Then shorten your swing, especially the finish. Stop it early and hold it. But don't slow down. A short swing still needs commitment. If you ease off, you lose the strike and the control.
Step by step
- Take one extra club.
- Lean a little weight forward.
- Press your hands slightly ahead.
- Make a shorter swing with a short, held finish.
- Keep accelerating through the ball.
Why it works
Moving weight forward and pressing your hands ahead delofts the club at impact, so the ball launches lower. A lower launch with a shorter finish also reduces spin, so the ball is less likely to balloon in wind. The extra club makes up the distance you lose from the shorter swing, so you do not need to swing harder.
Common mistakes
- You swing hard to make up distance and the ball still climbs.Trust the extra club and make a shorter, smooth swing at a normal tempo.
- You ease off through the ball and hit it thin or fat.Keep the club speeding up until impact, then stop the finish on purpose.
- You slide your hips toward the target or drop your hands low and hit the ground early.Set a little extra weight forward at address and keep it there, with your hands only slightly ahead of the ball.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball starts lower than your normal shot and stays under the tree line or wind.
- You make clean ball-first contact, with a shallow divot starting just in front of the ball.
- You can hold your finish in balance, with your chest facing the target and the club at about waist or chest height.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice with a mid-iron on a flat lie with no wind, and swing only to hip height on the backswing and finish.
Harder: Hit the shot from a slight uphill, downhill or sidehill lie, or pick a low target such as a gap between two trees and aim to fly the ball through it.
Common questions
How far does a knockdown shot go compared to a full swing?
It usually goes about the same distance as a full swing with the club one shorter, because the extra club makes up for the shorter swing. Test it on a range to learn your own carry and roll.
Should I move the ball back in my stance for a knockdown?
You can move it a small amount back from your normal spot, but the main work comes from the forward weight, forward hands and shorter finish. Moving it too far back can make the strike steep and inconsistent.
