Irons · Tip
Steady Posture for Crisper Irons
Part of our irons programs for topped or thin, fat or chunked, uneven lies. Build a program with it
Thin and fat shots often share a cause. Your body changes height or position during the swing. Keep your chest over the ball. Keep your spine angle steady through impact. Then the club comes back to the same spot every time. Make slow swings while keeping your head level. Feel your chest turn through impact, not lift. Film yourself from the front to check.
Step by step
- Set up with your chest over the ball.
- Keep your head at the same height.
- Turn your chest through instead of lifting.
- Hold your posture to the finish.
- Film from the front.
Why it works
The club bottoms out where your body lets it. If your chest lifts or your head rises, the low point of the swing moves up and away from the ball, and you hit it thin. Holding your spine angle steady keeps the distance from your hands to the ball the same. That lets the club return to the same spot each time and strike the ball first, then the turf.
Common mistakes
- You stand up out of your posture as you start down.Feel your chest stay over the ball while your hips and chest turn, and keep your head at the same height.
- You lift your chest to see where the ball went.Keep your eyes on the ball position until the club has passed it, and let your chest turn instead of rise.
- You lose your posture after impact and fall back to upright.Hold your setup angle all the way to a balanced finish, then check it on video.
How you'll know it's working
- Your contact moves toward the middle of the clubface, with fewer thin strikes that skim low off the ground.
- You start to see a shallow divot just after where the ball sat.
- On front-view video, your head stays at about the same height from setup to impact.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Make slow half swings with a short iron, and pause at the top to check that your chest is still over the ball.
Harder: Hit full-speed shots with a longer iron while keeping the same posture and head height, and film them to confirm.
Common questions
Why do I keep hitting thin iron shots?
A common cause is your chest or head rising during the downswing, which lifts the low point of the club above the ball. Keeping your spine angle steady through impact helps the club reach the ball first.
Should I keep my head completely still in the golf swing?
You don't need to freeze it, but it should stay at about the same height. Small turning movements are fine, but standing up or dipping changes where the club bottoms out.
