Irons · Lesson
Stop Hitting Your Irons Thin
Part of our irons programs for topped or thin. Build a program with it
Thin shots usually happen for one of two reasons. Your body backs away from the ball. Or the club hits the ground too early and climbs into the ball. Both have the same cure. Stay in your posture and move your body forward. That puts the bottom of your swing in front of the ball. Film yourself if you can. Even good players need a second look.
Step by step
- Hit five shots and note your thin misses.
- Keep your chest down through impact.
- Feel pressure in your lead foot before contact.
- Hit half shots with a small divot after the ball.
- Build back to full swings.
Why it works
A thin shot happens when the club's low point sits behind the ball or the club rises as it arrives. If your chest lifts or your hips move toward the ball, the club's arc rises and the leading edge meets the ball's equator. Staying in your posture and shifting pressure to your lead foot moves the low point forward, so the club meets the ball while still descending and then the turf.
Common mistakes
- You stand up through impact and your chest rises.Keep your chest pointing toward the ground until after the ball is gone.
- You hang back on your trail foot and try to scoop the ball into the air.Feel your weight move into your lead foot before contact and let the loft lift the ball.
- You try to avoid the ground, so you hit at the ball rather than down and through it.Aim to brush the turf just after the ball and accept a small divot.
How you'll know it's working
- The divot starts at or just after the ball, not before it.
- The ball launches on a steady, medium-high flight instead of low and hot.
- You feel solid, clean contact with no sting in your hands.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a mid-iron or 8-iron and tee the ball a little off the ground, or draw a line in the turf and practice brushing it just in front of the ball.
Harder: Hit shots from slightly tight lies or vary the club and distance each shot while keeping the same small divot after the ball.
Common questions
Why do I hit my irons thin?
Most often your body moves away from the ball or your chest lifts, so the club's low point ends up behind the ball. The club then rises and hits the ball's equator.
Should I try to lift the ball to get it in the air?
No. The loft of the club gets the ball airborne. Hit down and through the ball, and let the club do the lifting.
