Hit the ball first, then the ground. Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, it’s one of the fundamentals of great iron play that amateur golfers struggle with. Making ball-first contact helps you compress your golf ball, hit the ball longer, improve spin rates and be more consistent. If you’re struggling with hitting behind the ball or thinning shots, try this ball-first contact drill today.

Why you’re probably struggling

Ball-first contact requires the low point of your swing (the lowest spot of the arc) to happen after the ball. Most golfers bottom out too early. It happens because weight stays back, the swing is too shallow and there’s no forward pressure shift.

Many players try to help the ball into the air which does not work. When the golf course conditions are soft, the issue gets even worse. The club digs and the ball doesn’t go anywhere.

The fix: Lead-knee drill

Instead of overthinking weight shift or technical body moves, use this lead-knee movement to shift your pressure forward without complicating your swing.

Step-by-step:

Set up normally with the ball in the center, using a mid-iron, such as a 7-iron. Take a few rehearsal swings and feel where your club is striking the ground. Take a backswing. During the transition into the downswing, right as your backswing finishes, intentionally move your lead knee toward the target. This isn’t a lunge or slide. It’s a pressure shift that initiates forward movement. Let your body follow that shift and your hips and chest will naturally begin rotating through. You should now see the club strike the ground slightly ahead of where the ball would be. Hit a ball at half speed while focusing on the lead knee move at transition.

Continue to alternate between practice swings and hitting half-swing shots. When you start striking the majority of your shots with ball-first contact, transition to a full swing at regular speed.

Final thoughts

Be sure to watch the drill video above (around the 2:20 mark) to gain a better understanding of what this knee shift looks like. You don’t need to exaggerate it. When I tried it, I noticed it was more of a “feel” than a move. However, it was enough to get a clean strike. I’d recommend giving this drill a try if you want to hit better iron shots with ball first contact.

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