Best way to hit the ball solid: Just forget about it!
The Author: NMBG StaffPublished: July 14th, 2011
Last Updated: October 5th, 2022
Hitting the ball solid is a fundamental problem that many of us deal with in the game of golf. I believe the 1990’s group En Vogue said it best with, “free your mind and the rest will follow.” Sounds simple enough right? That’s because at times it really can be just that simple. The quickest and easiest way to take strokes off of your golf game is to free your mind of thinking about striking the ball. When you’re able to approach the ball with a clear state of mind as you do when practicing, chances are you’ll
be pleasantly surprised how well you’ll make contact with the ball
. Wherever you may find yourself playing: Vegas, Scotland, a local golf course or in Myrtle Beach, your mindset needs to remain the same.
How often do you find yourself making a picture-perfect swing during practice, complete with a tiny divot pointing directly at the whole? I bet you even talk to yourself immediately afterwards saying, “Why in the world can’t I do this during a regular round?”. You can! A common mistake made by an overwhelming majority of recreational golfers, is that they put a huge emphasis on the point of contact. Don’t do it! The science of a golf swing shows that actually hitting through the ball produces the most distance and accuracy while hitting to the ball, or over-emphasizing the point of contact, often leads to large divots and heavy slices.
The most successful and consistent golf swing is a smooth and level one that sweeps through the location of the ball without doing anything special at the point of contact. How can you do this? By simply forgetting about it! Don’t hover over the ball like it’s a land mine waiting to golf off. Approach the situation just as you do during practice; with a clear mind. It sometimes helps me to close my eyes and slowly count to three prior to making my swing. My breathing is controlled, my muscles are relaxed, and I’ve put myself in the best situation to make an excellent golf swing.
Please feel free to leave comments below on techniques you use to make great contact with the ball.