Ball Contact

[Robert Harris]

Bobby,
Just received your Full Swing DVD and have started to evaluate it. So far, it looks pretty basic. Here's a question for you that I've tried to have answered for several years without much success. it is;
Can you give me a drill that will ensure that I hit the ball FIRST and then take a divot, just as all the pros do? I have asked this question many times without a satisfactory answer. It is my considered opinion that less than 5 % of all amateur golfers are capable of hitting this shot. To me, it seems absolutely imperative that one learns to do this to reach any kind of level of excellence.
In my own case, I have played for 40 yrs, have gotten to a single digit H'cap (I'm now at 13, at 71 yrs old) and have still never learned to do this properly. I 've heard all the advice about moving the ball back in my stance, delaying the uncocking of my wrists, etc. but nothing seems to help.
In my opinion, anyone who can teach us folks how to hit the LITTLE ball and THEN take a divot would be doing a great service to us all. I'm looking forward to hearing your advice.
Regards,
Robert Harris.

[Bobby_Eldridge]

Before I give you some advice I want to make something perfectly clear. Yes, I believe that ball/turf IS the name of the game, it is not the end all. Turf/ball is not the way to go and although ball/ball is not the a terrible way, I have played with many ball/ball strikers, I can not tell you I have YOUR answer because I have never seen you swing a golf club.

With that being said, I want you to go hit 50 balls a day for 10 days, (not in a row) from a (ball going DOWNHILL lie). Not a ball BELOW your feet but a ball going DOWNHILL. ( not a 20 degree downhill but a 3-5 degree downhill lie.

Make sure you stand level to the lie you are standing on. Use a 7 iron and stand to the slope. After you hit 50 balls, hit 25 balls from a level lie.

After you have done this for 10 days, let me know if things start to change.