Five tips to improve your game: sweeter strikes

Five of Golf Monthly's top-25 coaches give advice on game improvement in a range of areas, from driving to chipping

Weight shift
Nick Bonfield
By
published

Kevin Craggs Kevin Craggs Golf Academy, Linlithgow

Fault:

- You are catching your iron shots either fat or thin - You lack power with your irons

Fix:

If you are making consistently fat and thin contacts, you'll need to head to the range to find a cure. The good news is that both bad shots come from the same place. If your weight is stuck on the back foot through impact, the club will ‘bottom out' too and you'll either catch the ground before the ball or strike the equator on the upswing. To rectify the problem address the ball normally and let your left foot move towards your right at the top of the backswing. Then as you drive back down towards the ball, let your right foot step back into position. This drill forces you to move your weight correctly during the swing and will prevent you from hanging back. Your ball striking should return.

How to get sweeter strikes:

Nick Bonfield
Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

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