The three-time major champion says this is ‘essential’ for solid contact

If you struggle with loose ball-Punchingchances are you just need to review some basics to get back on track. And as three-time major champion Padraig Harrington demonstrates in a last videoyou don’t even need a ball to get started.

In this video, Harrington breaks down a concept he says is essential to producing consistent contact: finding your ground.

“You have to know where this club is hitting the ground, where it’s bottoming out,” Harrington says.

It may sound a little strange, but knowing where the bottom of the club is is essential to making a solid contact because you need to deliver the clubface at the right time to produce the shot you need.

“If you hit too far forward (of the ball), it’s going to make you cut the ball,” Harrington says.

And if you hit too far behind the ball, Harrington explains, you’re likely to hit a shot that draws. While these shots can be useful at times, if you want to create consistent ball flight, you must be able to check your low point and deliver your club to the same spot every time.

But like everything else in golf, it’s a skill that takes practice to improve. In the same video, Harrington shares a simple tee drill that will help you control your low point and block your shots.

Harrington’s training

Take a mid iron and place a tee on the ground – this will represent your golf ball. Place your tee shot in the middle of your stance and find a spot about a quarter inch in front of the tee to focus on. Do a few three-quarter swings, allowing your body to move smoothly to a rhythm. Your focus here should not be form, but getting your club to the bottom right off the tee, or to your chosen spot.

“Wherever the tee is, you want to hit the other side of it,” Harrington says.

Once you’re able to consistently hit your spot, Harrington says to take the tee out of the equation. Start in a static position. Pick a spot in front of you and do the same fluid three-quarter swing, seeing if you can get your club to the bottom of your chosen spot. As you get more comfortable, Harrington says to move around and see if you can pick out a spot with your eyes and hit it.

This not only helps you control your low point but also helps you develop a proper follow through.

“I pick a spot with my eyes and hit it,” Harrington says, “I don’t keep my head still. I don’t keep my head down. But I look at the ball. And I look at it long enough to see separation.”

By seeing your divots, you will stay under the ball and hit it with a downward stroke, which is optimal to avoid early extension and compression of your irons.

Put these two keys together and you’ll be hitting irons better than ever.

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