This story about Phil Mickelson’s golf swing was one of our most popular tips stories in 2024.
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There’s nothing like hitting a sharp iron. You can’t beat the feeling of crisply capturing an approach shot and seeing it laser right at the pin. These are the types of shots that keep you coming back for more.
The good ones? They hit these types of shots often. Weekend warriors? Not so much. Flagging an iron is more the exception than the rule.
However, this does not mean that we cannot strive for more of them. This year, our readers made it clear that elite ball-striking tips were top of mind.
In February, we posted a story featuring Phil Mickelsonbest ball-striking tips, and it was one of our most read stories of the year. You can read the whole post here, or continue for a summary of what he shared.
Lefty’s Ball Hitting Tip
When it comes to elite ball hitting, there’s one trait all great players have in common—and it starts with a proper configuration.
“You’re not going to find a good putter that doesn’t set up with a straight arm and club,” Mickelson said. “You can get back into that position, even swinging 100 miles an hour, or whatever, and feel yourself coming back to square one.”
When you go to the range to practice, it would be wise to check this line to make sure it is as straight as possible. If you’re not getting these basics right, you’re setting yourself up for failure before you even swing the club.
“All the (weak) ball hitters are going to start with their hands back, while all the good ones are going to start with their straight arm,” he said. “So I’m going to start with a straight line going back, and then I’m going to feel it back to a straight line (going down).
If you’re struggling to hit hard shots with your irons, give Mickelson’s advice a shot. It just might solve your ball-striking problems.
(Watch Mickelson deliver a golden half hour on an episode of HEAT below.)
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