Knowing how to grip your irons isn’t just a way to bow to your weekly playing partners—it’s a skill that elevates every aspect of your iron game. However, there is one mistake that amateurs make that prevents them from being able to compress their irons. According to GOLF Top 100 Teachers David Armitage, amateurs often make the mistake of thinking they should hit the green in front of the ball when they go into the swing with their irons.
This mistake not only causes a lack of compression, but also weakens the stroke because it becomes challenging to find the bottom of the golf ball, leading to a bushy face that is not as stable – resulting in inconsistent contact and ultimately a shot that does not travel as far.
“When your body goes forward, the clubface stays stable. When your body leans back, the clubface will be unstable,” says Armitage.
“The ball strike, the distance and the direction, it’s all tied together,” he continues, “So what I really like to work on is trying to help (the amateurs) understand that they need to hit the ball and then make ground.”
If this sounds like you, don’t worry. Armitage has a simple exercise that will help you learn how to do this.
Training for better compression
While the key to compression is hitting the ball early, there is an important nuance. Many amateurs assume that compression comes from “hitting” the ball. Armitage clarifies that, although a compact iron shot requires a downward angle of attack, it’s not about the stroke—it’s about forward movement through the ball.
“The club is traveling down, but it (the downward angle of attack) is created because the body is moving forward toward the target,” he says, “If I want to create compression, I have to make my body move forward from the ground up.”
To learn how to do it right, Armitage says to try a simple tee drill. Start by placing a ball with it centered in your stance. Mark the position of your ball with a tip or a stretching rod by placing it above or below the ball to indicate your center line.
Next, measure about three or four ball lengths toward your target from your ball position and place a tee outside the last ball. Remove any other balls you may have placed and take a swing with one goal in mind: hit the tee.
After five to 10 hard swings where you catch the club, you can put a ball back. Either place a tee where the ball will go or just visualize the spot, and as you move, aim to hit it with the ball as you hit the ball.
“Almost forget about the ball,” says Armitage.
As you get the hang of it, you’ll likely notice that your compressed shots sound and feel different. Your weight transfer will become more efficient, your distribution will tighten and your ball flight will take a more penetrating trajectory.
