What the hell is a descending shot?

[What'saScore]

I think I understand a sweeping shot, but what the hell is a descending shot? I have a hard enough time just hitting the dam ball, much less doing trajectory trickery.

[ezra76]

A descending blow would be when you come down very steep and trap the ball. If you want to try it think about just dropping the head right on the ball rather than sweeping it. This is good for short irons and wedge shots.

[codyblank]

it's a shot that descends.

[Silver]

see my avatar

[daddymack]

Originally Posted by ezra76

A descending blow would be when you come down very steep and trap the ball. If you want to try it think about just dropping the head right on the ball rather than sweeping it. This is good for short irons and wedge shots.

To do this you have to place the ball way back in your stance right? Otherwise it seems like you would have to swing like Charles barkley

[Davebud]

Originally Posted by daddymack

To do this you have to place the ball way back in your stance right? Otherwise it seems like you would have to swing like Charles barkley

You can't just swing like Charles Barkley, that takes hundreds of hours of lessons to perfect.

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by daddymack

To do this you have to place the ball way back in your stance right? Otherwise it seems like you would have to swing like Charles barkley

The Round Mound of Rebound?? The only thing I've ever emulated of his is the back 'em down and baby jump hook off the glass against shorter players. Oh, and step on the other guys foot while boxing him out. LOL.

I play the ball a little back of center with my 8-PW and very far back with my wedges. I use a different stance on wedge shots, close together and open because I have basically never chunked one since doing this. It's kind of hard to get your weight stuck on the back foot when they are only 2 inches apart. I now come slightly inside to out with all my irons and the short irons fly straight and stick like velcro when I play them back and catch them well. Watch for my upcoming video, I'm going to make a new one this evening. LOL.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by What'saScore

I think I understand a sweeping shot, but what the hell is a descending shot? I have a hard enough time just hitting the dam ball, much less doing trajectory trickery.

Next time you're on the range, try hitting some 8-iron shots this way:

Put the ball in middle of your stance. Push a tee into the ground about one inch in front of the ball. Now, make your swing, but look at the tee. Don't focus on the ball. Focus on driving the tee even further into the ground. This moves your swing arc forward and promotes a descending blow.

You may worry that you are going to top the ball, but trust me, you will do just the opposite. Just keep your eyes on the tee.

[mont86]

Originally Posted by Eracer

Next time you're on the range, try hitting some 8-iron shots this way:

Put the ball in middle of your stance. Push a tee into the ground about one inch in front of the ball. Now, make your swing, but look at the tee. Don't focus on the ball. Focus on driving the tee even further into the ground. This moves your swing arc forward and promotes a descending blow.

You may worry that you are going to top the ball, but trust me, you will do just the opposite. Just keep your eyes on the tee.

How about with a five iron?

[WMitch6]

Everyone has a point where their swing bottoms out. For most it is somewhere just forward of the middle of their stance. Take some swings on the lawn and check out where the bottom of your swing arc is located.
Any ball right of that spot is going to be hit when the club is on its way down (descending). Good for irons where the aim is to pinch (trap) the ball against the ground. This puts spin on the ball and helps the ball get airborn as it rolls up the club face. Trapping the ball will usually result in a higher trajectory.
A good way to check to see if you are hitting the ball with a descending blow is to look at the divot. It should start around where the ball was located.

[mont86]

If I'm rh should I be focusing on the left side of the ball?
I believe I have heard that before???????