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Brian Gott, a Malaska Certified Coach, is tackling the Ask Mikes this week. A Malaska Golf Member has a question about how you affect trajectory based on the right hand coming through at impact. The member wants to know if he will hit the ground fat and thin.Brian says the most important thing when you take practice swings is to look where the club bottoms out. This helps you determine ball position and the low point of the swing. Once you have done that, you can work on trajectories.Make sure to keep your right shoulder level. Don’t let the shoulder dip down, especially if trying to hit the ball low. This will tend to ground the club out behind the ball. Now that Brain has figured out the low point of his swing, he can make normal trajectory shots.Brian hits a low and a high shot with just one hand, ensuring the shoulders are level. Then he moves to holding the club with two hands.If you want to hit a really low shot, move the ball back in your stance and ensure your knuckles are behind the ball. It will come out lower and release.Play around with different trajectories, but make sure your right shoulder doesn’t dip down.

TRAJECTORY AT IMPACT

Consistent beginnings lead to consistent play.

PRACTICE SERIES

The easiest way to see break to by rolling a ball.

ROLLING A BALL

For this Quick Fix Friday, Mike pulls out his driver and starts practicing on the range.

Mike sets up three tees, and the key is to make easy swings and hit the ball solid. Mike hits the first ball in the center of the face, online, with a slight curve. 

Mike hits the next shot, adds a little draw, and follows with the third shot hitting a fade.

With all three hits, you can feel what the club is doing with face control even though you aren't making a full swing. 

This drill will help you with your full swing, especially since you aren't adding acceleration. Mike starts with the driver, puts it away, and works on his other clubs before returning to the driver.

START WITH YOUR DRIVER EASY SWINGS

Learning to play golf is about how to accommodate uneven lies. There are more uneven lies on a golf course than flat lies. Even fairways that look relatively flat have slopes, and the more you make little adjustments to compensate, the better you will become.

There are two essential things to understand when it comes to uneven lies. First, you must ensure that your body is perpendicular to the ground as if you were hitting off a flat lie. If you are on a downhill lie, your body should tilt forward. 

Most people on a downhill lie tend to lean back when they try to hit the ball. Your club will bottom out early when you try to make your swing. Make sure you are getting your shoulders even relative to the ground. Mike also drops his right foot back because your knee tends to be more up on a downhill lie and in the way of your swing. The more severe the downhill lie, the more your foot goes back.

Second, once you accommodate the lie with your body and stance, make a practice swing to see where your club bottoms out. You will find that the club will bottom out slightly in front of the ball. You will have to adjust your position in your stance so the club will bottom out and hit the ball.

When it comes to playing golf, it’s about adjusting; in this instance, it’s about making those adjustments to the lie and not your swing. A downhill lie will take loft off the face; an uphill lie adds loft; below your feet doesn’t do much, and above the feet, your shot goes to the left.

Remember, on a downhill lie, get your shoulders level with the ground, drop your right foot back and see where your club bottoms out. Set up and go from there.

MASTERING UNEVEN LIES

Before you add speed, you must have control. Get a feel for your full swing with pitching.