This Ask Mike comes from Sean G, and it's a really important topic because your eyes can play tricks on you. Plus, many people don’t fully understand what they’re trying to do with the club. Sean’s question is about hitting on a mat: he’s using a dot on the back of the ball and a dot on the clubface. When he sets up and tries to align the dot on the clubface with the dot on the ball, it looks like he has way too much forward shaft lean.

Brian, why don’t you explain what’s really happening and why it looks that way?

When you set the club on the ground and try to match the dot on the clubface to the dot on the back of the ball, it can seem like you need a ton of forward shaft lean. What people often don’t understand is the concept of the low point. Most think the low point is behind the ball, but that’s not the case. If the low point were behind the ball, you’d need extreme shaft lean to get the dots to align.

In reality, the low point is slightly in front of the ball. From the side view, you can see that the club needs to strike the ball first, then hit the turf. If the low point is correct, the club will naturally make proper contact with the grooves and provide the right amount of shaft lean.

Many players think they need excessive shaft lean to align the dots, which leads to chunked shots or hitting the ball fat. Instead, focus on having just enough shaft lean so the dots align as the club naturally descends through the ball. This will give you much better impact.

People often struggle with visual concepts. When they try to align the dots, they set the club on the ground and tilt the shaft forward, forcing the dot on the clubface to touch the dot on the ball. What they don’t realize is that the club is still descending slightly as it contacts the ball. The club doesn’t reach its lowest point until after it passes the ball.

Most people aren’t used to seeing forward shaft lean, so when they position the club correctly, it looks like their hands are way ahead of the ball—almost over their left foot. But in reality, it’s not that extreme. You need to trust what feels visually incorrect.

Where the club bottoms out influences how much shaft lean you need. If your low point is behind or level with the ball, you’ll need more shaft-lean to align the dots. However, at impact, the club isn’t in the same position as it was at address—it’s still descending slightly and hitting just in front of the ball. That’s something to keep in mind when practicing.

Here’s a quick tip for practice: use foot powder spray. While the dot on the clubface is helpful, foot powder will show you exactly where the ball impacts the clubface. Spray it on the clubface, take a swing, and look for the mark. If the ball mark surrounds the dot, you’ve done it right.

But remember, you don’t need to force your hands down or manipulate the clubface at impact. Good ball-strikers let the club do the work. That’s why on well-used clubs, you’ll see a worn spot the size of a fingernail in the center of the face, even on irons. Good players consistently hit that same spot, whether it’s a two-iron or a sand wedge.

Amateurs often don’t practice hitting the ball solidly—they just make swings. Hitting the center of the clubface consistently is how you get more distance and control. That’s an important takeaway.

Solid contact is key. If you focus on finding the center of the face and letting the club do the work, you’ll improve your ball-striking and your distance. Thanks for the tip!