If you keep hitting too much grass when you swing, you are not the only one. Many golfers find this challenging, and it can make rounds frustrating when the ball does not travel as far or as straight as you want. The good news is that with a few adjustments, you can fix it.
Understanding Why It Happens
When the club takes too much grass before making proper contact with the ball, it is usually because of one of three things:
- The ball position is not quite right
- The swing path is too steep
- The weight distribution is off
These can cause the club to dig into the turf rather than make clean contact with the ball. Correcting these is much easier once you understand what’s going wrong.
Checking Ball Position
One of the easiest things to fix is where you place the ball in your stance. It can affect how the club meets the ball if it’s too far forward or too far back. For irons, the ball should be roughly in the middle of your stance, while for longer clubs like fairway woods or drivers, it should be closer to your front foot.
If you take too much grass, the ball might be too far back in your stance, forcing a steep downward angle at impact. Try moving it forward slightly and see if that helps.
Fixing Your Swing Path
A steep swing path often leads to digging into the ground. This happens when the club comes down at too sharp an angle, creating deep divots. Ideally, you want a shallow, sweeping motion through the ball rather than chopping down on it.
One way to adjust this is by focusing on your backswing. If you take the club too upright, it will likely come down steep as well. Instead, try controlling the takeaway and letting the club move naturally around your body.
Another good drill is to imagine sweeping the grass rather than chopping into it. Take some practice swings and focus on brushing the top of the turf rather than digging in.
Adjusting Weight Distribution
If too much weight is on your back foot at impact, the club can hit the ground too soon. A good golf swing moves weight towards the front foot as you strike the ball. If you stay too far back, the club bottoms out before it reaches the ball, taking a big chunk of grass instead.
A simple way to check this is to feel where your weight is as you finish your swing. If it is still mostly on your back foot, you might not be shifting forward enough. Try focusing on a smooth transfer of weight during your downswing so that you finish balanced on your front foot.
Practising with Drills
There are a few simple drills that can help with this problem. One of the best is placing a tee just in front of the ball and aiming to strike it after hitting it. This encourages a cleaner strike and stops the club from digging in too early.
Another helpful drill is to make practice swings without a ball and focus on where the club is hitting the ground. If you notice you’re taking deep divots, try making smaller adjustments to find a smoother motion.
Making Changes on the Course
If you realise you’re taking too much grass mid-round, there are a couple of quick fixes to try straight away. Moving the ball slightly forward, making a shallower swing, or focusing on weight transfer can all help. Do not panic and start making big changes all at once. Small adjustments are often enough to improve your contact.
Keeping It Simple
Fixing this issue does not have to be complicated. A slight tweak to the ball position, a more controlled swing path, and better weight transfer can make a big difference. The key is to stay patient and make adjustments gradually.
If you keep practising and paying attention to what works, you will start making cleaner contact more often, which means better shots and lower scores.