Should I hit down on the ball or sweep it?

Hitting Down vs. Sweeping the Ball: Mastering Angle of Attack in the Rotary Swing

In the rotary swing method, your power explodes from aggressive body rotation and hip drive, not arm manipulation. The choice between hitting down on the ball (negative angle of attack) or sweeping it (level or ascending angle of attack) depends entirely on the club and your setup. This isn't guesswork—it's biomechanics optimized for maximum speed and distance. Get this right, and you'll unleash rotational fury without losing control.

Driver and Woods: Sweep for Ascending Power

For your driver and fairway woods, sweep the ball with an ascending blow. Position the ball just inside your lead heel to promote this motion. Your rotary swing thrives here: the short-to-medium backswing loads your hips and torso, then explosive rotation drives the clubhead up through impact. Feel your chest rotating through the ball—hitting with body turn, not hands. This creates optimal launch conditions: high trajectory, low spin, and monster distance.

• Setup Key: Ball forward in stance, weight balanced but ready to push off your trail foot.
• Downswing Sequence: Initiate by driving your lead hip toward the target, hips clearing aggressively (belt buckle to target at finish). Swing from the inside with your torso for path.
• Common Fault: Hitting down steepens the angle, delofts the club, and kills speed—avoid early hit or casting.

Irons: Hit Down for Compression and Control

With irons, hit down on the ball for divot-after-ball compression. Ball position centers to mid-stance (forward for long irons, back for short). Your rotary rotation still powers the shot, but shallow the plane slightly. Feel ground force reaction pushing off your trail foot into lead side, compressing the ball like a baseball swing piston.

• Setup Key: Choke down slightly for control on partial swings or windy knockdown shots.
• Downswing Sequence: Rotate hips first, but maintain a steeper path—avoid flat swing that hooks left.
• Common Fault: Sweeping irons leads to thin or topped shots (striking above the equator).

Drills to Groove the Right Motion

1. Driver Sweep Drill: Place a tee 6 inches behind the ball. Rotate through without hitting it—trains ascending path and sweet spot contact.
2. Iron Down Drill: Draw a line in the turf under the ball. Divot starts on/after the line—builds compression feel.
3. Rotation Check: Film your swing. Hips should lead shoulders; torso rotation creates trajectory, not arms.

Key Takeaway: Rotary swing mastery means sweeping driver for distance (ascending via forward ball position and hip drive) and hitting down irons for precision. Commit to this sequencing, build flexibility for rotation, and watch speeds soar—athletic players hit bombs while managing left-side pulls through proper hips-lead timing. Nail your angle of attack, and own the course with rotational power.