Never Hit Down

One of the biggest misconceptions in golf instruction is the idea that you need to aggressively “hit down” on wedge shots to create spin. For many golfers, that thought leads to steep swings, poor contact, and inconsistent distance control.

The Problem With “Hitting Down”

When golfers consciously try to drive the club sharply downward, several common problems appear.

• The swing becomes too steep.
• Divots get excessively deep.
• Contact becomes inconsistent.
• Shots lose spin and directional control.

The mental image of “chopping down” often creates the exact opposite of efficient wedge contact.

The Better Approach: Shallow and Rotate

Instead of forcing downward motion, focus on allowing the club to shallow naturally while your body rotates through the shot.

• The club already moves downward naturally in the swing.
• Extra “down” usually exaggerates steepness.
• Rotation helps the club move through impact more efficiently.

The goal is not digging — it is clean, controlled contact.

Why a Shallower Motion Works Better

A shallower wedge motion produces more consistency and improves turf interaction.

• Contact becomes more predictable.
• Divots become shallow and controlled.
• Spin improves naturally.
• Trajectory becomes easier to manage.

You create spin from clean contact and friction — not from excessive downward force.

The Alignment Stick Drill

This drill helps train the correct wedge motion and immediately exposes excessive steepness.

• Attach an alignment stick along your lead side.
• Make a controlled three-quarter wedge swing.
• Pay attention to how the stick moves during transition and impact.

If the motion becomes too steep, the alignment stick will point sharply downward.

A better wedge motion feels flatter and more rotational through impact.

What the Correct Motion Feels Like

• The club feels like it is shallowing slightly during transition.
• Your body continues rotating through impact.
• The divot stays shallow and controlled.
• The club glides instead of digging.

You are not chopping at the golf ball — you are rotating through it.

The Simple Swing Thought

Keep the concept extremely simple:

• Shallow and rotate.

That thought alone is often enough to improve wedge contact immediately.

How to Practice the Drill

• Start with short 20–30 yard wedge shots.
• Focus on maintaining shallow turf interaction.
• Allow the body to keep rotating through impact.
• Gradually extend into longer wedge swings.

The feeling should remain consistent regardless of swing length.

What Good Wedge Shots Look Like

• Minimal or shallow divots.
• Controlled trajectory.
• Consistent contact.
• Predictable spin and rollout.

The best wedge players rarely look steep or violent through impact.

Final Thought

Better wedge play comes from cleaner motion — not more effort. When you stop forcing the club downward and instead focus on shallowing and rotating, contact becomes more reliable and spin becomes much easier to produce.

Let the club move naturally through the turf, trust the rotation, and allow consistency to replace tension.