Golf tips: Punch shot

• Wednesday, 17 February 2010
• John Jacobs
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Golf tips: John Jacobs plays the punch shot

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In difficult, windy conditions, the punch shot becomes even more important. It is a shot that can benefit all golfers and with the right fundamentals will produce impressively consistent results. Committing to the shot, driving down through the ball and creating a divot is key to producing successful results.

There are simple adjustments that need to be made to your set-up in order to help you produce a punch. Narrow your stance and move the ball back from centre. Notice how this de-lofts the club you are using so there is no need to close the face. From here you are ready to make a committed swing that will send the ball on a lower, more powerful flight.

Dynamic loft refers to the loft of the club as it drives through the ball. With this in mind the key to this shot is to keep your hands ahead of the clubhead, exactly as they were at address, through impact. Remember that de-lofting the club to produce a lower flight will also add distance to the shot and so practice is required to adjust to your yardages. You can also produce a low flight by clubbing up and making a softer, smooth swing. This will reduce the backspin that creates the loft.

It is vital that your weight stays on your left side during the shot. A great way of learning how to maintain this is to practise hitting some punch shots from a downslope. The gradient of the ground will force your weight onto your left side and will also help you curtail your follow-through correctly. This will help you understand the feeling of what a well-executed shot should feel like.

Where next?

Long game: Long game golf tips
Short game: Short game golf tips
Scoring zone: Scoring zone golf tips
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