Ben Hogan was a master at ball-striking but also a master of golf course management. One of his strategies was to hit the ball low to a back pin. This way he could land the ball on the front third of the green and have the ball release to the back. If you have played enough golf, you know that missing a green long makes for a difficult up and down. Bringing the ball in low is a safer strategy. Learning the low shot will help you in many other ways as well. Low shots help you in when hitting into the wind, hitting under tree limbs, and playing links style golf which feature greens that enable the golfer to play a run-up shot.
As you can see in the video, there are many ways to hit the ball low. You can select a longer club and grip down, you can abbreviate your swing, you can swing easier, and you can play the ball back in your stance although that comes with consequences as you can see in the video. The one thing you may not hear much about is how hitting low shots helps many golfers find their swing mechanics. By making your swing more compact, you simplify your motion and get more predictable results. When you hear about touring professionals “tightening up” their swings, they are looking to make their motions more efficient and repetitive. After all, so much of great golf is being able to predict the outcome of your shot. Ben Hogan’s swing became better when he shortened it. Phil Mickelson is in the process of simplifying his swing and Tiger’s stinger speaks for itself. I have never seen Tiger miss a fairway when he hits the stinger. If he ever adds a stinger driver to his arsenal, you might see the first calendar year grand slam since Bobby Jones.
So add the low shot or your own personal stinger to your game. It will add a layer of sophistication to your game and enable you to be more creative in your shot-making. -jz
