Controlling Trajectory

Video Transcript

Let’s talk about trajectory control. In windy conditions it is really important to flight your ball correctly if you want it low into the wind, or sometimes even high downwind. What is the principle behind it? Well it is very simple; it is the relationship of the butt end of the club to the head end of the club. The farther the butt end is tilted forward the lower the ball goes. Now most people simply do this, they move the ball back in their stance. What happens when you move it back, well, you see the shaft tilts forward. So that will keep the flight lower, taking loft off of the club. If I am hitting a little chip and I want to just run it with a pitching wedge or a little low shot I would hit it off my back foot with my hands forward. If I want to hit the shot a little higher I would simply move the ball slightly towards the middle, and you can see that the shaft comes up a little bit straighter, and the flight of the ball is now a little higher than the first shot. Now if I want a high shot, or a soft shot, first I would probably go to a 60 degree wedge, but I would make sure that I did not get my shaft too far forward. I would get the shaft almost vertical, slide the club almost underneath the ball, and let the loft of the club and the fact that the shaft is not tilted forward, lift the ball into the air. So that is the principle of trajectory control for all your shots. irons in the fairway, even a driver you can do the same thing, tilt your hands slightly ahead, takes loft off of the club.

Gary Wiren
Trump International Golf Club
3505 Summit Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL. 33406
Tel: 800-FOR-GARY
Tel: 800-367-4267

Dr. Gary Wiren was the PGA Teacher of the Year in 1987 and is also author of the PGA Teaching Manual. He is listed as one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers and Golf Digest's #12 instructor in the world.

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