The Golf Swing

Hitting a Knockdown Shot

So I post yesterday about my troubles in the wind, and low and behold the Golf Channel had a show with Vijay Singh and Michael Campbell, hitting what? Oh yes, knockdown shots.

So how do we do it? Quite simple actually, and I guess what I was trying to do on Sunday was hit a knockdown shot. Keep the ball back in your stance. Take a short, shallow backswing. Swing smoothly, almost slowly through the ball, and try to finish low. Pushing your hands along the target line after you’ve hit the ball. Above all, don’t try to hit it hard. You are trying to reduce the backspin on the ball, so it stays down and ‘pierces’.

Though…here’s an interesting read about knockdown shots and game improvement irons…perhaps it’s time to trade in the mx-23s for some mp-60s?

What’s your go-to shot when facing a brisk headwind on 18 with the match on the line? Scratch the knockdown shot if you’re using super game-improvement irons, those large-headed, wide-soled game-savers such as Callaway’s Big Bertha, Nike’s Slingshot OSS and TaylorMade’s r7 CGB Max, among others.

Traditionally, to hit a knockdown golfers positioned the ball back in the stance, swung down more steeply and limited the follow-through to precisely pinch a low-launch, low-spin ball flight. Problem: As clubhead designs have evolved from small, narrow blades to large, deep cavity-backs, the margin for error has changed, too.

Congrats to Vijay on being inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame!

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