Everyone wants a few extra yards. Sometimes it just comes down to an angle adjustment.
One of the biggest distance destroyers is a descending blow at impact with the driver. When it comes to big hitters like Mel Reed and Dustin Johnson all use an ascending attack angle instead.
Attack Angle
“Attack angle” is the angle of the head of a golf club as it approaches the ball. The amount that an attack angle is descending or ascending can be expressed in degrees. This is why a descending angle of attack has a negative angle, while an ascending angle of attack has a positive angle.
Descending Vs. Ascending
A descending angle is perfectly alright to use if you’re using an iron. Use this angle when your goal is to trap the ball and squeeze it forward. When using woods, however, it’s best to use an ascending angle of attack to get the extra distance you’re looking for.
How to make the switch
You can achieve a positive attack angle with a better ball position.
Start by holding the club horizontally against your shoulders and looking down at the ball. If the ball is further back in your stance, the launch angle will be lower. If you move the ball further forward in your stance, you can see that the launch angle is going to be higher. The impact is upward, and you’re going to send it higher and get those extra yards.
Are you more of a visual learner? Check out this video to see what an ascending angle looks like in practice.
If you follow this tip the next time you’re on the course, you’re definitely going to find the extra yards you’ve been looking for.
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