If You’ve Never Had Compression This Will Get It Instantly!

Are you struggling to get consistent ball striking and achieve that crisp, solid contact on your golf shots? One key factor that can make a world of difference in your ball striking is achieving full face contact. In this post, we’ll break down what full face contact is, why it’s crucial for your golf game, and a simple yet effective drill that will help you improve it – whether you're at the driving range or even at home.

The Importance of Full Face Contact

When you watch top players on TV, you’ll notice they consistently make solid contact with the golf ball. But achieving that ideal contact isn’t as simple as just striking the ball with any part of the clubface. Full face contact is all about getting the right part of the club, often referred to as the "third groove" down, to strike the ball at impact. Why is this so important?

When you make full face contact, the club moves downward into the ball, creating better compression and a more controlled shot. Without this contact, you're more likely to hit the bottom of the club, leading to weak, ineffective strikes. The goal is to get the club moving in the right direction and using the proper part of the face for optimal results.

Understanding Full Face Contact

Achieving full face contact requires understanding the mechanics behind it. As golfers, we often spend our time focusing on the bottom grooves of the clubface, but to get the best results, we need to target the third groove from the top. This groove is generally at the center of the clubface and represents the sweet spot for full-face contact.

To initiate a proper downward strike, you must focus on shifting your weight forward and keeping your body in the right position. As you exaggerate this feel, you'll naturally begin to generate better compression, leading to lower, more penetrating ball flight.

Drills to Improve Full Face Contact

Now that we understand the importance of full face contact, let’s look at some actionable drills you can use to improve it. These drills are designed to help you visualize and feel what correct full face contact should look and feel like.

1. The Third Groove Visual Drill

Setup: Place your attention on the third groove of your iron or wedge. For most irons, this will be around the center of the clubface. Your objective is to make contact with the golf ball using this specific groove.

Execution: As you set up and begin your swing, focus on getting the third groove down to strike the ball. This may feel exaggerated at first, but that's okay. The goal is to create a feel for the proper impact position. When you do this correctly, you'll see more shaft lean and a downward strike, which improves compression and results in better ball flight.

Tip: Use this drill as a visual cue. As you go through the motion, you'll begin to feel what a proper, downward strike should feel like. Exaggeration is key in training your body to get into the correct position.

2. The Tee Drill for Full Face Contact

Setup: Insert a tee into the ground, just below the level of the ball, to mimic the position where the ball would be. This will act as a visual cue for where you want the club to strike.

Execution: Without a ball, focus on striking the tee with the center of your clubface (the third groove). The tee should deflect downward as you hit it. If you're hitting the tee with an upward strike, you'll see the club move up the tee, not making full face contact.

Tip: To exaggerate this feeling, try pushing the club down into the ground, as if you're trying to push the tee further into the earth. This exaggerated movement will help create the proper feel for achieving full face contact, as well as build a better understanding of what it takes to strike the ball with a downward angle.

3. Horizontal Tee Method (Advanced Variation)

Setup: Place a larger tee horizontally in the ground, with the golf ball resting against the tee, angled at a slight diagonal. This setup will make it feel as if the ball is being pushed into the tee with each swing.

Execution: As you take your swing, focus on driving the club down towards the tee and ball. Your goal is to compress the ball against the tee in a smooth, controlled manner, similar to how you would strike a solid iron shot on the course.

Tip: As you get comfortable with this, increase your practice with slower, deliberate swings to hone in on the feeling of full face contact. The tee will help guide you and provide instant feedback about whether you're delivering the clubface in the right manner.

Conclusion: Achieving Consistent Full Face Contact

Achieving full face contact can significantly improve your ball striking and lead to better compression, control, and overall performance. By focusing on the third groove and practicing with these drills, you’ll begin to understand the mechanics behind the perfect strike. Remember, the key to improvement lies in exaggeration, feel, and repetition.

Whether you're working on the driving range or practicing in your backyard, use these drills to enhance your awareness of full face contact and watch your ball striking improve. With a little practice, you'll soon be making solid contact on every shot, and compression will become second nature.

Try these drills today, and let us know how your game improves. Happy golfing!