The knock down shot is an interesting method in golf, and one that is very useful for many different levels of golfers and for a variety of situations. Often golfers will carry out a knock down shot for various different reasons and this includes even the highest level of professional golfers. Knock downs are used when you want to hit a shot with a lower trajectory and want to allow the ball to run further after it lands.
Why Hit a Knock Down Shot
These shots can be used to avoid tall tree branches, to use fairway in front of the green, or to allow you a more confident half swing that a full swing that may be uncontrollable. It may also be used as a lay-up shot, and can provide you with the confidence to hit a straighter shots if your irons are not traveling like you want them to.
Choking Up On Your Golf Shot
When hitting a knock down shot, first and foremost, choke up on the club. Your hand should be at least a half-inch down the club, and can be much more than this, up to around two inches. Your grip of the club will remain the same, your stance and your swing will remain the same, but you will be grabbing your club lower. Like choking up in baseball, choking up on your golf club will provide more control and better contact, but usually less power or distance.
The Swing When Controlling a Golf Shot
When hitting a knock down you must also recognizes that you are working with less club. To inexperienced golfers, this may lead to missing shots or hitting shots thin and on top of the ball. To avoid hitting the ball thin, you can either bring the ball in closer to your body than you would normally with your current club, or you can bend you knees more prior to your swing. If not, practice getting down on the ball with your knock down swing until they become natural.
How to Hit a Knock Down Shot
Because these shots are shorter, you must first determine your distance before using them consistently and effectively. With just the choking up effect, your balls may travel around 10% shorter, losing between 10-20 yards with some clubs. A true knock down is often not referred to as just choking up on the club, however, and usually has a golfer taking only a 75-85% swing. This shortened swing lessens the drastic slope of the swing, and helps to keep the hitch of the swing from forcing the ball high into the air. With this swing, cock the club back only about three quarters of your normal backswing, and release with a normal swing on the ball and follow through, and you will be hitting lower and straighter shots, and they will hopefully run right into the hole.
This shot can be very useful in taking strokes off of your round, as can the following tips:
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