Skill 1 issue

Hi Guys,

I am a little confused. I have just finished reading the book cover to cover for the first time so please forgive me if it is a little bit of a stupid question.

Thinking about SK1, I see its application to wedges, short and long irons but how is it applied to using woods or a driver? My confusion is I don't see how it is applied when the compression point on the ball is horizontal, or do I have it right and it isn't used with these clubs only SK2 and SK3 are.


Christopher

The principals of Skill 1 are applied to every club. Fairway woods and hybrids hit down in the same manner as long irons (strike the nail at 10 deg) The driver and 3 wood when hitting off a tee hit the nail horizontal, this way you pummel the core of the ball so that maximum velocity is imparted.

I hope this helps to clarify?

Thanks for the reply Brian.

You have restated my confusion. So with the woods and driver it is a horizontal aim for compression on the ball not a downward strike to the ball. But with it being horizontal doesn't that make it happen automatically along with the correct application of SK2? If I haven't misunderstood, then with the woods and driver I should focus on applying SK2 and let SK1 come along for the ride?

I have just had another thought as I reread your post, is SK1 not about hitting down on the ball but more about the hammer action and its application to certain parts of the ball?

Christopher

hi chris
you have to differentiate between hitting shots off a fairway and off a tee,
SK1 is about finding the sweetspot and compressing the ball with differing angles of attack, downward with shots off the fairway, level or slightly upwards for teed up balls

Thanks Slater. My concept of what the SK1 was about was off. All good now so we will see what happens when I hit the course or driving range today.

By the way it is good to know you are still lurking around here after your goodbyes on the "nailed it" thread. I thought your contribution was excellent and the whole reason I bought the book. Are you still hitting well?

Christopher

Sk1 is about hitting the ball with the sweetspot as Slater has said. You only hit horizontally with the driver and 3 wood when the ball is on a tee, that will not necessarily happen automatically and has drills to assist with it, other wood shots from the fairway are hit with the same descending blow as long irons(you would need to hit down at 10 deg with a 3 wood from the fairway). The hammer action is about the correct approach angle for each club, SK2 is about hitting the ball on a path that comes into the ball from the inside, contacts the ball on the widest part of the arc then travels inside again past impact.

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

glad to be of service chris!
yes my ball striking gets better by the week, will be looking for a drastic cut in handicap this season, im playing under my handicap everytime i play.
be diligent in your 3skills practice and you will reap the rewards
any queries just ask, there are a few success stories on here!

Hi Guys,

Just thought I would give you an update.

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went to the driving range this morning and it was truly an amazing experience. I hit approx. 120 balls, and in all of those I hit 1 truly fat and 3-4 a little thin(but only a little). I was finally getting regular compression of the ball. Oh what a sweet sensation! Normally when at the range I would hit approx 20-30 really fat shots and about 40-50 very thin shots and what ever is left over it would be nice. Now in terms of direction usually they would be all over the place. The fat shot could go anywhere, the thin shots could be within 40 degrees push or pull from straight.

Now the problem this technique is giving me....... The ball usually will push or pull less then 10 degrees from straight and the ball goes 30mtrs further then it used to. I am now hitting my 5 iron about 190mtrs with loft and landing soft. How on earth am I going to play the game now without my rest breaks looking for my ball in the bushes.

One thing I have started to notice is with the longer irons are starting the shape the ball flight in a left to right pattern. Am I right to think that this is to do with the SK3 and when I get better at SK1 and SK2 that getting SK3 right will rectify it?

Thanks for all your input guys

Christopher

nice job chris!
isnt it a great feeling?
a little advice, as per the book make sure you have SK1 down before incorporating SK2 and so on before SK3.
SK3 is what adds the effortless power but if your timing is off then it create all sorts of problems for you.
dont be in a hurry to be using all 3 skills to soon, perfect them in the right order.
i found getting skills 1+2 right made a massive difference to my ball striking

good luck

Yeh I am not looking to run before I can walk. All I was focused on was SK1, hitting through the ball but I kind of found that SK2 was evolving on its own. Is that normal, or is that because I already had the concept of SK2 in my head well before I came across the book.

Is the shaping of the ball anything to worry about or will the 3 Skills sort it out over time?

Further into SK3 you are encouraged to hit the ball slightly to the right. SK3 will create a draw that brings it back to the middle.

The most important part is practice and enjoying your improvements

Just about to leave for 18 holes now, so yes I will certainly be enjoying the improvements. By the way, when will I know I am ready to move onto SK2 as the focus?

Christopher

When you get a little more distance with your 5 iron

How much more distance do you want?

Well I guess you can't have too much distance.

Well I played 18 holes yesterday, WOW what a difference. I was striking all my irons so well. I was getting loft and distance! For the first time ever I am able to hit over trees. My 3 hybrid I was hitting consistently well and this is the one club in the bag I could hardly ever hit properly.

The only issue I had on the course was off the tee. I couldn't hit the ball very well with the horizontal angle using my 3 wood(getting my a driver in a weeks time). My mate suggested teeing up a little higher which helped, I think I may need to go up higher but I didn't have tees that were long enough.

The only other issue I had during the game was my short game went to ****. But from what I hear that is pretty normal when you first start playing.

I'll give another update after I play again on the weekend.

Christopher

Hi Guys,

Just an update. I snuck out for a quick 9 holes this morning and shot 46! This is a PB for me by 3 shots. Also bear in mind I have only been playing for 9mths now. This 3 Skills stuff really works!

Christopher