Golf Swing Tips | Improve Compression & Dynamic Loft | Hit The Ball More Efficiently

[@atxrich]

The alignment stick drill really helps me focus on turning through the shot. Too often we amateurs are so focused on hitting the ball down in front of us, we forget to swing through and complete our swing. Also-- it’s probably easier just to describe the ‘left’ and ‘right’ parts of the body as ‘lead’ and ‘trail’ so both right and left-handed golfers can quickly translate the drills to their own handedness. Loving the content guys!

[@stevenjenkins3882]

Best video ever done on Golf KZbin ⛳ 👌

[@2ndswing]

It's a very important topic and will really improve your game if you work really hard at this! - Thomas

[@johnflorio3576]

As a 50+ golfer this applies to me as well. Good compression fights distance loss as I get older.

[@James_Vaughn]

I've been working on getting my dynamic loft down and have increased my distances, but still have a lot of room for improvement. Being able to hit on a monitor helps a lot in finding out what sort of 'feels' equate to the desired numbers.

[@robertacierno2803]

If there was ever a video I needed, this is it. One thing I learned recently is that during the takeaway, to not lean back in addition to rotating. I used to do both, because in baseball, a weight shift gets more power. But with a golf swing, it creates less consistent striking, and required me to flip my wrists to make better contact, which led to way too much dynamic loft on my shots. So this is incredibly helpful to me, thank you so much.

[@robertacierno2803]

My coach called that drill “punishers.” Cause if I did it poorly, and added too much dynamic loft, the thing hit me in the side! And after being hit a few times, the punisher would help me correct.

[@danvranic2306]

Loving the new content.

[@hitaputt]

great lesson-clearly explained! Thanks

[@minty2340]

This is very helpful because you explain the concept for a beginner such as myself in a way that creates an understanding of what we all should be trying to accomplish through the swing. This helps us all realize what we are trying to do instead of just trying to copy a motion. Thank you!

[@phuchakrpringpuangkeo2342]

Excellent content. thank you for sharing the compression pitch drill.

[@Rayceemon]

Thank you! @2nd Swing Golf - Thank You Thomas for shedding light on a topic that has mystified me for a long time. Between your explanation, your consistent swing, the drill with the dowel, and the numbers from Trackman showing what is actually happening to the ball and club at contact, I now have a clearer picture of what compressing the ball truly means and what we should be striving to achieve. Like @Zarlodious pointed out, the verbiage used to describe this action has led to a lot of confusion for a lot of people. I'm not ashamed to admit I was one of the 'pickers' who at one point was taking skunk-sized divots in an effort to compress/ squeeze/ pinch the ball against the turf. Ouch! It was literally a painful period. As a follow up, I'd like to see what the dynamic loft, spin and launch angles are with some of the other irons in Thomas' bag, and how they relate to the static lofts and spacing of those clubs. Good health to all and play well.

[@maz_mtb3266]

This is a drill I need to work on, big time. I know I get flippy on my iron game. Not for sure on my iron swing speeds, but driver swing speed in the 105-108 range. 7i only goes 140-145 yards on the shots I think I hit it pure on. Would be stoked to find another 20 yards with it.

[@petegalindez9961]

I completely understand this concept…growing up a hockey player, I never had trouble with the compression part. However, now that I’m older (53), have had two hip replacements, suffer from degenerative back disease, and had shoulder surgery, my swing speed isn’t like it used to be…I’ve watched was feels like 100 videos on this subject, yet no one has actually discussed how to find your ideal dynamic loft (or spin loft for that matter). My swing speed with a 7 iron is around 77mph now and my T200 7 iron has a loft of 31 degrees (my T100s have 32 degrees of loft). So, what would be the way to determine the ideal dynamic loft? Do I just need to keep fiddling with and figure out what combination gives me the best/most consistent ball flight for each club, or is there at least a recommended starting point? For example, if your swing speed is Xmph your dynamic loft should be around Y degrees lower than your club’s stated loft? Seems as your swing slows, you need more loft/spin to get the ball to stay in the air, so a dynamic loft closer to the stated loft of the club is better (e.g., 8 degrees lower rather than 15 degrees lower if you have a 90mph swing speed)…does that make sense? Any recommendations? I do have a Mevo+ that gives me my dynamic loft and spin loft, so I’m currently working on that aspect of my swing…great video as always!!!

[@2ndswing]

Thanks for the feedback Pete! I know we say it all the time, but the ideal dynamic loft is player dependent. In your case, the attack angle will be a big influence on the ideal dynamic loft for you. You are on the right track though in regards to swing speed -- the slower the swing speed, the more loft needed to generate the spin necessary to keep the ball in the air. thankfully, we can bend some iron sets or order sets through fittings at higher lofts for our customers

[@nedmorales1313]

So funny even when you’re trying to hit it bad you’re still hitting it better than just about everybody. Thank you for the tip I am always amazed at your smash factor in all your videos.

[@jm-um4st]

great video. thanks so much. always enjoy 2w vids.

[@2ndswing]

Thanks for watching!!

[@bamburo1]

Thanks Thomas for a great and extremely useful video. I will put the alignment stick drill to practice right away!.

[@justinstephenson9360]

This is something that I have been working on over the last couple of months with my coach. The drill we used was a trail arm only swing, about a quarter swing to allow the trail wrist to hinge naturally due to the club head weight and then swing through with aim of hitting ground fractionally ahead of the ball. My descent angle went down from 0 to about -5 degrees, my spin rates went up and I gained a club in distance without swinging any faster

[@dcolum23]

First, thanks for the video. Second, may I ask you a question? When you started out, did you add loft like so many of us do? I assume so. And if so, is this exactly what you did to become an elite compressor of the ball? I'm interested to hear what your personal path way to get your swing to this point.

[@dukeesq]

Ugh! I wish you guys were closer to where I lived, I'd come see you! Really good stuff. Thanks!

[@cwmcclintock5757]

Yes. It's about time you started explaining to us some internals of your seeming magical/magnificent swing. Life called me in a different direction and I moved on, but I did get past my PAT for Instructor and had some pretty rapid success teaching compression in the Basic Stroke(chip) and Acquired Stroke(pitch) by teaching increased and steady Extention (Extensor) action of the right wrist/hand. Prior, I could get some torso movement but Americans (baseball as kids) will, IMHO, always find some way to throw away their hands. ;) FWIW. And thanks for a great thorough and simple video.

[@gamebaggolf]

What is the descent angle you have with 20 degs dynamic loft at that speed? I'm wondering whether its going to stop on the green, if not you're better off with less distance

[@dry509]

I struggle to get from the pitch to a fuller swing…not sure how to do it correctly?

[@HumbleTransporter]

Awesome lesson! This is what I need to practice. I will definitely try it. Thanks for the great video!

[@2ndswing]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching - Thomas

[@YoungMoneyInvestments]

5,000 rpm backspin is not going to to give you the stopping power on a green you need at all. The problem with Thomas’ compressed numbers is that his draw and the low dynamic loft gives him ZERO stopping power on the green. 12 yards of rollout is not good at all. You’re going to have zero stopping power or ability to place the ball close to the pin. I’m all for compressing irons but I have a 110 mph club speed with a 7i and have plenty of spin. If you’re going to to compress the ball, you need to get fit into the right ball and shafts that will give you the accompanying 7,000 revs of backspin you need to stop the ball on the green. You want approximately 1000 revs of backspin times the club number you’re playing. Hopefully this is helpful so that people understand that your spin rates have to be adequate to give you stopping power on the green.

[@Noname-xv4dg]

You’re right. These guys never explain this in any of their “get more distance” videos. Doesn’t matter if you can’t stop the ball on the green.

[@protection24-79]

2000 revs of backspin too low won’t allow him to stop the ball on the green. He needs a different ball and/or shaft.

[@justinstephenson9360]

I think there are a couple of issues with Thomas' spin rate. There is the old problem that launch monitor spin rates from mats are always lower than you would typically get on the course. I suspect that on the course Thomas' spin rates with this iron would be 5500-6000 rpm, still a bit low given his speed but more manageable - I would guess Thomas' gaming irons probably have more loft than the Srixon's he was using in this video so he would get more spin. The other issue, which Thomas' has mentioned in the past, is that his swing is relatively shallow, his descent angle with a 7i tends to be -2 degrees when ideally you would want it a bit steeper. Very noticeable that when he tried to exaggerate his compression although his dynamic loft reduced, his attack angle was -5 degrees and his spin rate went up 200 rpm

[@michaeltruelove3826]

Come on, the guy wins golf tournaments and you're ragging him in the comments... "I have a 110 mph club speed with a 7i and have plenty of spin" Righto.

[@YoungMoneyInvestments]

@@michaeltruelove3826 all things that need to be addressed in a video. It’s not “ragging” on someone when they’re creating an instructional video to point out flaws with the data in hopes that subsequent videos address this. You need stopping power on the green.

[@lucasshipsides1510]

i watched this video this afternoon. with this front of mind, while playing just before i hit one 7 iron 156m and another 165m..... thanks?

[@crankin7662]

This vid is a year old but have some questions. 🙂 I would love to see a instruction vid on how you compress the ball (1.48 smash with a 7 iron is incredible). Your swing speed (83.5) is 6.5 mph slower than the avg PGA Tour player yet your launch angle and compression pushes your distance 13 yards further than the avg PGA player. My swing speed is way higher and I don't hit it nearly as far with on center hits (I think my angle of attack is too steep is the culprit). I know you aren't in the KZbin instruction business but would love to see a breakdown of mechanics/feel/rotation (in addition to forward shaft lean).

[@br5448]

helpful info, thank you. I see that you finish more towards your shoulder not high near the ear. I wonder if that also reduces the Dynamic loft.

[@2ndswing]

It could be a contributing factor. More importantly finishing on the left side helps - Thomas

[@br5448]

@@2ndswing I can see that, well stated. Thanks again.

[@Tharsis320]

Great video Thomas! Thanks

[@christianlind7035]

Good lesson in how to 'compress" the golf ball. However, you must have an absolutely consistent low point in your swing to successfully deloft the club as much as you do. For example, say your 7 iron has a sole with 8 degrees of bounce. If the club is delofted more than 8 degrees, the leading edge of the club's sole will it liable to dig into the ground before the clubface strikes the ball unless the ball is nipped perfectly. Most of us amateurs don't have such a consistent low point. And if the 7 iron is delofted more and with a larger negative angle to attack, the bad consequences of a slightly "fat" shot are even greater. What role does the ground play in ball compression? When compressed, does the ball flatten against both the clubface and the ground? Can the ball be compressed when it is sitting up on dry grass?

[@dstruong86]

i was just searching for this topic! thanks!

[@rizwankanji6258]

What a great drill, thanks

[@timkennedy2727]

Good video this is my problem I’m going to use this drill

[@2ndswing]

Thanks for watching. Highly recommend this drill or the tee drill by putting a tee 3-4 inches in front of the ball take out the ball and the tee - Thomas

[@Joe7373]

Great stuff, thanks

[@MrWubzHD2]

I need to try this drill my biggest issue when I watch recordings of my swing is my hips don’t turn forward until after I make contact and basically my arms are pulling my body around.

[@JimMaronGolf]

What is the loft on that 7 upon, and how do you get 124mph out of 83.5 club speed? PGA avg for 7 iron according to Trackman is 90mph club speed 120 ball speed.

[@tdougs77]

Great video. This is so me.

[@ErnstB88]

Hi Thomas, Thanks for the video! I might have missed it, but you didn’t talk about “spin loft”. Only hitting more down on the ball (attack angle) doesn’t change the compression, am I right? Do you need to shallow the swing more as well?

[@billglab9044]

Great drill

[@kevinm.8403]

Thomas, thank you for the video; it was very helpful. I do have a couple questions though: Why, with the Lower Dynamic Loft did the ball carry 9 yards LESS than it did using your Standard Swing? Shouldn’t it have carried even further? Can you compress the ball too much and then begin to lose yards? Thanks for your help : )

[@tombladen]

I believe this is due to the reduced launch angle, dropping outside the optimal window for the ball speed and spin rate. So although the smash factor increases the launch window is not as optimal as his normal swing.

[@willweathersby9921]

There is also a relationship between optimal dynamic loft and swing speed. Tour players can crank down their dynamic loft because of their high swing speeds.

[@lawbinson]

This is super helpful. I’m basically an exact match for your poor compression shots lol

[@pmportella]

I need help with my driver swing. I m in/out, mostly neutral swing but i still push the ball or push slice it. i changed to a stiffer shaft which helped alot but for whatever reason i m still leaving that clubface open, i have a strong grip ish but just not sure what is happening. with my hybrid i have to use a weaker grip and lift the club higher so i m not so in/out with the swing for me to drive it straight. sooo god knows what is up with my driver swing

[@73henny]

If you have a divot after the ball and therefore have a descending club does that mean you must have forward shaft lean / compression?

[@hawkness_monster]

Would you setup with the club at that same angle for a normal shot, or just for the drill?

[@tomsetre2097]

Well said as always

[@2ndswing]

Thanks for watching! - Thomas

[@MrWubzHD2]

What about with driver? Do you want to reduce your dynamic loft when hitting driver?

[@williamhumber5890]

I'm still confused how he's getting a 1.48 smash factor off a 7 iron while intentionally flipping at impact. The best I'm seeing, based on outdoor radar data, is ~1.44 on a perfect strike with 29.5deg hollow face 7 iron with a launch angle in the 15-16 deg range. That they're reporting 1.48 with a 20 degree launch and intentionally flipping seems like there may be some issue with their indoor setup. Have these numbers ever been recreated outdoors?

[@AD-vj3kj]

Numbers are off buddy. I hit 84 mph and really unlikley to get 124-125 ball speed and 184 yards with zx7 7 iron.My dynamic loft is 21-22 ,ball speed 115 and getting around 168 carry. Never near 1.47 smash. This sims adjusted to me as always players are longer for indicated club head speed. Numbers off txg are so more accurate if you compare.

[@stevemcvay2220]

Miss Thomas. Bring him back for the club reviews!!!! Or I’m guessing he’s no longer with y’all?

[@tommym5240]

Can someone explain why you would want to compress this much? I’ve been working on my compression recently to make sure I’m swinging efficiently and getting good distance, but I still want to have enough spin and a steep enough decent angle especially with my short irons to hold the ball on firm and fast greens.

[@lawbinson]

would you say under 20 degrees of dynamic loft on a 31 degree static loft club is where you get diminishing returns?

[@YoungMoneyInvestments]

You have to be able to stop the ball on the green, the more shallow the ball is flighted into the green, the less stopping power the ball has. It’s why a driver isn’t a great approach club into a green but a PW is. More height and more spin to be more precise. Height is your friend and so is spin. The lower the loft, the less spin you’ll generally have. There comes a point where you deloft the club so much that you roll off the back of the green and can’t clear green side bunkers because your flight is too low so you need to run it up so it has room to stop or you roll off the green.

[@roosterace33]

What is the alignment stick called from Home Depot,

[@chrispearce9224]

H.D. uses the name Everbuilt reflective rod 48".

[@oldandletdown7464]

Efficiency of the swing is the swing path easy to talk about stuff if your swing path is correct..

[@Thataintnothing]

Same Here ,Way faster but Spin real High Balooning

[@gregoryciesla542]

Great drill Thomas. I knew I was loosing distance with my dynamic loft in the high 20’s. This was extremely helpful

[@jerrychen1394]

1.48 smash factor. I’m shocked he isn’t trying to sell a bridge

[@singleta]

I'm confused by this. If your 7 iron goes 150 and you want it to go 160, instead of delofting the 7 iron to increase the distance just hit a 6 iron! It's alread delofted automatically by 4 degrees

[@2ndswing]

This can be a confusing topic. Essentially you want your hands ahead of the club at impact when the ball is on the ground to "compress the ball" if a 7 iron has a stated loft of 34* if you present a dynamic loft of 34* the ball will go very short high and spin a lot. You need to be forward about 10* to promote a good turn and finishing on your left side - Thomas

[@zarlodious1]

The ball is never ever never compressed against the ground (watch any slomo shot) can you please update your verbiage of what you mean by compression?

[@2ndswing]

By compression, we just mean making solid, efficient contact with the golf ball. Between his fittings and his lessons, Thomas has noticed golfers tend to hit the ball with a high amount of dynamic loft, which decreases the efficiency of the strike and reduces the compression of the ball at impact. By lowering dynamic loft, the strike can be more efficient and the ball will compress more at impact. We are not insinuating that the ball is compressed against the ground. The ball does compress at impact with the clubface

[@zarlodious1]

@@2ndswing Awesome thanks for clarifying! I love your channel!

[@chachifeere]

This drill does nothing for me , did this for months easy to do on small shots but full swing I flip

[@2ndswing]

Starting with them wedges and slowly working it into your longer irons is a great day to improve. For the longer irons try moving that ball position back in your stance to exaggerate the feel - Thomas

[@Mr.PapaThapa]

I hate to say this, but your spin is WAY too low. You should be spinning it 7000 rpms with a 7 iron. Yes, your distance is good but your spin numbers are not good at all.

[@mikes2902]

Why dont they design golf clubs for early casting? If most golfers do it... why not engineer equipment that works that way? Casting makes way more sense than this hands before the club bullshit. Golf is dumb lol