Posted on: 25 February
The Knock Down Shot, or some people may call it a Punch Shot, is a versatile shot that can be used in many situations, not just in the wind.
For example, I will use a Knock Down shot;
- In the wind- The wind exaggerates the spin on the ball; both backspin and side spin. A Knock Down down shot takes the spin off the ball which gives you greater control.
- In the rain – A full swing while wearing wet weather gear is tough at the best of times. In addition to being uncomfortable to swing the club, moisture can get trapped between the ball and clubface making it harder to keep control of the ball. Hitting softer knockdown shots helps you keep control of your swing and shot.
- When in between clubs – This is where I use the Knock Down shot the most. I find it very hard to keep control when I choose a shorter club and then swing like a man possessed – trying to hit the shorter club just that little bit further. Take a longer club, use a shorter and more sedate swing and you’ll have greater control over the ball.
- In the moment – Nerves late in the round can get to anyone and a Knock Down shot can act as a safety net.
- In the trees – When your backswing or follow-through are restricted or when you need to keep the ball low under branches. Knock Down shots are designed to hit the ball with a much lower trajectory than a regular shot with the same club.
- A poor start – Some rounds just don’t start the way you want. Your rhythm might be off and your swing just feels awful. Hitting a few Knock Down shots may help you get your timing and confidence back.
- A difficult lie – Sometimes the lie is awkward (e.g. uphill and sidehill lies or in a divot) and a Knock Down shot can be a useful way to keep the ball under control and reduce the chances of a big miss-hit.
But how do you hit a Knock Down shot? To hit a consistent Knock Down isn’t complicated but you do need to make a few basic adjustments in your setup that will help keep the ball lower, reduce the spin on the ball and keep your swing shorter. The Knock Down shot requires a bit of feel, which can be different for everyone, so you will need to do some practice before you take the shot to the course.
My 3 key teaching points are:
1. Place the ball back in your stance – The ball needs to be a little back from normal in your stance so that it takes a little loft off the club.
2. Close the club-face – Because the ball is slightly back in your stance the club-face will be slightly open at impact. To compensate for this, make a minor adjustment to your grip so the club-face feels slightly shut at address.
3. Grip down the grip – Gripping down means the club is not so long and therefore you maintain better control. It also allows you to get closer to the ball and helps keep the loft off the club at impact.
You will definitely need to practice the Knock Down shot to get a feel for this. Start by taking a club, for example an 8 iron,and hit a few regular shots to see how far you are hitting them. Next grab a 7 iron. Using the key teaching points above hit some Knock Down 7 irons as far as you have just hit the 8 iron. Then maybe try a 5 iron trying to hit it the same distance. Remember you are experimenting and trying to get a feeling for what it takes to hit a successful Knock Down shot.
Once you learn to hit the Knock Down shot consistently you may be surprised how often you use this shot during your round – and not just in the wind.
If you would like to learn this shot and work on other aspects of your swing and game book a lesson at michaellonggolf.com