How to Hit an 8 Iron in the Air
To pass our first benchmark—hitting an 8-iron airborne 7 out of 10 times—you need to develop one crucial skill: low-point control.
In simple terms, low-point control means your club swings down and brushes the ground at the exact location of the golf ball, never before it. With practice, you’ll learn to hit that spot with a consistent amount of force (not digging a deep trench, but not just tickling the top of the grass, either).
Here is how we are going to build this skill, using a few highly effective videos and specific drills.
1. The Core Drills: Tape & The Barrier
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ViM329gheI
This video is an excellent starting point. The instructor breaks down the concept beautifully and gives you two specific drills to try. When you practice these, I want you to follow these exact rules:
Drill 1: The Tape Drill. This gives you instant feedback on where your club is hitting the ground. Crucial Rule: You must continue to make a full swing. At the very least, commit to a full finish position—standing tall on your lead leg, balanced, and rotated toward the target as much as possible. If you just chop at the tape and stop your swing, it will take much longer to transfer this skill to a real swing.
Drill 2: The Barrier Drill. This involves placing an object (like a headcover or towel) behind the ball to force you to hit down and avoid hitting the barrier. It is highly effective but can be frustrating. My Advice: The instructor places the barrier about 1 foot behind the ball. For now, move it back to two feet. Again, commit to that full finish. Try to train your eyes to actually see the clubhead strike the ball before you rotate through to the end of your swing.
2. Troubleshooting: What if I can't hit the ground at all?
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raPyazsI430
If you are struggling to make contact with the turf at all, pause the first video and watch this one. It’s a bit longer, but it takes you step-by-step through the basic mechanics of how to hit the ground, and more importantly, how to hit it in the right spot, without overcomplicating things.
3. Deeper Dive: Shifting the Low Point Forward
If you want to understand the "why" behind the movement a bit better, these next three videos offer slightly different perspectives on the same goal: moving your low point toward the target.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmk5cffU1hg - A great visual explanation of how to ensure the club hits the ground exactly where the ball is, or slightly after.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNHyzKVVVb0- This is the same concept but it’s explained more in reference to you ‘pivot’, which references the way you rotate through the shot. You want to feel like your pivot is centered around your lead side rather than your trail side.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9u6eGoIb68 - Covers similar concepts, but hearing it explained with slightly different phrasing might be the "aha" moment that clicks for you.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk3kUNU5NkU - A quick warning on this one: It is a bit more complex. The instructor mentions "not trying to hit the clubhead into the ground." This might sound like it contradicts what we just learned! What he actually means is that he is letting the clubhead drop naturally by moving his body up and out of the way, rather than aggressively trying to force the clubhead downward. Just focus on the general concept here.
Your Action Plan
Watch and Mimic: Watch the videos above and try to mimic the demonstrations exactly as shown.
Verify Your Movement: Use a mirror or record yourself on your phone to verify your body is actually doing what you feel it is doing.
Take Baby Steps: Don’t be afraid to start slow. Begin with half-backswings and focus entirely on brushing the turf and holding that perfect finish.
