5 Steps To Better Ball Striking

Hi friends and golfers. My name is Coach Erik Schjolberg, founder of EJS Golf: The Science of Better Golf. With over 20 years of experience in golf instruction, I am dedicated to helping players achieve a powerful and efficient consistent impact leading to lower golf scores.   I teach in Scottsdale, AZ, at my academy, EJS Golf, located in the beautiful private oasis area on the grounds of McCormick Ranch Golf Club. Offering both in-person Scottsdale golf lessons and convenient online golf lessons, I strive to make my elite golf instruction accessible to all. Please check out my website and explore more blogs on EJS Golf to learn more about my teaching philosophy and programs. Together, we can unlock your full potential, finally achieving the distance you hope for and/ or scoring you know you can reach.

As a seasoned golf coach at EJS Golf, I’ve spent countless hours on the greens, helping players refine their skills and reach their full potential. One of the most crucial aspects I’ve observed in elevating a golfer’s game is mastering the art of ball striking. It’s not just about swinging the club; it’s about consistently sending the ball toward your target with the right direction, distance, and trajectory. Over the years, I’ve seen how developing this skill can transform a player’s confidence and performance on the course.

Beautiful Impact Position

Ball striking, in essence, is the golfer’s ability to make solid contact with the ball, producing predictable and desirable outcomes. It’s the hallmark of players who can step onto any course, any day, and perform with remarkable consistency. These are the golfers who don’t rely on luck to find the fairway or land on the green; instead, they’ve honed their technique to a point where their swings produce reliable results time after time. I’ve always emphasized to my students that becoming a good ball striker is less about occasional brilliance and more about consistent excellence.

If you find yourself hoping for luck each time you tee off, wondering if this shot will be the one that sails straight and true, it’s time to shift that mindset. Luck should never be a strategy on the golf course. Instead, incorporating specific practice drills can help you build the skills necessary for consistent ball striking. Through dedicated practice, you can transition from uncertainty to confidence, knowing that your swing mechanics are sound and reliable.

One of the foundational elements of solid ball striking is making center contact with the club face. This might seem straightforward, but it’s a challenge that even seasoned players grapple with. Off-center hits, whether on the heel or toe of the club, can lead to a host of undesirable shots—shanks, tops, chunks—you name it. Not only do these mishits reduce efficiency, but they also take the joy out of the game. After all, golf is far more enjoyable when you’re hitting solid shots that go where you intend them to.

To help you achieve that coveted center contact more frequently, I’ve developed a couple of drills that have proven effective for many of my students. These exercises are designed to address common contact issues and reinforce the muscle memory needed for consistent swings. Let’s dive into these drills, which you can practice on the driving range or even in your own backyard.

Drill 1: Inside Tee and Outside Tee

This drill is particularly useful if you struggle with contacting the ball on the heel or toe of the clubface. Extreme heel contact, for instance, often results in the dreaded shank. The goal here is to train your body to adjust and make center contact by altering your swing path and setup.

Start by placing two golf tees in the ground, aligned perpendicular to your target line. They should be spaced about 2.5 to 3.5 inches apart and set at the same height. This setup creates a narrow gate through which you’ll swing your club. It might seem challenging at first, but it’s an excellent way to fine-tune your swing precision.

If you tend to hit the ball off the toe of the club, adjust your stance and posture so that you’re set up closer to the inside tee—the one nearest to you. The aim is to swing and strike the outside tee—the one farther from you—without touching the inside tee. This adjustment encourages you to correct your swing path, bringing the club face more towards the center at impact. Repeat this motion 25 times, focusing on smooth, controlled swings.

Conversely, if heel contact is your issue, or if you find yourself shanking the ball, set up closer to the outside tee. Your goal now is to swing and strike the inside tee without hitting the outside one. Again, perform this action 25 times, paying close attention to your swing mechanics. This exercise helps you move the contact point away from the heel and more towards the center.

After completing these repetitions, take some iron shots at a comfortable effort and speed. You’ll likely notice an improvement in your contact quality. This drill not only helps correct contact issues but also enhances your overall swing awareness. It’s a simple yet effective way to train yourself to make consistent center contact.

To find other drills go to my YouTube page where you will find drill for any fault that you may be working on.

Drill 2: Clip the Tees

The second drill focuses on those who struggle with hitting behind the ball or tend to top or thin their shots. These mishits can be incredibly frustrating, but with deliberate practice, you can overcome them. This drill is progressive, meaning you’ll start with an easier task and gradually increase the difficulty as you improve.

Begin by grabbing a handful of tees—you’ll need about 20 to 25. Place five tees in a line perpendicular to your target line, each inserted into the ground so that they stand relatively high. If you’re using tees with painted stripes, start with three stripes visible above the grass. This height makes it easier to clip the tees with your swing.w

Position yourself at the first tee, and make a full swing with the goal of striking the tee cleanly without hitting the ground. Your focus should be on making precise contact with the tee alone. If you happen to hit the ground or miss the tee, don’t get discouraged—simply start over with that tee. The objective is to train your body to deliver the clubhead to the exact point where the ball would be, promoting better contact.

Once you’ve successfully clipped all five tees at this height without errors, it’s time to increase the challenge. In Stage 2, reset the tees with two stripes showing above the grass. Repeat the process, maintaining your focus on clean, precise swings. As you progress to Stage 3 with only one stripe visible, you’ll find that your swing needs to be even more exact.

By Stage 4, the tees are inserted with no stripes showing, sitting just above the grass level. This stage requires a high degree of precision and control. It’s normal to find this step challenging, but it’s crucial for improving your ability to make solid contact with the ball at lower heights.

In Stage 5, you’ll place a ball on top of each tee and perform the same swing. The goal remains the same: strike the ball cleanly without taking a divot or topping it. Finally, in Stage 6, you transition to normal shots, applying the refined swing mechanics you’ve developed through the drill.

This progressive approach helps you build confidence and control at each stage. By the time you reach the final stage, you’ll have ingrained a swing that naturally finds the center of the clubface. This drill is particularly effective because it isolates the contact point, allowing you to focus solely on that aspect without the added variables of ball flight or distance.

Creating center contact consistently will significantly enhance your distance and trajectory on full swings. But it’s important to remember that practice is the key to making these improvements stick. Just thinking about these drills won’t make a difference—you need to put in the time and effort on the range or in your practice space. Dedication to these exercises will yield results over time, but patience is essential.

In my experience, tendencies within the golf swing can be quite stubborn. Changing them isn’t an overnight process; it requires persistent and mindful practice. Even the best players in the world understand this reality. They don’t become complacent with their skills; instead, they practice diligently to maintain and improve their game. As a coach, I always encourage my students to adopt this mindset. Recognize that improvement is a journey, one that demands commitment and resilience.

Professional golfers share a particular mentality that sets them apart. They not only practice the strengths of their game every day but also play in a way that capitalizes on those strengths. This approach minimizes weaknesses and maximizes performance under pressure. I’ve found that when my students focus on enhancing what they’re already good at, while steadily improving their weaker areas, they experience a more significant and sustainable advancement in their overall game.

It’s also important to create a structured practice routine. Randomly hitting balls on the range isn’t as effective as having a plan with specific goals. Incorporate the drills I’ve shared into your regular practice sessions. Set aside dedicated time for them, and track your progress. This disciplined approach will help you stay focused and make measurable improvements.

Let me share a personal anecdote to illustrate the impact of dedicated practice. A few years ago, I worked with a student who was struggling with consistent ball striking. He was frustrated and considered giving up on improving his game. I introduced him to these drills, and together we crafted a practice schedule that he could commit to. Over the course of several months, his dedication paid off. Not only did his ball striking improve dramatically, but his renewed confidence also translated into better scores and a newfound love for the game.

Golf is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Building confidence through consistent practice can alleviate the anxiety that comes with uncertainty on the course. When you know that you’ve put in the work and have the skills to execute shots reliably, the game becomes more enjoyable. You’re no longer hoping for a good shot; you’re expecting it.

In conclusion, improving your ball striking is a attainable goal with the right approach and mindset. Focus on making center contact by incorporating the Inside Tee and Outside Tee drill and the Clip the Tees drill into your practice routine. Be patient with yourself, and understand that lasting change takes time. Embrace the process, stay committed, and you’ll see progress.

Remember, even the greatest golfers continuously work on their fundamentals. There’s always room for improvement, no matter your skill level. As your coach, I’m here to support you on this journey. Feel free to reach out with questions or to share your progress. Let’s work together to elevate your game and make each swing a step toward excellence.

Golf improvement is a science, not a mystery. At EJS Golf Academy, I debunk the myth that golfers must "get worse before they get better." Through my data-driven approach and cutting-edge technology, I help players make immediate, tangible improvements. Experience this transformative method at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale or through my online coaching. Visit EJS Golf to discover how I can elevate your game using advanced techniques and personalized instruction. Let's unlock your potential for continuous improvement together.

Coach Erik Schjolberg

The Science of Better Golf

EJS Golf

Scottsdale Golf Lessons

Online Golf Lessons

(480) 861-9370