The Torch Trick: Feel Elite Compression on Every Iron Shot

Elevate Your Golf Game: Discover the Torch Trick for Perfect Iron Shots

Looking to improve your golf ball striking and achieve the satisfying sensation of true compression? The Torch Trick provides a straightforward and effective method to instill those feelings into your swing. Discover how using your body correctly through impact can lead to powerful, consistent iron shots every time.

Table of Contents

• Step 1: Learn the Torch — Setup for Golf
• Step 2: Half-shots to Feel the Golf Backswing Checkpoint
• Step 3: Transition Control for Better Golf Compression
• Step 4: Impact — Cover the Golf Ball
• Step 5: Follow-through — Don’t Try to Stay Down in Golf
• Practical Drill Sequence to Train the Torch Trick for Golf
• Key Golf Checkpoints
• Common Golf Mistakes and How to Fix Them
• How to Practice the Torch Trick in a 15-minute Range Session for Golf
• Progress Checkpoints to Measure Improvement in Golf
• Drill Variations to Keep Improving Your Golf
• FAQ

Step 1: Learn the Torch — Setup for Golf

Start by visualizing a torch attached to your chest, pointing slightly above the golf ball at address. This helps align your chest angle properly throughout your swing, ensuring effective coverage of the ball through impact.

Without a club, place your hands across your shoulders. Rotate your shoulders to the top of your backswing. Ensure the torch points correctly as you rotate, which indicates your upper body remains aligned and stable, setting you up for effective ball impact.

Step 2: Half-shots to Feel the Golf Backswing Checkpoint

Focus on half swings. Emphasize where your chest and torch point at the top. This intentional practice ensures you reach the correct backswing position devoid of compensations that disrupt swing integrity.

Execute sets of these shots to build muscle memory and consistency in execution, forming the cornerstone of solid ball striking through reduced variance in your swing’s low point.

Step 3: Transition Control for Better Golf Compression

A void loss of compression by controlling your transition. Ensure your trail hip subtly moves back as you start your downswing, allowing the torch to point toward the ball, securing body angles for a controlled, powerful impact.

This movement enables you to maintain forward shaft lean and ensures a satisfying compression at impact.

Step 4: Impact — Cover the Golf Ball

The apex of the torch trick is achieved at impact. Your chest should remain down, be slightly open, and your hands positioned forward, resulting in a low point ahead of the ball that delivers elite compression and effective energy transfer.

Visualize a torch line from your sternum extending slightly ahead of the ball for achieving the desired ball squeeze feel and turf mark.

Step 5: Follow-through — Don’t Try to Stay Down in Golf

Misguided advice leads players to rigidly keep the chest and head down. Instead, ensure a dynamic transition from covering the ball to extending up through the follow-through, promoting a proper release and avoiding compromised shots.

Engage all checkpoints fluidly for enhanced ball striking and optimal energy transfer across your entire swing.

Practical Drill Sequence to Train the Torch Trick for Golf

1. Torch Setup Only: Rotate without a club, ensuring proper torch alignment at the top. (10 reps)
2. Half-swing Torch Checks: With a wedge, hit half shots to confirm chest rotation and torch direction. (15 reps)
3. Transition Squeeze: Focus on hip adjustment and maintaining torch alignment toward the ball at downswing. (10 reps)
4. Impact Feeling: Practise with a tee beyond the ball, aiming for ball-first contact. (12 reps)
5. Extend after Impact: Ensure upward torch movement through the follow-through. (10 reps)

Key Golf Checkpoints

• Setup: Ensure torch points slightly above the ball.
• Top of Backswing: Achieve horizontal torch position and 90-degree shoulder rotation.
• Transition: Maintain proper hip and torch alignment toward the ball.
• Impact: Keep chest down, with handle leading; focus on forward shaft lean.
• Follow-through: Promote upward torch movement for full extension.

Common Golf Mistakes and How to Fix Them

• Chest Lifts: Fix by moving hips back and ensuring torch alignment towards the ball early in downswing.
• Premature Opening: Slow swing for body check and maintain torch angle during half shots.
• Rigid Downward Motion: Cover then naturally extend upward post-impact.
• Hand Reliance: Foster compression through body angles, not hand force.

How to Practice the Torch Trick in a 15-minute Range Session for Golf

1. Warm up with 5 slow no-club rotations, assessing torch alignment.
2. Hit 10 half wedges focusing on the backswing and torch transition.
3. Hit 10 full wedge shots, enforcing low-point control and follow-through extension.
4. Conclude with 10 full iron shots, applying the established technique at full speed.

Progress Checkpoints to Measure Improvement in Golf

• Achieve consistent ball-then-turf divots with reduced thin or fat shots.
• Experience distance gains due to improved compression.
• Notice a more defined ‘squeeze’ sensation on the clubface.
• Improve dispersion with a more stable low point.

Drill Variations to Keep Improving Your Golf

• Tee-ahead Drill: Reinforces ball-first contact with a post-ball tee setup.
• Pause-and-go: Builds optimal transition through deliberate pauses.
• Slow-motion Video: Utilizes visual feedback for enhancing swing correctness.

FAQ

“Cover the golf ball.” Keep your chest down, slightly open, and ensure forward handle position at impact for pure compression and consistent striking.

Regularly practice the Torch Trick to make it second nature in your routine, paving the way for improved iron play in your golf journey.