How to hit a knockdown shot: 5 basics for golf's must-have shot

The stinger. The wind-cheater. The punch. Whatever you call it, the knockdown is a useful shot to have in your arsenal, especially if you’re playing in windy conditions or on a tight course. How do you hit a knockdown shot? Well, it’s not as difficult as you might think. With a few setup changes and the right swing thought, you can master the knockdown and become a great wind player. Let me show you how. — Andrew Park, Andrew Park Golf, West Orange C.C., Winter Garden, Fla., Golf Digest Best in State Teacher

How to hit a knockdown shot

1. Grip down
2. Widen stance
3. Ball back
4. Open clubface
5. Swing shorter

1. Grip down

To nail the setup of a low shot, just remember the number two. We call it a “two-two-two” setup because you want to grip down two inches, widen your stance two inches and move the ball back two inches. Gripping down helps to get your body lower to the ground and take spin off the shot—that’s how to cheat the wind.

2. Widen your stance

Just like gripping down, widening your stance two inches will get your center of gravity lower. This makes you swing flatter, or more around your body, which helps you have a shallow downswing. You don’t want to be coming in too steep with a knockdown shot because the ball will spin too much and fly too high. Get low and feel more rounded.

3. Move the ball back

Also be sure to move the ball back two inches in your stance. This will help you naturally get more shaft lean and take loft off the club. The shaft lean is going to be what keeps the ball low.

4. Open the face

The worst thing you can do with this technique of hitting it low is to have the face set square at address. Since you’ve moved the ball back in your stance, you’re going to catch the ball earlier in the swing because the club moves on an arc. So, the face needs to be a little open to be square to that point in the arc. If you don’t open the face and move the ball back in your stance, you’ll hit a big pull.

5. Swing from shoulder to shoulder

When you hit a knockdown shot, you always need to abbreviate your follow through because it forces you to use your body to hit the ball instead of your wrists. Too much wrist action will create too much spin. Instead, turn back and through with your body and feel like you have dead arms and dead wrists. Try and keep your backswing and through swing at shoulder height. I always say, a knockdown is a bigger version of a chip shot.