Stupid Golf Question
What does compressing irons mean?
A lesson says to compress the ball and you picture trying to squeeze it with the clubface
Plain answer first
The plain answer
Compressing an iron means striking the ball before the turf with a delivered loft and strike that produce solid contact. The ball briefly deforms in every normal strike, but golfers use "compression" to describe efficient impact, not literally trapping or squeezing the ball into the ground.
The NPG answer
You are delivering the club cleanly, not putting the golf ball in a vise.
When it matters
It matters when iron shots feel weak or inconsistent, but a good strike does not require a large divot and may leave little or no visible turf mark on firm ground or a mat.
What to do next
Make a few controlled iron swings and use contact feedback to check that the club reaches the ball before its lowest point.
Do this next
What is attack angle?
Attack angle shows whether the clubhead is moving upward or downward when it strikes the ball.
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