In order to get maximum distance on golf shots, the club should be moving level to the ground as it contacts the ball.

A Swing That Chops Down on the Ball Will Produce a High, Short Shot

If the club chops down on the ball at contact, the result will be a high, short shot. A similar result will occur if the club sweeps under the ball on a tee shot.

To prevent "skied" shots, you can tell your students to use the following mental cue.

Coaching Cue
Instruct your students to imagine that there's a nail sticking out of the back-center of the ball - on their swing they should attempt to drive the nail into the ball with the club.

Imagine Hitting a Nail Into the Ball for a Level Swing Path

This should produce a level swing path to the ball, resulting in solid contact and longer distance on drives.

References:
1. Skied Shot - "How to Stop Yourself from Hitting Skied Shots." BeginnersGolf.com. http://www.beginnersgolf.info
2. "Private Lessons: high handicapper - focal points."
Golf, July 1989.

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