As a mid-handicapper, it can be tricky to learn how to compress the golf ball. It’s an acquired skill that requires superb fundamentals and great clubface control. But in order to consistently hit it ...

Look closely at this photo of Scottie Scheffler from the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte (which he won by five strokes). That's a divot in the background. You can't get a divot to ...

Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer. When you see a great ball striker hit their irons, you’ll notice they almost ...

When you watch high-level golfers hit their irons, you’ll notice they typically take a chunk of the ground with them. That’s because when they are hitting the ball, they’re also hitting the ground, ...

Learning how to compress the golf ball is the holy grail for every golfer. Sure, things like clubhead speed help unlock farther shots, but when you know how to compress the golf ball — leading to ball ...

Elite ball-strikers in golf hit iron shots that just sound different than most amateur or beginner golfers. That’s because they know how to compress it for crisp and powerful contact. Meanwhile, most ...