Ever swung your iron the hardest you could just to hit a thin or weak shot? Well, you are not alone. Thousands of hobbyists picking up the drivers on the weekends struggle with the same problem: Inconsistency with the iron. If you’re facing the same obstacle on the course, chances are you are not compressing the ball properly. Compression shots aren’t about swinging harder; they’re about hitting the ball with the right technique to unlock power, control, and consistency.

A compression shot happens when you hit down on the ball with the right combination of forward shaft lean, proper ball position, and a flexed lead wrist at impact. It happens with controlling the clubface to reduce its loft at contact while striking the ball before the ground. The result? A satisfying, almost addictive feeling of the ball being “squeezed” off the clubface, producing a crisp sound and a smooth, powerful flight. That solid connection not only boosts distance but also gives your shot more control over where it ends. This is the secret sauce of the elite. Here’s what you can take from your favorite player’s golf playbook.

The top players follow a carefully curated combination of forward lean shaft, wrist flexion, and ball placement to perfect their shots. It begins with placing the weight onto the front foot for a cleaner strike, all the while making sure the ball isn’t placed too far forward. For perfecting these shots, the players maintain a steep angle to properly compress the ball and hit the ball farther ahead. With practice drills, you too can train these key positions and start hitting crisp, powerful iron shots consistently. Here’s a list of 5 simple, easy-to-implement tips you can apply starting today and notice significant improvements in the feel of your swing.

Tip #1: Proper Stance

The foundation for perfecting the compression shots is not some fancy tweak you can apply. The key principle of hitting such shots starts with improving your stance and perfecting your setup. Start with your feet about shoulder-width apart to stay balanced and allow a smooth weight shift during your swing. Position the ball just inside your front foot when using irons to help you hit down on the ball rather than scooping it up.

At the address, keep your weight evenly balanced, then move it to your back foot during the backswing. As you swing down, shift your weight to your front foot to create the downward strike needed for compression. This simple weight transfer adds power and helps you make cleaner, more consistent contact.

Tip #2: Forward Shaft Lean

Another fairly simple tip includes proper shaft lean. Although deceptively straightforward, the key lies in perfecting the details, which demands regular drills. The basic idea is to keep your hands slightly ahead of the clubhead at impact. This causes the shaft to lean towards the target. This lean helps you hit down and through the ball, which is a basic principle of hitting crisp compression shots. When you hit the ball down, the ball goes up, taking a better flight and achieving optimum distance.

A common mistake is flipping the wrists before impact. But this usually leads to thin or topped shots. To practice forward shaft lean, try short chip shots with an 8-iron, making half swings while keeping your hands just ahead of the clubhead through impact. Using a tool like HackMotion can give real-time feedback on your wrist angles.

Tip #3: Improve Swing Plane

Out of all the tips, this might be the most technically challenging to obtain. However, with the right practice, even weekend challengers can perfect this tweak. The idea is to understand the right swing plane, which is essentially the path your club follows. If your club comes down too steeply, you might “flip” your wrists just before hitting the ball, leading to weak contact. On the other hand, if your swing is too shallow, you won’t hit down enough on the ball to compress it properly. A simple way to fix this is by keeping your lead wrist flat (not bent) at the top of your backswing. This wrist position naturally guides your club onto the correct swing path. HackMotion can help you get important data regarding your wrist angle, helping you improve your swing plane.

Tip #4: Follow Through With Purpose

A strong follow-through is just as important as the strike itself for compressing the ball well. After impact, make sure your arms are fully extended. This shows you’ve kept your swing speed through the ball, helping with solid contact. Also, finish balanced with your weight on your front foot and your body facing the target. This controlled finish means your swing was powerful and steady. Practicing balance drills and focusing on a smooth, complete follow-through will help you lock in better compression and more consistent shots.

Here’s a simple balance drill you can follow. Stand on your front foot and make slow practice swings, focusing on staying steady and balanced throughout your follow-through. This helps build control and improves your finish position.

Tip #5: Ball Position

Of the entire list, probably the easiest and quickest change you can make is understanding the right ball position for every golf club. Getting the ball into the perfect position easily translates into better compression. However, putting this on your back burner can significantly decelerate your progress.

For drivers, place the ball just inside your front heel to catch it on the upswing for maximum distance. With mid-irons, the ball should be near the middle of your stance—too far forward leads to thin shots. Fairway woods go a bit back from the driver’s position, about a ball’s width inside the front heel. Wedges work best with the ball centered or slightly back, while putts need the ball just forward of center. Proper ball position helps you strike cleanly and control your shots.

Hitting compression shots is key to gaining more distance, better control, and greater consistency in your game. With just a few simple adjustments and focused practice drills, you can unlock this powerful feeling and start striking the ball more confidently every time. Mastering compression truly transforms their iron play for the better.