The ball stays under the trees. Trajectory is the problem before any other miss matters.
127 videos by 53 coaches set out to fix low launch.
What low launch looks like
When you hit shots with a low launch, the ball trajectory stays flat, remaining underneath the treeline and falling well short of your normal carry distance. Struck off either the tee or the turf, the ball often feels pinched off the bottom of the clubface or appears to be drilled low along the ground despite a smooth swing motion.
Why it happens
Lack of spine tilt at address Setting up with an upright or forward spine posture keeps your shoulders level, which prevents you from sweeping up on the ball and forces a downward angle of attack. How to tell: Look at a face-on video or mirror at setup to see if your spine is vertical and your trail hip sits level with your lead hip instead of slightly lower. The idea: Setup. From Matt Fryer Golf, Performance Golf, Golf with Coach Carolin, Face First Golf, Justin Langhill | Golf Performance Coach.
Moving the upper body forward in downswing Shifting your chest, head, or lead shoulder forward over the golf ball during the downswing steepens your path into impact and destroys upward launch. How to tell: Check swing footage to see if your chest or sternum moves past the line of the golf ball before impact rather than staying behind it. The idea: Downswing. From Performance Golf, James Wiltshire, Rob Cheney Golf, Golf with Coach Carolin, Justin Langhill | Golf Performance Coach.
Excessive forward shaft lean at impact Driving the grip and hands too far ahead of the golf ball at impact delofts the clubface, stripping away the dynamic loft required to elevate the ball. How to tell: Examine your impact position on video to see if your hands are leaning heavily towards the target in front of your lead leg. The idea: Impact position. From AskGolfGuru, Meandmygolf, Good Golf Coaching.
Using insufficient club loft for swing speed Attempting to play low-lofted drivers or low-loft fairway woods with moderate or slower swing speeds fails to generate the initial launch required for optimum carry. How to tell: Test different lofts on a launch monitor to see if a lower-lofted club produces a flat trajectory that drops short compared to a higher-lofted alternative. From Athletic Motion Golf, Easiest Swing, Golf Sidekick, Get Good At Golf!, Elite Performance Golf Studios.
The fix
The drills that fix low launch
Most-taught first, each with the coaches who teach it.
Every Golfer Should Know This About Fairway Woods! by Athletic Motion Golf. Most golfers with moderate swing speeds (90-100 mph) will hit a 4-wood or 7-wood farther than a 13-15 degree 3-wood due to better launch conditions.
This One Change Added 30 Iron Yards‼️ by Giles Gill Golf. Avoid pre-setting forward shaft lean at address, as it often hoods the clubface and de-lofts the iron.