The REAL TRUTH about Choking Down on the Golf Club

Do you think choking down on the golf club will keep your shots lower and shorter? Well hold on a minute there are some things you must know.

Use Code: MRSHORTGAME
USE CODE: MRSHORTGAME

Code: MrShortGame

Use Code: mrshortgame for discount!

Use Code: MrShortGame

FOLLOW ME:

⚠️ Disclaimer: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links you'll help support the channel at no additional cost to you. Win/Win! Thanks!

[dennismoser]

I think I've watched just about every one of your videos and I have learned a lot. I used this choke down method yesterday and I was amazed and very happy with every one of my iron shots. I'm usually in the low 90's and right off the bat yesterday I shot an 85. I pretty much ignore all of the other videos now. Thank you for all you do for us hackers out here

[ChosenPlaysYT]

As a scratch golfer this has been my biggest secret the last 20 years since I was very young. I choke down 1-2 inches on about every single shot. Always led the team in fairways, least penalty strokes, etc.

[lindaschroeder]

I am 74 years old and just restarted playing golf after a 40yr break. There was no utube when I used to play. Your guidance has helped me get back to striking the ball correctly. Today I watched your lesson on chipping and I have taken your advice to heart. I opened the face of my wedge and did not take the club higher than my waist and moved through the ball. Works like a charm. I’m a subscriber and will remain one. Thanks

[John-]

Can you do a video at some point in the future showing the differences, if any, between normal shaft, hard stepped shaft and soft stepped shaft? I have always wondered if you can lower spin or ball flight using these methods. Some people say you can, others say it just alters feel of the club but not launch conditions. Maybe you can put it to the test for us. Just a thought. Love the channel!

[alexstahl]

Here is another truth for you. I was just fit for a new set of ping 425 irons, got blue dot, but it also called for -1/2 inch length from standard. I decided not to get them cut but rather stayed with standard length. I simply choke down 1/2 inch. I've found they preform wonderfully, plus that 1/2 on the end acts like a slight counterbalance and I'm swinging the club faster. Of course this won't work if you need a longer than standard club.

[SamBrown]

I've thought about this quite a bit and have a theory (and this video seems to support my theory...thanks!) I believe gripping down won't produce a shorter shot if the top of the shaft remains the same distance from your body. Imagine someone holding one end of a jump rope and spinning it around while people try to jump over the rope (yes, very elementary school). The further away you get from the holder, the faster the rope is moving. The correlation between shaft length and clubhead speed works like this--but maybe not like you think. The jump rope isn't being spun by the kid's hand. The kid is spinning around--and the center of this motion is somewhere in the kid's core. For the golfer, it's not the choking down...or the distance between the hands and the clubhead. It's the distance between the clubhead and the center of the swing plane (liver, kidney, belly button, whatever).

Assuming my theory is correct, a shorter shaft--held the same distance from your body--will result in slower clubhead speed (thus slower ball speed and lesser distance).

[pipebliss]

When you bring an iron closer to your body, the toe is going more down (flatter), producing a shot that wants to go naturally more right. If your normal 7i is going 21 ft left... Maybe you need a flatter lie angle?

[herenow]

I've ended up doing this naturally all the time as I found I was too inconsistent holding my clubs at the end - it may be that my clubs are too long - but one thing that it has done (I'm a relative newbie by the way and high handicapper) is enabled me to make great contact with the ball, usually straight but if it's going anywhere it's going right. It's transformed my game and is gouging chunks off my handicap. So may get all my clubs cut down...

[johnherman]

In an essence I always thought choking down controlled your club head path thus creating a more controlled shot. My distance is generally reduced because I don’t swing as hard and my follow through is shortened. Thank big man, good information.

[jonbeverly]

This was a great - thanks Matt for the info! I have noticed that chocking down on the club helps me with my wrist hinging as well.

[jamesgentry]

I noticed this with my wedges a few years ago when I really started focusing on my short game and 100 yd and in. It somewhat confused me. This confirms what I've been seeing. Thx.

[JJones]

It works like a hitter in baseball who chokes up with 2 strikes for better control of the bat head. The results indicated in this video begs the question, “why not choke down as a standard practice”? As I got older I lost some control with my driver and a couple of years ago started choking down about an inch and lost very little carry, hit the ball straighter and picked up some roll so there’s no noticeable difference.

[Hoodlmb]

Great vid!! Thank you for posting! I've found that same result and prefer it over holding at the end of the club. Especially on my driver. I actually cut an inch and a half off the end of my driver shaft and I hit the ball more straight now.

[timmerchant]

I brought this lesson to the range today and struck the ball better than I have in years. While the ball flighted a wee bit shorter and lower I was much more consistent finding the center of the clubface. Also compressing the golf ball ( for me ) was better also. Thank you so much for a great lesson.

[NamLamH]

Yeah, I learn this when I hit my 5 year old son’s iron 7, I realize that this club easier to control and still can hit the ball pretty far, go on to try on my club and it is true, my impact is more at centre, far better than holding at the end of the grip

[seanbonvie]

Matt you have the characteristics of a excellent coach which is the ability to understand the thought process that beginners have. I have played about 20 rounds this season and have came down from mid 90's consistent shooter to getting my lowest score twice at 83. My goal is to break 80 by the end of the season, keep up the hard work as you have created great value from this content for many people, thank you.

[peterguildford]

Funny enough I was trying this out last week. And as you said distance was virtually the same, flight the same, maybe a tad lower. But my shots still went left as well as right. I don't think my proximity to the hole was better either, but I've got to say it was pretty windy that day . Maybe the strike was more consistent, but I'll talk to my coach this week and see what he thinks, might be good for approach shots with a little practise. I did find my chipping and pitching was better than average for me.

[samuelkim]

Great video. One question--why wouldn't I choke down on all my shots? Isn't straight always better?

[dewmedia]

Mr Short game, great video….there was one line that I keyed on in this video where u said choking down makes u hit straighter. Today, I used this tip on the back 9 and viola! I shot 2 over par. Hitting straight shots was a treat. I now have a draw and straight shot. GOOD Thanks for the tip

[leemccoshen]

Super video! I am anxious to try this method with the driver. Thank you for posting these videos Matt!