Stop Scooping: How to Generate Compression Like a Pro

What is Compression in the Golf Swing?

Alex starts by defining what true compression is. It’s not about hitting down hard or chopping at the ball. Compression happens when you deliver the club with forward shaft lean, meaning your hands are ahead of the clubhead at impact. This puts the ball between the clubface and the ground for a split second, creating energy transfer that leads to a powerful, controlled strike.

True compression results in a penetrating ball flight, less spin, and that satisfying click sound that lets you know you’ve struck the ball purely. It’s the hallmark of great ball strikers.

The 3 Compression Killers

Most amateur golfers never experience proper compression because they make three common mistakes in their swing sequence.

1. Early Wrist Release
Also known as casting, this is when the wrists unhinge too early in the downswing. Instead of maintaining lag, the golfer releases the angle between the lead arm and the club shaft too soon. This robs the swing of power and causes the clubhead to arrive at the ball before the hands, often leading to thin shots, tops, or fat contact.

2. Lack of Body Rotation
Compression is not created by the arms alone. It requires proper use of the core and hips. Many players stall their body through impact and throw their hands at the ball. Without rotation through the shot, it’s nearly impossible to maintain lag or create a strong angle of attack.

3. Overuse of the Arms
Trying to control the swing with the arms leads to inconsistent strikes. Good compression comes from sequencing your entire body properly. If you rely solely on your hands and arms, you lose the chain reaction that builds clubhead speed and efficiency.

What the Pros Do Differently

To illustrate the differences between amateur and professional ball striking, Alex shows slow-motion comparisons. Tour players maintain wrist angles deep into the downswing. Their hands lead the clubhead into the ball, and they rotate aggressively through impact. This gives them consistent compression, distance control, and accuracy.

Amateurs, by contrast, often scoop at the ball or flip their wrists, resulting in weak, high shots that lack spin and power. The contrast in both visual and sound feedback is clear and eye-opening.

Compression Drills That Work

Alex doesn’t just identify the problem—he gives you the tools to fix it. He walks through several practical drills designed to help you feel and train proper compression mechanics.

Lag Maintenance Drill
This drill trains you to hold the wrist angle longer during the downswing. Practice slow-motion swings where you deliberately keep the angle between your lead arm and clubshaft as long as possible before releasing into impact. This builds the feel of proper lag and helps develop muscle memory.

Ground-Up Sequencing Drill
To fix early arm involvement, focus on starting your downswing with a small weight shift into your lead foot while rotating your hips open. Doing this in slow rehearsals teaches your body how to generate power from the ground instead of from the top down.

Towel or Alignment Stick Drill
Place a small towel or alignment stick just a few inches behind the ball. The goal is to hit the ball without touching the towel. If you scoop or flip at the ball, you’ll hit the towel first. If you compress correctly, you’ll make clean, ball-first contact and miss the towel entirely. This drill provides instant feedback and builds a solid angle of attack.

Feel Versus Real

Alex also emphasizes that what you feel and what is actually happening can be very different in golf. Many players feel like they’re compressing the ball because they’re swinging down, but if their hands are not ahead of the clubhead at impact, they’re not achieving true compression. Video feedback or a launch monitor can help confirm whether your changes are translating into better ball flight and contact.

The Big Takeaway

Compression is not reserved for elite players. With the right mechanics and sequencing, any golfer can learn to strike the ball solidly and consistently. Alex Elliott demystifies the process by breaking it down into clear fundamentals and easy-to-follow drills.

If you struggle with inconsistent contact, weak iron shots, or a scooping motion through impact, this video can be a game-changer. By fixing your sequencing, learning to maintain lag, and rotating through impact, you can experience the feel of compression and dramatically improve your ball striking.

This video is a must-watch for anyone who wants to stop scooping, start compressing, and strike the ball like a pro.