What Is a Dropkick in Golf?

That frustrating sound of club hitting turf well before ball, followed by the sight of your shot screaming low across the ground, is a moment every golfer knows. We're talking about the dropkick, an unwelcome shot that turns a perfectly good approach into a frustrating recovery. This article will explain exactly what a dropkick is, what's causing it to show up in your game, and most importantly, give you a straightforward, actionable plan to get rid of it for good.

So, What Exactly Is a Dropkick in Golf?

In simple terms, a dropkick happens when your golf club hits the ground behind the ball and then bounces up off the turf into the equator of the golf ball. It's often mistaken for a standard "fat" or "chunked" shot, but there's a small difference that has a big impact.

A typical chunk is when your club enters the turf too early and digs downward, taking a massive slice of earth with it (and an often unimpressed golf ball). The club never really recovers, and the ball goes nowhere because all its energy was spent excavating the fairway.

A dropkick is more of a bounce. Your club still bottoms out behind the ball, but instead of digging, it smacks the ground - especially firm turf - and bounces upward. The leading edge of the club then catches the ball thin, usually around its halfway point. This results in that terrifyingly low, hot shot that rockets over the green or doesn't even get airborne. Think of it like trying to skip a stone, the club deflects off the ground before striking the ball.

The Unwanted Consequences of the Dropkick

The outcome of a dropkick is never good and always unpredictable. Understanding what's happening to the shot can help reinforce why fixing it is so important.

• Loss of Height: Because the leading edge strikes the middle of the ball instead of the clubface making downward contact, you get almost no loft. The ball has no backspin and can't climb.
• Loss of Distance (and Sometimes Too Much!): This shot is the definition of poor energy transfer. You'll lose significant yardage. However, the paradox of the dropkick (and the dreaded skull) is that with no spin to stop it, the ball can run out much farther than you intend, especially if you catch it on a firm green or fairway.
• Zero Control: Since the ball isn't interacting with the grooves of your clubface properly, spin, trajectory, and distance are all left to chance. You simply cannot be a consistent golfer if the dropkick is a regular visitor to your game.

What's Causing Your Dropkicks? a Diagnostic Checklist

To fix the problem, you first have to understand the cause. A dropkick is fundamentally a problem of an incorrect "low point." Your low point is the very bottom of your swing arc. For solid iron shots, this point should happen just after the golf ball. With a dropkick, your low point is happening well behind the ball. Here are the most common culprits.

Cause #1: Your Weight Stays on Your Back Foot

This is probably the number one reason for dropped-kicked shots. Many players successfully shift their weight to their trail foot (right foot for right-handers) in the backswing but fail to shift it forward onto their lead foot in the downswing. When your weight and center of gravity hang back, the bottom of your swing arc naturally shifts back with it. You end up hitting the ground behind the ball because that's where the bottom of your swing is.

Cause #2: Early Release or "Casting" the Club

Another very common fault is an early release of the wrist angles you've created in the backswing. Think of your held wrist angles as stored power. Ideally, you want to maintain this angle deep into the downswing, releasing it through impact. When players "cast" the club, they throw those angles away from the top of the swing. The clubhead gets thrown out away from the body and bottoms out way too early, leading to that distinct bounce into the ball.

Cause #3: Incorrect Ball Position at Address

This is a simpler setup issue to diagnose. Your swing arc is a circle. If the ball is placed too far forward in your stance relative to the club you're using, your swing will naturally bottom out before it ever reaches the ball. For mid-irons, the ball should be positioned right in the center of your stance. As the clubs get longer, the ball moves slightly forward, but pushing it too far up is a common mistake that invites the dropkick.

Cause #4: Swaying Instead of Rotating

A golf swing is a rotational action around your spine. Many amateurs, however, sway their hips and shoulders laterally (side-to-side) instead of turning. If you sway away from the target on your backswing and then don't shift forward correctly on the downswing, your whole swing center gets moved behind the ball. This inconsistency makes it nearly impossible to find a predictable low point, and the dropkick becomes an frequent bad outcome.

Your Step-by-Step Plan to Eliminate the Dropkick for Good

Okay, enough about the problem. Let's get to work on the solution. These drills are designed to move your swing's low point from behind the ball to just in front of it, giving you that 'ball-then-turf' contact that all great ball-strikers have.

Step 1: Get Your Weight Forward

Since hanging back on a back foot is the biggest cause, this is our first priority. We need to drill the sensation of a proper weight shift.

The Move Forward Drill:

1. Set up to the ball as you normally would.
2. Take your backswing, feeling your weight load onto your trail side.
3. Here's the key: As your first move to start the downswing, feel your lead hip (left hip for right-handers) bump slightly toward the target just before you start to turn.
4. As you swing through impact, you should feel almost all of your weight finish on your front foot. A great feeling is to finish the swing holding your pose, with your back heel completely off the ground and only the toe providing a little balance. If you can hold this finish for three seconds, you've likely transferred your weight correctly.

Practicing this with slow, deliberate half-swings will engrain the feeling of getting your weight and swing center ahead of the ball before impact.

Step 2: A Drill to Fix Your Low Point

This is the most famous drill for fixing chunks and dropkicks for a reason: it provides instant, non-negotiable feedback.

The Towel Drill:

1. Place a small towel (or a headcover) on the ground about 4-6 inches directly behind your golf ball.
2. Set up to the ball. Your mission is simple: Hit the ball without hitting the towel.
3. If you're dropkicking the ball, your club will hit the towel first. You'll know immediately. Remember the feeling from the "Move Forward Drill" - drive your weight forward to move your low point ahead of the towel.
4. A successful shot means the club will miss the towel, strike the ball, and then take a small divot *in front of* where the ball was. This is that magical ball-then-turf contact.

Start with half-swings and build your way up to full ones. This drill doesn't lie, it forces you to move your low-point to the correct spot.

Step 3: Preserve Your Wrist Angles (Stop Casting)

If an early release is your problem, you need to feel what it's like to hold those angles for longer.

The Split-Hands Drill:

1. Grip the club normally, but then slide your trail hand down the shaft about 3-4 inches so there's a gap between your hands.
2. Take a few half-swings. This split grip will feel strange, but it dramatically amplifies the feeling of the clubhead passing your hands, or "flipping."
3. Your goal is to feel like the handle of the club is leading the clubhead through the 'impact zone'. You'll have a sensation of pulling or dragging the club through the ball, not throwing the clubhead at it.

This drill discourages the wrists from unhinging too early and really helps promote the feeling of lag and compression, the opposites of the dropkick-causing flip.

Final Thoughts

The dropkick is a deeply frustrating shot, but it's not a mystery. It's the direct result of a physical error in the swing, most often caused by a faulty weight shift that leaves the low point behind the ball. By focusing on getting your weight forward and practicing drills that promote a 'ball-first' contact, you can replace that low-screaming liner with a high, controlled iron shot.

As you work on these changes, sometimes all you need is a bit of confidence or a second opinion on the course. One place our team can provide that help is with Caddie AI. When you're facing a tough lie where a mishit feels likely, you can actually snap a photo and get instant advice on the best way to play the shot. This kind of real-time guidance can help you make a smarter decision that avoids the big mistake a dropkick can cause, letting you commit to the shot with a clear plan.