Low Point
Where your swing bottoms out — the difference between pure and fat.
In plain English
Your swing is an arc with a lowest point. Irons are pure when that point is AFTER the ball (ball first, turf second). Fat and thin shots are just the low point in the wrong place.
Going deeper
Low point is controlled by pressure and ball position more than by hands: weight on the lead side pulls the bottom of the arc forward; hanging back throws it behind the ball.
The advanced view
Roughly, every degree of downward attack shifts low point ~1 inch past the ball. Consistent carry numbers are really consistent low-point control — carry variance ±10y with stable speed is a low-point signature, not a 'distance control' problem.
Why it matters for scoring
It's the root cause behind most carry inconsistency — the thing ShotIQ's Strike Quality flag usually traces to on irons.
How it shows up in your ball flight
Low point behind the ball: fat (dig) or thin (blade on the way up). Low point too far forward: low bullets and deep divots.
How it shows up in launch monitor data
ShotIQ estimates Low Point from attack angle in the Impact Lab. Its fingerprint in raw data is carry variance with steady ball speed.
Typical values: carry varying under ±6y for irons is strong.
Symptoms
- Fat and thin in the same round
- Carry numbers all over the place
- Divots starting behind the ball
Common causes
- Weight hanging back at impact
- Ball drifting forward in the stance
- Swaying instead of rotating
- Early release throwing the arc bottom backward
How to improve it
- 60% pressure on the lead foot at address for short irons, hold it through impact
- Divot-line drill: make the divot START at the line
- Rotate around the lead leg rather than sliding past it
Drills that train this
Related concepts
- 📉 Attack AngleHitting down or up — and why driver and irons want OPPOSITE answers.
- ⚪ Ball PositionMoves your low point, your launch, and your start line — without one swing change.
- 💥 Impact & CompressionThe half-millisecond that IS your golf swing.
- 🔄 Rotation & Weight ShiftThe body's engine — pressure moves first, rotation delivers.
- 🎯 Strike Location & Gear EffectWHERE on the face you hit it — the hidden hand behind weird curves.
Metric deep-dive: the full guide to this number.
Ask the ShotIQ coach
Questions this concept answers about your data, one tap away in the app:
- “Why do I hit it fat?”
- “How do I fix thin shots?”