Golf Glossary
Low Point
In short
Low point is the lowest point of the swing arc relative to the ball. TrackMan shows whether this point lies before or after impact and by how much. With irons the low point should sit slightly beyond the ball, towards the target, so that ball is struck first and turf second. With the driver it is usually before the ball.
Low point in golf: what it means
During the swing the club moves along an arc, a little like a pendulum. That arc has a lowest point. This is the low point. Where it lies decides how you strike the ball.
TrackMan defines the value as the distance from the geometric centre of the club head to the lowest point of the swing arc, at the moment of maximum compression. So the device shows whether the club reaches its lowest point before the ball or after the ball. The output is a distance with a letter, often in inches. For example, 3.1 A means the lowest point was 3.1 inches after impact (A for after). 1.2 B means 1.2 inches before (B for before).
TrackMan describes low point as another way of describing attack angle. If you hit down, the low point is after the ball. If you hit up, it is before.
Where the low point should be
The answer depends on the club.
Irons and wedges: the low point should be beyond the ball, towards the target. Then the club strikes the ball first and the turf afterwards. A divot is created, a piece of turf that starts after the ball. The ball is compressed cleanly and gets the spin you want.
Driver: here the ball sits on a tee and the club should swing slightly upwards at impact. The low point is therefore before the ball. An upward blow raises launch angle and lowers spin. That brings distance.
Fairway woods and hybrids: they sit in between. The ball lies on the ground, and the low point is usually close to the ball or slightly after it.
There is no single number. What matters is that the value suits the club and stays as similar as possible from shot to shot.
Numbers: what tour players and amateurs show
Trade media have published analyses of TrackMan measurements with the 6-iron. In one such analysis, the low point of PGA Tour players averaged about 4.5 inches after the ball, roughly 11.5 centimetres. For the scratch player the average was slightly higher, and for the 30-handicapper it was around 6.5 inches, about 16.5 centimetres. The higher the handicap, the further the low point moved towards the target.
The spread matters too. In the same analysis, tour players ranged from about 4.0 to 5.1 inches, while the 30-handicapper ranged from about 4.9 to 7.2 inches. For many recreational golfers the low point varies even more in everyday play. It is exactly this variation that causes fat shots and thin shots.
The numbers show that it is less about reaching a particular value. It is about keeping the low point consistent. If you control it, you strike the ball reliably, and distance and direction become predictable.
A practical example: fat shot and thin shot
A player hits ten balls with the 7-iron. On five shots the launch monitor shows a low point of 1 B to 2 B, a lowest point before the ball. The club hits the ground first and the ball second, or it is already rising again at the ball. The result is fat shots that fly short, or thin strikes.
On two other shots the value is 7 A to 8 A. The club comes in very steeply, digs deep and leaves a big divot. The ball often flies low and without control.
The remaining three shots are at 3 A to 4 A. Those are the good strikes. The numbers are an example. They show how a launch monitor makes the problem visible: what counts is not the result of single shots but how far apart the values lie. The aim of the exercise is to bring all shots into the range of 3 A to 4 A.
How to improve your low point
Low point is decided by several things: ball position, weight shift, swing centre and shaft lean. Many coaches work with these exercises:
- Line on the ground: draw a line on the mat or the turf. Place the ball on the line. The aim is for the mark in the turf to begin after the line, so that the divot lies beyond the ball.
- Check ball position: if the ball is too far forward in the stance with irons, the low point tends to fall before the ball. With irons it is usually in the middle to slightly ahead of the middle of the stance.
- Weight towards the target: if you move weight to the target side in the downswing, you move the low point towards the target.
- Hands ahead: a slight shaft lean towards the target helps you strike the ball first.
- Hit more slowly: at a calm tempo it is easier to control the low point.
Be aware on mats: the club often slides under the ball on fat shots there. Mistakes therefore look less severe than on turf.
Common mistakes and distinctions
A common mistake is to try to lift the ball. If you actively scoop the ball up, you shift weight backwards and the low point moves before the ball, onto your side of it. The result is fat shots. The loft of the club lifts the ball by itself.
A second mistake is the opposite: hitting too steeply down. Then the low point is after the ball, but very far after it. The club digs deep and the divot is too big.
To tell the terms apart: attack angle describes whether the head moves up or down at impact. Low point describes where the lowest point is. The two are linked. Impact is the moment of contact. The divot is the visible result. Low point makes this connection measurable in numbers and is therefore a good way to check the quality of your contact.
Try it at Golf Lounge
A private lesson with a PGA professional lasts 60 minutes and can be booked online, daily by appointment. The coaches analyse your swing with TrackMan data. That lets you check how consistent your contact is, and the coach shows you how to improve it. The lesson takes place on the covered range, all year round. Training for pairs and for groups is also possible.
Frequently asked questions
What is low point in golf?
Low point is the lowest point of the swing arc relative to the ball. TrackMan shows whether the club reaches its lowest point before or after impact and by how much. With irons it should be after the ball, with the driver usually before.
What do A and B mean for low point?
The letter shows where the lowest point lies relative to impact. A stands for after: the lowest point is after the ball, towards the target. B stands for before: the lowest point is before the ball. A value of 3.1 A means, for example, 3.1 inches after impact.
Where should the low point be with irons?
Slightly after the ball, towards the target. One published analysis gives an average of about 4.5 inches, roughly 11.5 centimetres after the ball for tour players with the 6-iron. More important than a fixed number is that the value varies little from shot to shot.
What is the difference between low point and attack angle?
Attack angle shows whether the club head moves up or down at impact. Low point shows where the lowest point of the swing arc lies. If you hit down, the low point is after the ball, and if you hit up, before it. Both describe the same connection from two viewpoints.
How do I improve my low point?
Check ball position, weight shift towards the target and slight shaft lean. A simple exercise is the line on the ground: the divot should begin after the ball. Measure averages and work towards consistent values. A coach can show you the cause in your movement.
As of: October 2026