Yes and yes. The low point of a proper swing is 4+ inches in front of the ball. We want ball first contact on all shots from the ground. I learned from Tom Kite that it was desirable to take a small divot with a fairway wood, now a fairway metal. We use the ground as a launching pad for the ball. A descending swing uses the force of the ground pushing back to get the ball up in the air with more spin.
Learn to hit the ball with the grip end of the club closer to the target then the club head at impact and you are starting to use the club correctly. For many golfers the ball will not go at the target because their lead wrist is not flat enough at impact or their grip is incorrect.
See a PGA Professional who understands impact to get this fixed.