2 Questions - driving & putting

[janmolby]

I have 2 queries which I'm hoping someone can give me advice on.

1 - Would having the ball teed too far forward in the stance when using the driver increase the chances of a slice? I was playing last night & on a few holes I sliced my drive & I was wondering if I had the ball too far forward in my stance?

2 - Anyone got any tips/drills to help me stop leaving my putts short? Rarely a putt goes just past the hole, more commonly I leave it short, sometimes well short, & as everyone knows a putt that comes up short never goes in.

 

[USER1999]

1/ Yes.

2/ hit it harder.

Simples.

 

[janmolby]

Murph, with advice like that maybe you should consider giving golf lessons, people would be queuing around the block.

 

[USER1999]

It is a thought. I doubt I'd have the patience though.

With the putting, Rotella advocates practicing putting to the fringe of the green, rather than the hole, as that way you are definately concentrating on length, without getting bogged down on line.

For the driver, if I have the ball too far forwards, I slice it, unless I really get moving forward into the ball, which is probably not a good swing.

 

[Ken_A]

For the driver, if I have the ball too far forwards, I slice it, unless I really get moving forward into the ball, which is probably not a good swing.

This is one of my problems - no real cure other than making sure you put the ball a bit further back and making sure you commit to the strike.

As regards putting - I simply pick a line and think of the weight. I found when I thought of the line too much my weight was way off, its more important to get to the hole, no poing wondering if it will dreak left right then go up hill if you dont get it there!!

Hope it helps.

 

[janmolby]

Thanks Murph, I guess I need to get down the practice area a bit more & try that lag putting tip.

Ken, I can see what you're talking about, I read somewhere else that you should put a line through the middle of your ball & use this for lining up. When you're over the putt all you have to do it line the putter up at right angles to the line on the ball & it's lined up as you want. Then all you have left to worry about is striking it with the correct power.

 

[viscount17]

too much thinking.

do as murph says or put a few tees in the practice green at varying distances and just putt to reach them. no lining up just pace

 

[Ken_A]

too much thinking. no lining up just pace

Thats it - I play of 20 but 3 rounds ago I had 11 putts in the front 9 and 16 on the back 9.

For me its all about pace - choose a line and think about the pace - nowt else - make a good swing - keeping shoulders and head down then look after 1 second. When you get the pace right you will be suprised how many will fall.

 

[Tommo21]

too much thinking.

do as murph says or put a few tees in the practice green at varying distances and just putt to reach them. no lining up just pace

I usually put down three balls at different distances from the whole. Remember you only get one shot when playing and it’s easy to get the pace if you practice with each ball from the same place. I also put down two tees about two feet past the hole about 10 inches wide. I’m trying to hit past the hole to the tees. It works for me. I've done 26 putts this year.

 

[Region3]

How far forward is the ball in your stance with a driver?

Lots of things can cause a slice.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Certainly too far forward with a driver can cause a slice in the same way that a ball too far forward in the putting stroke will cause problems with distance control

My advice for driving would be to address the ball about a ball width inside your left ankle and see how if goes from there. If you are still struggling (and assuming of course its not your swing itself) then move it back a half ball at a time from there.

With putting ensure your eyes are directly over the ball and that the shoulders are square and that you aren't peeping to early to see it in which will open the shoulder line up

 

[RGDave]

Without wishing to go against the grain, if I put the ball too far forward, I'm more likely to PULL it than slice it.

Does nobody else cross their hands over through impact?

 

[jammydodger]

Without wishing to go against the grain, if I put the ball too far forward, I'm more likely to PULL it than slice it.

Does nobody else cross their hands over through impact?

Funny I thought the same but didnt want to be the old "one of these kids is not like the other". I would be more likely to pull the ball if further fwd in stance

 

[USER1999]

It all depends on when (if) you release your hands. For those (like me) who have a tendency to not release properly, then the slice is the most likely outcome. If you release properly, yes, a pull is going to happen.

From the OP, who seems to have a problem slicing, I would guess that he isn't releasing properly, and so pulling the ball back a bit would straighten it out. Pushing it forward will slice it.

 

[bobmac]

1. Your ball position with the driver doesnt really affect the slice. The clubface open and direction of swing causes the slice.
2. Resist the urge to hit any putt and dont use words like more power
If you are having trouble getting the ball to reach the hole, simply lengthen the backswing.
The backswing length should vary according to the length of the putt.
How many time have you said 'I didn't hit it hard enough?'
WRONG
You didn't swing the putter back far enough would be much better.
The next time you have a lengthy putt, let the putter swing back further
HTH

 

[janmolby]

I guess my question about driving highlights the issues with asking/listening to advice on the internet, some are saying the ball position does make a difference, some are saying it doesn't. I'm not trying to be smart, thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply however I guess I need to go to the driving range & test it out for myself.

As for the putting, bobmac your suggestion sounds right as that's what I was trying to do the last night but I guess I just need to practice a bit more & commit to the putt.

 

[JustOne]

I guess my question about driving highlights the issues with asking/listening to advice on the internet, some are saying the ball position does make a difference, some are saying it doesn't. I'm not trying to be smart, thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply however I guess I need to go to the driving range & test it out for myself.

Everything should be within certain tolerances. You need to hit your driver slightly on the way up, this is hard to do with the ball in the MIDDLE of your stance so therefore the ball needs to be placed a bit further forward, it doesn't matter where... but if you go too far forward then you take it out of your comfort zone and can't hit it - so you're right you will have to experiment yourself to accommodate it within your own personal swing.

 

[Ethan]

I think that ball position often plays a role in slicing. You see players with the ball forward, on the left toe, say, with the effect that they have their shoulders open and are reaching forward to the ball. Then they get a text book out to in swing and the ball slices like crazy.

Then they aim further left, opeing the shoulders more and the ball slices just as much, except it doesn't go so far forward.

 

[janmolby]

JustOne & Ethan I think you're right as I may have had the ball too far forward in my stance, I will have to play the ball forward in my stance but not as far forward as to be level with my left foot.

 

[bobmac]

Jan, if you have the ball opposite your left instep/big toe and you're slicing, its not caused by the ball position, it's caused by the swing.