Ball driving position

[user2009]

I've been doing some work at the range today and was quite surprised with the results, I've found that I can best strike my drives with the ball further forward than my left foot. I know you're supposed to have the ball more towards your left foot than centre to maximise power maybe in the 2 position (If L foot is 0 and R foot ias 10) but mine is in the -1 or -2 position, see photo (the ball may have even been slightly further left for some shots)

I found a massive difference in distance and accuracy, at the +2 position or 5 position I was massively slicing things today, tried a few drills with feet together which helped but it generally wasn't working.

I then put the ball beyond my left foot to the -2 position and they were flying straight and about 200yds (rangeballs) I actually knocked a normal ball and it nearly hit the back fence which must be beyond 250. I also found I could knock my 10.5 bubble shaft burner just as far as my 10.5 MP600 460 degree ( I definitely favour the 460 off a lower too as well)

Is this driving position acceptable? It worked for me today, I've never hit a rangeball as far or straight with both clubs until I made this adjustment

 

[virtuocity]

Try sticking it back in a more conventional position, but start with the club on the inside of your RIGHT foot. If you hook, move the club forward slightly at address.

Concentrate on keeping your head WHERE IT IS at address.

 

[user2009]

Try sticking it back in a more conventional position, but start with the club on the inside of your RIGHT foot. If you hook, move the club forward slightly at address.

Concentrate on keeping your head WHERE IT IS at address.

Thanks, I can't seem to strike it cleanly in any position than as shown, I just wonder if this is acceptable or unnatural?

 

[bozza]

I'm no expert but i wouldn't advise having it that far forward.

Do you tend to slice the ball when you have it further back?

 

[user2009]

I'm no expert but i wouldn't advise having it that far forward.

Do you tend to slice the ball when you have it further back?

Yes, a big slice, this position enables me to drive straight and long(for me) at least it did today.

 

[virtuocity]

Thanks, I can't seem to strike it cleanly in any position than as shown, I just wonder if this is acceptable or unnatural?

So you've already tried my suggestion?

 

[mykweb]

Funny this should come up today.

i have been struggling with my driver ever since I went for a lesson. During the lesson the pro focused on irons, never once hit any woods. Well after that I was amazing with my irons but my driver was terrible.

I went to see another pro ( with track man) who said that the reason for my slices is due to the fact I was hitting down on the ball. During the lesson we teed the ball up at various heights and also leaning the driver shaft back towards my right foot. Eventually we placed the ball really far forward in my stance almost in the position of yours. I was then hitting the ball straight and about 250 yards.

But recently this has not been working for me, infact recently its got a lot worse. My playing partner a few days ago that having the ball past your left foot is catching it on the upswing but its also catching the ball as you rotate around. Thus adding spin to the ball. Just be careful you don't depend on this. Go see a pro. I am off to see my guy again to help me some more.

Mike

 

[TheJezster]

Anything that works for you is acceptable.

At Walton Heath today, one of the things that struck me was that the pro's were all pretty much playing their ball much further forward than I thought they would. On left toe, not hell in most parts.

 

[bozza]

Yes, a big slice, this position enables me to drive straight and long(for me) at least it did today.

Sounds like by having it so far forward you are masking the fact you have the clubface at impact.

That could be caused by a number of things but the best thing to do would be to see a pro, it may fix it in the short term but it could cause a lot more problems later on.

 

[Foxholer]

Could be that you are getting your weight too far forward and hitting the normal (+2) ball behind you - with club-face not yet squared.

Try making sure you keep your head - which means your body weight - behind the ball at impact. Should still feel as if it's mainly on the (inside of the) left foot though.

Nice shoes btw. Comfy aren't they!

 

[user2009]

So you've already tried my suggestion?

I've tried all positions from -2 to about +8, I actually play my wedges from about +8 anyway, it just doesn't work for the driver

 

[virtuocity]

I've tried all positions from -2 to about +8, I actually play my wedges from about +8 anyway, it just doesn't work for the driver

Did you read the bit about ball position vs club position at address?

 

[user2009]

Funny this should come up today.

i have been struggling with my driver ever since I went for a lesson. During the lesson the pro focused on irons, never once hit any woods. Well after that I was amazing with my irons but my driver was terrible.

I went to see another pro ( with track man) who said that the reason for my slices is due to the fact I was hitting down on the ball. During the lesson we teed the ball up at various heights and also leaning the driver shaft back towards my right foot. Eventually we placed the ball really far forward in my stance almost in the position of yours. I was then hitting the ball straight and about 250 yards.

But recently this has not been working for me, infact recently its got a lot worse. My playing partner a few days ago that having the ball past your left foot is catching it on the upswing but its also catching the ball as you rotate around. Thus adding spin to the ball. Just be careful you don't depend on this. Go see a pro. I am off to see my guy again to help me some more.

Mike

Thanks, it's time to see my pro again I think, it's a strange time for me at the moment, completely lost it on the course, I mean I'm rubbish anyway but could usually get the odd par and bogey and was hopeful of breaking 110 this year but suddenly found I just couldn't hit the ball, so frustrating to deteriorate like that, we all have our personal standards and I'm lapsing back to worse than when I started about 10 months ago I really need to identify the issue quickly.

 

[user2009]

Could be that you are getting your weight too far forward and hitting the normal (+2) ball behind you - with club-face not yet squared.

Try making sure you keep your head - which means your body weight - behind the ball at impact. Should still feel as if it's mainly on the (inside of the) left foot though.

Nice shoes btw. Comfy aren't they!

Body weight feels mainly on the left, I definitely need some professional advice. The shoes are some nike ones I got for Christmas, really comfy yes

 

[user2009]

Did you read the bit about ball position vs club position at address?

Yes but I'm not entirely sure what you mean, do you mean try it in the +10 position then work down over?

 

[One Planer]

If I played the ball there I would be hitting top after top all day.

 

[mykweb]

Thanks, it's time to see my pro again I think, it's a strange time for me at the moment, completely lost it on the course, I mean I'm rubbish anyway but could usually get the odd par and bogey and was hopeful of breaking 110 this year but suddenly found I just couldn't hit the ball, so frustrating to deteriorate like that, we all have our personal standards and I'm lapsing back to worse than when I started about 10 months ago I really need to identify the issue quickly.

I know what you mean, My driving was perfect for a time. I got my new driver (cobra amp 10.5) last september. I struggled with it the first few rounds. Then after 3 hours at the range I was nailing them dead straight and about 190-200 yards. The key to this was hovering the driver off the deck just behind the ball, with the ball just of centre of the stance. A nice easy swing and boom. Then I went for that lesson and it all went to pot.

Been playing ok recently since my driver lesson, but really need to go back and see the Pro and get more consistency

 

[garyinderry]

from that position i would play a massive fade (i think) it connects with the ball so late in the swing arc!

 

[One Planer]

from that position i would play a massive fade (i think) it connects with the ball so late in the swing arc!

Or a pull.

 

[bangaio]

It is intersting, over the winter I was experimenting with my ball right on the edge of my left foot, not as much as yours though but it was helping but things be more consistent. I do think it is all down to weight shift though like others have said.