Ball position for Iron shots

[Steve_V]

I am having bad trouble with my irons, not just the long ones, but all the way down to the 9 iron. I keep stubbing the club into the ground just behind the ball like a bunker shot causing the ball to disregard the laws of physics and squirt off in all directions. I realise this is probably due to too steep a backswing but I also wonder if it is the ball position? I try to move the ball further back in my stance as the loft increases on the club but I have also seen instructional videos where the coach seems to keep the ball off his left heel no matter what club he's using.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[OOB]

What you are doing sounds right, -I'm not a great iron player but have you tried visualising the contact point an inch or two ahead of the ball. This may help to avoid the thick contact you are having trouble with.

 

[Steve_V]

Yeah, I think its the swing, I can feel myself pulling the club down like an axe and my hands are way in front of the ball at impact.. with the fairway! I've tried to consciously make a shallower backswing but then I have the opposite problem of air shots. Its probably time to break down and take some lessons I think.

 

[madandra]

Let me add fuel to your fire of doubt.

Do you pull with the left arm or push with the right

 

[birdieman]

Sounds like no more than a poor weight transfer to me, essential to good iron play. Top of backswing weight should be on right foot, top of follow through you should be facing target with weigt on left foot.
Keep the clubhead low and slow at start of backswing and the rest will follow.

 

[John_Findlay]

I usually find that I get into more trouble when I let the ball get too far forward in my stance. Wedges thru to 7 iron are usually in the middle of my stance. Too far forward and I can pull or slice and rarely get solid contact. Been working hard on it at the range because it's so important.

 

[cosworth]

im certainly not an expert as im fresh to the game myself but i have spent a bit of time studying all i can on ball position for each club.watched an episode on golf channel recently with david leadbetter an he showed how critical it is.if your ball is too far forward for the club used then the striking the ground before the ball could actually be a good swing with a nice divot if the ball was in the correct place.as i said im a beginner also and have had 3 lessons so if i was you i'd speak to a pro for some advice.hope this helps

 

[Steve_V]

Let me add fuel to your fire of doubt.

Do you pull with the left arm or push with the right

I pull with the left arm, at least thats what it feels like

 

[Junior]

1. keep your head slightly behind the ball until you have struck it,
2. Maintain the same height through the swing.
3. Take it a way low and slow.

using the above, concentrate on the back of the ball and just do half swings, then build up to a 3/4 swing and then to a full swing.

Hope this helps

 

[RGuk]

I've only ever had 3 places. Off the left heel for driver, in the middle for 6-wedge and in between the two for 5,4,3 and fairway woods.

Make a "T" with two clubs when you practice and get it ingrained.....nothing worse than messing up a potentialy good swing/contact with the ball in the wrong place!!!

I chip it off the right heel.....might be rubbish technique but it suits me and gives more "run" than "chip".

Dave