Ben, can clubs compensate for flaws?

[bdbl]

I've noticed that at address the toe of my irons seems higher than the heel, i.e the sole doesn't seem to lie evenly but slopes up towards the toe if that makes sense.

At the same time even when playing well my impact tends to be towards the heel.

Is it possible that the two are linked and can he club be adjusted so that, even with the same set up and swing, my ball striking moves nearer the centre? Or doesn't club fitting work that kind of magic?

[LowPost42]

Re: Ben, can clubs compensate for flaws?

It works both ways - better players will quickly adjust to clubs to get the ballflight they're looking for, and for other players the club will dictate how they swing.

A good clubfitter can check your setup and watch your move through the ball, looking for things to adjust. Sometimes a swing flaw "magically disappears" when equipment is changed. For example, players with a lunge move or a swing flaw where their weight moves towards their toes can sometimes be remedied by longer clubs (so that the player isn't reaching at address) or heavier clubs (so that the player stays back and grounded). Other times they simply need a lesson - stop reaching, or change where your weight goes in your swing. A really good clubfitter can tell whether clubs or lessons are ultimately what's required.

The other thing to think about is your clubhead design - long hosels and less perimeter weighting pulls the sweet spot more towards the heel - if impact is solid nearer the heel, chances are the sweet spot is over there, too.

[David Lake]

Re: Ben, can clubs compensate for flaws?

Your irons are designed to be in a square and level position at impact, not at address. Bear in mind that at address your arms are hanging down and you form an angle between your arms and golf shaft whereas at impact your arms are pointing straight at the ball and are directly in line with the golf shaft. Consequently, at address the toe of your club should be higher than the heel.

If you are hitting towards the heel of the club then you are carrying your address position through impact and standing too close to the ball. You can try this simple experiment: Address the ball with your arms fully extended and the golf shaft in direct line with your left arm towards the ball. Place the club-head behind the ball so that the scoring lines on the club-face are parallel to the ground and the ball is centered on the club-face. This position mimics the correct position at impact during your swing. It also provides an excellent feel for the distance you should be standing from the ball and also the amount of knee flex you should use to maintain a comfortable upright swing posture. Hit a number of shots using this set-up and you will see a marked decrease in the number of heel hits.

[bdbl]

Re: Ben, can clubs compensate for flaws?

Your irons are designed to be in a square and level position at impact, not at address. Bear in mind that at address your arms are hanging down and you form an angle between your arms and golf shaft whereas at impact your arms are pointing straight at the ball and are directly in line with the golf shaft. Consequently, at address the toe of your club should be higher than the heel.

If you are hitting towards the heel of the club then you are carrying your address position through impact and standing too close to the ball. You can try this simple experiment: Address the ball with your arms fully extended and the golf shaft in direct line with your left arm towards the ball. Place the club-head behind the ball so that the scoring lines on the club-face are parallel to the ground and the ball is centered on the club-face. This position mimics the correct position at impact during your swing. It also provides an excellent feel for the distance you should be standing from the ball and also the amount of knee flex you should use to maintain a comfortable upright swing posture. Hit a number of shots using this set-up and you will see a marked decrease in the number of heel hits.

Thanks for the input; interestingly I'd come to the bold conclusion through a different route i.e some pro sessions. Nice to have some confirmation though.