Point of impact on ball?

[leftiedave]

This probably seems like a daft question from someone who has played for some time (h/c 20) but where would you look to strike the ball with an iron. Clearly it should be ball before ground but it's rarely mentioned if one should aim the bottom edge of the club as near the bottom of the ball as possible or say 2mm up etc. Obviously it's below half way! Any thoughts?

Dave

[CusePhil]

Re: Point of impact on ball?

I have a very noobie question that is similar to this. How do you line up the club at address? The front edge parallel to the target? The back edge parallel to the target? Or the top edge parallel to the target? In essence, what the heck does a straight clubface look like? The different degrees on the clubs throw me off. I know this is probably the first thing you learn in golf, but I just started last Friday.

[james.welsh]

Re: Point of impact on ball?

I'd say the equator of the ball is supposed to hit the sweetspot of the club. But you have to remember the ball is actually bouncing off the club face just as a basketball or soccer ball bounces off the ground. And to do this it flattens (depending on the speed of the club).

[GregJWillis]

Re: Point of impact on ball?

Bottom edge of the blade. This is what is square to the line. Some clubs have a white set of the bottom 2 grooves to help visualize the line.

[LowPost42]

Re: Point of impact on ball?

This probably seems like a daft question from someone who has played for some time (h/c 20) but where would you look to strike the ball with an iron. Clearly it should be ball before ground but it's rarely mentioned if one should aim the bottom edge of the club as near the bottom of the ball as possible or say 2mm up etc. Obviously it's below half way! Any thoughts?

Dave

Hi Dave,

The best pair of thoughts I was given early on (and fun to try when you have some time and you're hitting off mats):

1) You need to hit the back of the ball.

2) You need to mash the ball into the ground.


Unlike a driver, where you can often choose where you're going to line up the ball in relation to the face, irons are pretty much a done deal. Just hit the little ball before the big ball, and you'll be fine.

[LowPost42]

Re: Point of impact on ball?

I have a very noobie question that is similar to this. How do you line up the club at address? The front edge parallel to the target? The back edge parallel to the target? Or the top edge parallel to the target? In essence, what the heck does a straight clubface look like? The different degrees on the clubs throw me off. I know this is probably the first thing you learn in golf, but I just started last Friday.

Like Greg has stated, you point the leading edge to the target. Or the bottom-most grooves. But please line up the front of the club (the part closest to the ball).

[CusePhil]

Re: Point of impact on ball?

Sounds good. That may account for a couple of my slices .

[leftiedave]

Re: Point of impact on ball?

Hi Dave,

The best pair of thoughts I was given early on (and fun to try when you have some time and you're hitting off mats):

1) You need to hit the back of the ball.

2) You need to mash the ball into the ground.


Unlike a driver, where you can often choose where you're going to line up the ball in relation to the face, irons are pretty much a done deal. Just hit the little ball before the big ball, and you'll be fine.

It's the visualisation I'm trying to get. From a standing position, hitting down on the ball, the front edge of the club must appear to impact a certain way up the ball or you would catch the big ball first!

Dave

[GregJWillis]

Re: Point of impact on ball?

There is no way to see what anything "looks" like in the downswing, everythings going too fast! The aim of your eye will adapt to the "feel" of a good impact position on the ball.

If your having problmes hitting behind the ball, try some things:

* Feet closer together. No wider then your shoulders. Hang a club from the shoulder and look (or have someone look) at where it is pointing.

* If you look at the front part of the ball and not the back, you get the idea of hitting into that spot which is usually the ball first now, not the turf behind it.

* Work on getting an equal balance in the legs through the whole swing. Too much sway can cause the center to shift too far back, and not enough forward.