Shaft position, How important?

[Robert O' Keeffe]

What are your views on the above? I find that the best results in a crisp strike will only happen with the shaft and hands sitting over the left thigh. Some say that the shaft and hands should be below the belly button, but I would have to disagree with this. To my mind the shaft and hands being above the thigh, encourages the club and hands to stay behind the arms and left shoulder coming into impact. I think that this is key in creating a solid strike with good distance.

[Jeff Mann]

Re: Shaft position, How important?

Are you talking about the address position or the impact position?

Jeff.

[takinitdeep]

Re: Shaft position, How important?

For me, just depends. For example: if I want to sweep the ball, I like the shaft even or maybe just a tad leaning such as driver and long irons.
As I go down in shaft length from there, 3 wood, hybrids, mid to short irons, I will lean the shaft forward to create a descending blow. Also, when I want a lower shot I will deloft the clubface by leaning the shaft forward more(and playing the ball back further).
Bunkers and flop shots, I like the shaft almost behind the ball to allow me to splash sand or with flop to actually get hands behind the ball at impact.
There are specialty shots around the green where I may use a lofted wedge and take a putter grip on it, shaft is not leaning. Short chips around the green, I like to lean the shaft.
I think you get my drift.
Hope your weather is getting decent over there.

[GoNavy]

Re: Shaft position, How important?

Depends on the club you have... if you take any club and place it on a flat surface soled you will see the correct lean for the shaft, wedge leans more then a 3 iron etc... and progress's thru from wedge to 3 iron. Saying to place the hands on the thigh has no reference, it depends on ball position and the club your using. Learn the correct shaft lean for each club and adjust the ball position for each...this allows for the correct loft to each club, not counting specialty shots.

[BrianW]

Re: Shaft position, How important?

Depends on the club you have... if you take any club and place it on a flat surface soled you will see the correct lean for the shaft, wedge leans more then a 3 iron etc... and progress's thru from wedge to 3 iron. Saying to place the hands on the thigh has no reference, it depends on ball position and the club your using. Learn the correct shaft lean for each club and adjust the ball position for each...this allows for the correct loft to each club, not counting specialty shots.

Very well put