Getting ahead of the ball

[AlanN]

I'm still suffering, a bit, from blocking shots left (as a leftie), even with short irons. Strangely enough, I've been driving very straight. I was playing, today, and one of my partners mentioned that I'm getting ahead of it, a bit, even with short pitches

Does anyone know how this happens and, more importantly, how to correct it? I'm sure there must be a simple drill to eradicate this (hopefully!!!)

Thanks

[bill reed]

Re: Getting ahead of the ball

hi
sometimes its trying to hit the ball to hard and your timing goes.
maybe try slowing your swing down just a little and see if that helps then you will know if it timing thats doing it.
cheers
bill

[vp27519]

Re: Getting ahead of the ball

Had similar problem with my chipping. My body moved towards the target on the down swing. In fact this caused the club to deloft.

Coach told me I had to turn round more rather move towards the target. I am a r/h - I have been working on bringing the r shoulder through and turning after impact. The butt of the club is pointing at my body. Does this make any sense?

It works and I have a higher ball flight.

Cheers

[LowPost42]

Re: Getting ahead of the ball

Sounds like a slide to me. I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor, though. You may want to focus more on turning around your spine - that should at least get your head a little more 'anti-forward', and help keep you on top of the ball.

[Martin Levac]

Re: Getting ahead of the ball

There's only a few reasons for the ball to go where it goes. For instance, it goes left (for a right hander) because either the clubhead path is out-to-in or clubface is closed or swing plane is too flat or the ball was struck on the heel or clubhead's lie angle is too upright. Or any combination of the above.

So, you "block" the ball left for one (or more) of the reasons below:

Swing in-to-out
Open the clubface
Swing too steep
Clubhead lie angle is too flat
Strike the ball on the toe

I suggest you check impact precision first. Then check lie angle. Those are the easiest things to check and to fix. The rest becomes much easier once those two are taken care of.

[jambalaya]

Re: Getting ahead of the ball

Had similar problem with my chipping. My body moved towards the target on the down swing. In fact this caused the club to deloft.

Coach told me I had to turn round more rather move towards the target. I am a r/h - I have been working on bringing the r shoulder through and turning after impact. The butt of the club is pointing at my body. Does this make any sense?

It works and I have a higher ball flight.

Cheers

I don't know about a chip for which I have very little body movement. I treat it more like a putting stroke. However a slide in a pitch shot is a killer. The first move forward should be a turn. You want to get your belly all the way around and facing the target in the forward swing. You want to pull your arms forward by turning your body rather than dropping your arms and letting the body follow. You should have more weight on your front foot than back at set up so you don't have to shift your weight in the forward swing. It is too short of a swing to shift your weight.

[AlanN]

Re: Getting ahead of the ball

Thanks for the replies and the helpful tips.

I will try and slow my swing down a bit. This may be difficult, because I've been driving long and straight, although the occasional block still appears. I may go to the driving range tomorrow and give it a go.

I used to have an out-to-in swing but, have practised a lot to get it in-to-out. Instead of the pull shots I used to hit; I now have the opposite ball flight. This ****** game

[vp27519]

Re: Getting ahead of the ball

Al,

Don't change your swing speed. Everyone's tempo is different - based on personality I reckon.

It took me about a month but I have fixed the problem.

Just focus on your left shoulder (from memory you're a lefty) coming through to the target and turning. Trust it. You'll get the feel.

[BrianW]

Re: Getting ahead of the ball

Make sure your hands stay inside your shoulders through the swing.

[AlanN]

Re: Getting ahead of the ball

Thanks for the additional input, guys.

I didn't have time to go to the range, today, but, am playing in a team event tomorrow. Not a serious competition, so I can experiment a bit. In the past, I have tried to slow my swing speed down but, I soon go back to my natural tempo after a few shots. I know I have a tendency to rush from the top at times. I'll try and get into ambling mode, instead of my, usual, brisk walking speed.

[BrianW]

Re: Getting ahead of the ball

Thanks for the additional input, guys.

I didn't have time to go to the range, today, but, am playing in a team event tomorrow. Not a serious competition, so I can experiment a bit. In the past, I have tried to slow my swing speed down but, I soon go back to my natural tempo after a few shots. I know I have a tendency to rush from the top at times. I'll try and get into ambling mode, instead of my, usual, brisk walking speed.

Alan,

As someone else mentioned you will have a natural tempo that reflects your personality and it will be almost impossible to change that. Work on making sure you do not rush or speed that tempo artificially.