Ball position when using Driver

[jimjconway1]

I think I posted this to the incorrect forum earlier, apologies.

Hi. Has anyone a view on where the ball should be correctly placed for driving. I have persevered for a long, long, long time with the commonly held wisdom that the ball should be placed opposite the inside of the left ( I'm right handed) heel to enhance a sweeping motion. I play off 25 and while my long irons, short game, chipping and putting have come on well and I'm consistently hitting 32 - 36 points stapleford, my driving is totally inconsistent and if I'm doing well and get nervous and tighten up the first thing to evaporate is my drive, followed soon by everything else.

Last week, a pal looked at me driving and asked why the position of the ball so far forward. He plays off 6 and he insisted that I try placing the ball mid stance. I reluctantly forsake the gurus, nay the god of golf and had a go. I have been blasting the ball dead straight for a week.

My question. Is this a false dawn, another short burst of hope, or are there physical build issues? For example, if you are shorter and don't have long limbs is this a factor?

I'm a 5' 9" 14 stone Irish man. Perhaps that's the problem. Any thoughts!!!!

[shootin4par]

Re: Ball position when using Driver

saying ball position should be off left heal is not always correct. Reason being that say paul has a REALLY wide stance, john has a narrow stance, but the swing arc for both players should bottom out below the left shoulder. well if john has his feet narrower then shoulder width apart, but the ball inside of his left heal, he will be BEFORE low point, where as john has a stance WIDER then shoulder width, with ball off front foot, he willl have a different ball position in relation to the swing arc. let me know if any clarification is needed.

[james.welsh]

Re: Ball position when using Driver

Whatever works is whatever works. You might sway a bit back and forth or whatever and so you might find putting he ball a bit farther forward works.

I've posted about this before and honestly I know it's totally against EVERYTHING any golf teacher ever taught me BUT I position the ball OUTSIDE of my left foot. I was playing just the other day and my playing partner said I should definitely move it back in my stance. I did and -- SLICE -- off to the right (WAY right) went the ball (in fact it hit someone's roof! Oops.). I can only say it works for me. My regular golf partner -- who always had so much trouble with the driver he never carried one -- agreed to try my setup just for a laugh. POW the ball went miles and he bought himself a driver. 'nuff said.

FWIW I think what happens is the club head goes down in the down swing, reaches the bottom of the arc and then begins to return up in the follow-through. AFTER the bottom of arc where the club-face is beginning to face up a bit -- that's where you want to position the ball. If you position the ball too far back of the magic point, you'll get a lot of backspin, the ball will not fly as far and it will tend to slice.

The real trick is to mess around with the ball position and height until you are hitting the ball in the middle of the sweet spot. Wipe the club face before each hit to make sure you can see the ball mark. Eventually you'll determine the EXACT setup. Then all you have to do is set up like that every time. I use one of those "brush tee's" to make sure the ball is in the same place each time. It's not that hard, you just have to experiment. Swing easy and smooth you can do it!

I'm rubbish at golf but I hit a 260 yard drive the other day. Straight as an arrow or a slight fade. I'd never have believed it until I saw it with my own eyes.

You can do it!

[hrgruzom]

Re: Ball position when using Driver

You say you hit inconsistent drives, but it doesn't say anything about ball-flight on these mis-hits. Was it sometimes left, sometimes right /hig/low etc? If it is, it's probably more advanced than just placement of the ball in your stance.
I usually find that I have most controll over the ball when I have it just on the left heel. Many factors play part in on where to place the ball in your stance; Grip, stance, arms straight down/out...
If you have a right grip (not strong/weak), a neutral stance (not open/closed) and club square on ball, ballplacemens should be right of the left foot.

AND--> Very important: Keep your swingpath low, almost think that you're swinging a baseball-bat. If you go up too high, the ball will slice and be short.

[msklar92]

Re: Ball position when using Driver

Where you feel the ball is and where it actually is in relationship to your stance and intended flight may be quite different. If your ball was too far foward initially, your shoulders may have been open to your intended line of flight. By moving the ball to the back, you may have squared up your address position. I find the easiest approach is to set the club head towards your target first and then your feet.

[kbp]

Re: Ball position when using Driver

If you’re satisfied with your golf swing and just want to be able to play and score, I would put the ball wherever you need to hit it straight. If you’re looking to improve your swing, I would respectfully suggest that your somewhat unorthodox ball placement is a compensation for some setup and/or swing fault(s). For instance, as Shootin’ suggests, perhaps your setup is too wide or narrow, or maybe you're hanging back on your right side or whatever. It’s your call. Good luck.

[edshaw]

Re: Ball position when using Driver

I picked up a hint from an article signed by Jack Nicklaus, several years ago. He said the left arm and the driver shaft should form, essentially, a straight line. Since you want to be comfortably set up and extended, that rule can guide you into to best ball position for you. (For me it is off the left heel.) Now, Mr. Welsh, there, he has an interesting take on it. I was told by a long hitting pro that his secret was to take the ball on the upswing and swore that's what he did, though I still find it hard to believe it can be done. Welsch's tale makes it seem more believable, but unorthodox as hell.

[GreeBoman]

Re: Ball position when using Driver

with a correct swing and setup the ball should be inside the leftheel for a right handed golfer.
Once you start moving away from the correct swing/setup you have to make compensations as your swing will bottom out in different areas.
If moving the ball more than 2 inches in any direction makes a huge difference to you, then you have a basic flaw somewhere else in your game; either setup or swing.

[jimjconway1]

Re: Ball position when using Driver

saying ball position should be off left heal is not always correct. Reason being that say paul has a REALLY wide stance, john has a narrow stance, but the swing arc for both players should bottom out below the left shoulder. well if john has his feet narrower then shoulder width apart, but the ball inside of his left heal, he will be BEFORE low point, where as john has a stance WIDER then shoulder width, with ball off front foot, he willl have a different ball position in relation to the swing arc. let me know if any clarification is needed.

Hi to all who replied and thanks very much for your time and interest, greatly appreciated. I think this quote above may explain why I feel that the ball feels more mid stance to me, while it probably would appear more forward to others looking. I do stand a bit more upright. The feel I get and the reason I am more comfortable is that my swing with the driver with the new ball position feels the same as all my other clubs other than I conciously take the club away with more of a long sweep. Previously I just felt awkward and although I would connect 60% of the time and drive easily 270 yds straight the others would either block right, straight, 220/230 or the other extreme when real pressure was on, directly, parallel left. Last week, standing on the 18th with 38 points up, I put the ball directly to my left, 50 yards over the gree to my left. That's what I mean by inconsistent. I hear what other posters are saying but after a year of good coaching which has really benefited my game, the past week is the first time I have felt comfortable with the driver. Anyhow, again thanks for the interest, perhaps I'm just odd.