Repeatable distance from toe line?

[LowPost42]

We've all seen the pictures of ball position, with the shafts laid in a cross to show the target line and the middle of the stance, and then 4 balls showing driver, fairway woods, irons and wedges.

All these balls stay the same distance from the toe line, which got me wondering if there is a 'generally accepted idea' about how far from the toe line the ball should be? If so, what is it?

[bill reed]

Re: Repeatable distance from toe line?

hi lowpost
you mean like this sort of thing Hogan said in his 5 fundamentals.
cheers
bill

[LowPost42]

Re: Repeatable distance from toe line?

LOL - thank you.

Yes exactly like that. Although, some measurements would be nice.

My thought was that since it's legal to lay a club down to help with alignment, if I was supposed to play a wedge at 10" off the toe (for example) and I know my grip is 8", then I could lay my grip plus 2" at the ball, then step to the club.

I've just been having issues with toeing and, uh, hosel-ing lately, and am pretty sure it's due to inconsistent setup in regards to how far I stand from the ball.

[Scragger63]

Re: Repeatable distance from toe line?

The immediate thought I had was I thought I'd seen something which shows that the ball gets marginally further away from the toe line the longer the shaft on the club.

Which to me sort of makes sense...???

Sort of........

Can't remember where, once I do, I'll post it...

Cheers

[LowPost42]

Re: Repeatable distance from toe line?

Granted, I'm in a bit of a different situation - all my clubs play the same distance from my hands. So really, I guess I need to find a way to determine what the optimal distance is. Any suggestions as to a usable methodolgy?

[Mox]

Re: Repeatable distance from toe line?

Ball position is fixed. It's the feet you position differently.

So basically, it's (for right handed golfers).

1) Ball is where ball is.
2) Set head square behind ball, pointing at target.
3) When head is square and Lie is flush with the ground, the shaft angle is set.
4) When shaft angle is set, grip the club with left arm.
5) Place feet and body so that arms hang straight down from the shoulder. If you can't do this without tilting the Lie, you're clubs are the wrong length or your posture is wrong. See your local pro (and/or clubfitter).
6) Grip club with right arm.
7) Hit it.

That's what I've been taught, anyway.
Feet position is relative to swing path. This is where you build your fade or draw action from.

[BrianW]

Re: Repeatable distance from toe line?

Ben,

When I went through the problem you describe it was caused by the difference between my hand position at address verses the position at impact. I have moved to a single plane swing and was still allowing my hands to hang down naturally from the shoulders. During the swing my arms were being thrown away from my body by the centrifugal (or centripetal for perfectionists) forces thus hitting from the heel or toe if I fought it.

I now set my hands further away (just forward of my chin) with all clubs and get nice sweet spot contact. Just a thought