Iron ball position

alxmorgan · 24-03-2013 2:40pm #1

Hey all,

Had a terrible day with my irons today. Short, mid, long - Shanks, fats, thins you name it.

So went to practice ground after and only thing helping was ball back in stance.

Now I know this will deloft and should result in lower flight and more roll but I just need solid contact to start

I was doing this with all from pw to 6i.

So the question - do ppl see this as a bad idea ?

Uncle Ben · 24-03-2013 6:36pm

I had all those symptoms you describe for most of last year, and in an effort to rectify I decided to go for a lesson or two. It turned out my problem stemmed from a bad grip which tended to slice all my shots. In an effort to counter this I purposely opened my stance and tried to get fades so as to limit the damage. I couldn't hit anything from a driver to a wedge and only made the job worse by like you, moving the ball back and forward in my stance and trying every variable and position.

In the end I went to a pro and after hitting a dozen balls he spotted most if not all of the faults. He gave me some drills and lessons and I've been getting some practice in weekly. My first three rounds since finishing with him has resulted in me hitting 34,34 and 30 points today.I'm very happy with my progress to date although this 'new grip' is taking some getting used to. As most of them say on here,'Get a lesson'.

GreeBo · 24-03-2013 8:30pm

alxmorgan wrote: »

Hey all,

Had a terrible day with my irons today. Short, mid, long - Shanks, fats, thins you name it.

So went to practice ground after and only thing helping was ball back in stance.

Now I know this will deloft and should result in lower flight and more roll but I just need solid contact to start

I was doing this with all from pw to 6i.

So the question - do ppl see this as a bad idea ?

Its not a bad idea when you are in the middle of a round, then your job is to do "whatever" to get the ball around in as few shots as possible.
However I wouldnt see it as a long term thing, in fact I dont think you do either, otherwise you wouldnt be on here

You are covering one swing fault with another most likely, as above, if its persists, get a lesson.

Benny Cake · 24-03-2013 9:59pm

alxmorgan wrote: »

Hey all,

Had a terrible day with my irons today. Short, mid, long - Shanks, fats, thins you name it.

So went to practice ground after and only thing helping was ball back in stance.

Now I know this will deloft and should result in lower flight and more roll but I just need solid contact to start

I was doing this with all from pw to 6i.

So the question - do ppl see this as a bad idea ?

Mentioning the "S" word should be a bannable offence.....

alxmorgan · 25-03-2013 8:52am

Benny Cake wrote: »

Mentioning the "S" word should be a bannable offence.....

Can't deny it....deserver whatever punishment I get

spacecoyote · 25-03-2013 8:57am

Benny Cake wrote: »

Mentioning the "S" word should be a bannable offence.....

Yeah, at least when you type mi**** Boards knows to block it out. Any way we could get the rhymes with thank word added to the expletives list?

alxmorgan · 25-03-2013 8:57am

Thanks for the replies guys. I did have lessons recently and changed my grip, setup and backswing and all of this works fine with driver and from tee generally.

I hit 10/14 fairways yesterday and was out-driving my playing partners on every hole. As good as driving day as I have had.
My putting was solid - no 3 putts. Chipping and short pitching solid.

But any kind of full iron shot and I had no confidence. I parred the first 3 but that was up and downs. My GIR was 2/18 :eek:

So no prizes for guessing where the problem lies !! I think the s***k scenario might be coming from standing too close to the ball. Has anyone got any tips on how to make sure you are correct distance away ?

As for irons off ground - I have never been good at hitting down and through ball, hence the back in stance to force ball then ground contact. Confessions of a flipper

But I think I'll just book a lesson and have done with it. Hitting from mats in the range all winter is feck all good as well in dealing with this issue.

BigChap1759 · 25-03-2013 10:07am

Take your stance and address the ball - then lower the handle to your left leg so that the top of the handle touches just above your knee. Try adjusting your position to this and then hit a few shots - if you've been standing too close this may seem miles away from the ball but just give it a bash and see.

http://free-online-golf-tips.com/fundamental-golf-tips/golf-set-up-tips/correct-distance-to-the-golf-ball/

PARlance · 25-03-2013 10:47am

spacecoyote wrote: »

Yeah, at least when you type mi**** Boards knows to block it out. Any way we could get the rhymes with thank word added to the expletives list?

I think it'd cause too much confusion over on the Cookery Forum!

Best recipe for Lamb S**** anyone???

alxmorgan · 25-03-2013 11:59am

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Take your stance and address the ball - then lower the handle to your left leg so that the top of the handle touches just above your knee. Try adjusting your position to this and then hit a few shots - if you've been standing too close this may seem miles away from the ball but just give it a bash and see.

http://free-online-golf-tips.com/fundamental-golf-tips/golf-set-up-tips/correct-distance-to-the-golf-ball/

That is actually a very easy way to check.
I'll look like a plank on the course for a while but better a plank than a ...... well you know

Daidy2011 · 25-03-2013 12:10pm

alxmorgan wrote: »

That is actually a very easy way to check.
I'll look like a plank on the course for a while but better a plank than a ...... well you know

I do this as part of of pre-set routine, trust me no-one will even notice and once you get into the habit you will do it very quickly.

alxmorgan · 25-03-2013 12:38pm

BigChap1759 wrote: »

Take your stance and address the ball - then lower the handle to your left leg so that the top of the handle touches just above your knee. Try adjusting your position to this and then hit a few shots - if you've been standing too close this may seem miles away from the ball but just give it a bash and see.

http://free-online-golf-tips.com/fundamental-golf-tips/golf-set-up-tips/correct-distance-to-the-golf-ball/

Yup distance from the ball was out. Headed to back garden there with 9i, 5i and hybrid and setup as normal and touched left thigh half way up !!

Stretched out arms just a touch and touched each time an inch above my knee. Oh if only I'd known this yesterday

......:D

alxmorgan · 25-03-2013 2:44pm

alxmorgan wrote: »

Yup distance from the ball was out. Headed to back garden there with 9i, 5i and hybrid and setup as normal and touched left thigh half way up !!

Stretched out arms just a touch and touched each time an inch above my knee. Oh if only I'd known this yesterday ......:D

But....isn't there always one.....this contradicts it perhaps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTuQtQ3l48M

For me at least an inch over the knee results in two hands width rather than the one Mark Crossfield suggests

alxmorgan · 26-03-2013 9:46am

So anyway this thread has got slightly sode-tracked by distance from ball.
Can I assume that people use the following or are there any that don't ? (for std shots)

Middle of stance - Pw, 9i, 8i
One ball forward of middle - 7i, 6i, 5i
One more ball forward - 4i, 3i, hybrids
One more forward - Fariway woods
Off left heel - Driver

charlieIRL · 26-03-2013 9:56am

alxmorgan wrote: »

So anyway this thread has got slightly sode-tracked by distance from ball.
Can I assume that people use the following or are there any that don't ? (for std shots)

Middle of stance - Pw, 9i, 8i
One ball forward of middle - 7i, 6i, 5i
One more ball forward - 4i, 3i, hybrids
One more forward - Fariway woods
Off left heel - Driver

I think this might be the cause of some of my problems with longer irons, I always play the ball from the middle of my stance on every single shot except driver.
when i was getting my lessons we spent a lot of time with a 5 iron and the pro always made me hit the ball from the middle of my stance.

Keano · 26-03-2013 1:42pm

charlieIRL wrote: »

I think this might be the cause of some of my problems with longer irons, I always play the ball from the middle of my stance on every single shot except driver.
when i was getting my lessons we spent a lot of time with a 5 iron and the pro always made me hit the ball from the middle of my stance.

Pretty much same as me except for my 5i was slightly forward oh and my 3W

alxmorgan · 26-03-2013 1:47pm

charlieIRL wrote: »

I think this might be the cause of some of my problems with longer irons, I always play the ball from the middle of my stance on every single shot except driver.
when i was getting my lessons we spent a lot of time with a 5 iron and the pro always made me hit the ball from the middle of my stance.

What kind of problems ?

Keano · 26-03-2013 1:52pm

alxmorgan wrote: »

What kind of problems ?

I'm guessing the club with bottom out in the middle of your stance and cause you to hit it fat?

WacoKid · 26-03-2013 2:00pm

You can play an iron from the front, middle or back of your stance once your hands are in front of the ball. This promotes a descending blow

charlieIRL · 26-03-2013 3:38pm

alxmorgan wrote: »

What kind of problems ?

They can be very inconsistent and I started hitting a few hooks lately. hitting it fat is also a problem, am catching a lot of ground.
(BTW - i always have my hands slightly in front of the ball at all times)

Gin77 · 26-03-2013 4:19pm

Had that problem last year, steep angle of attack worked most of the time but when it went wrong it was a nightmare. Got a few lessons over the winter and got it sorted well worth it. Even my driving is better.

alxmorgan · 26-03-2013 4:42pm

charlieIRL wrote: »

They can be very inconsistent and I started hitting a few hooks lately. hitting it fat is also a problem, am catching a lot of ground.
(BTW - i always have my hands slightly in front of the ball at all times)

Hooks may be caused by it being back in the arc causing you to hit from the inside. Actually ignore me - I'm the one who started this thread saying I couldn't hit an iron...what the hell would I know !!!!

alxmorgan · 26-03-2013 4:42pm

Gin77 wrote: »

Had that problem last year, steep angle of attack worked most of the time but when it went wrong it was a nightmare. Got a few lessons over the winter and got it sorted well worth it. Even my driving is better.

What changes did you make out of interest ?

Gin77 · 27-03-2013 6:50pm

alxmorgan wrote: »

What changes did you make out of interest ?

Well I discovered I'm a technical golfer so I learn better when I understand the mechanics of my swing. I watched hundreds of videos on u tube but in the a simple lesson with a good instructor was the difference. What Im saying is theres mo point me telling u what I did as that is specific to me and my swing.
But heres a few tips anyway,
Backswing take a wide arc using your shoulders as oppose to your arms.
Downswing again don't use your arms to power the swing just imagine your body as a spring backswing you are compressing the spring and downswing your unwinding all the power is coming from your body.
Ball position will determine whether you hit a high or low trajectory forward in the stance for a high shot back in the stance for a low shot. Try that.

spacecoyote · 27-03-2013 7:31pm

charlieIRL wrote: »

(BTW - i always have my hands slightly in front of the ball at all times)

That must make your back swing very awkward

Iron ball position

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