question regarding ball striking

[Sandwedge74]

I wanted to ask you all this quick question I played with a 10 handicapper today. I shot an 84 - one of my best rounds ever. The 10'r showed up around the back nine and joined up.
Halfway thru the round he decided it was time to teach me better ball striking. He wanted to have the ball for 7 iron and even hybrid - way back - like off my right foot (I am a righty) he wanted everything severely back in my stance and said thats why I only get 150 yards of my 7 iron and that I am not hitting down on the ball etc.. it felt weird if not awful. Normally a 7 iron ball position for me would be right in the middle of my stance and even a hybrid just a half inch forward from that.
anyways what he wanted me to do felt like shit and I didnt hit the ball well. I DO take divots infront of the ball - so I am not sure why he wanted me to do this.
anyways any thoughts on this you can offer would be greatly appreciated
thanks!
Drew

[x-forged]

yeah, it shouldn't be by the right foot, that guy doesnt know what he's talking about if the ball was that far back. Id say your correct in playing a seven iron right in the middle of your stance. For me, pitch through 6 iron, center of stance; with the longer irons and woods, slightly forward, just inside the toe of the front foot.

[Cizzle]

Every golfer thinks he's a qualified teaching professional. That guy does not know what he is talking about. Most of your shots should have the ball positioned where your left ear is.

[Guardian5]

You could respond with a reference to rule 8.1.

"During a stipulated round a player must not:
(a) give advice to anyone in the competition playing on the
course other than his partner, or
(b) ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or
either of their caddies."

Your phrasing will determine the reception.

[Sandwedge74]

yea totally. he was a really nice cat and I liked him - and he was good - but yea it was starting to really mess me up - but i want to check if what he was saying seemed to jibe with the low handicappers here.

[MrKadash]

Seems to me all that does is steepen your angle of attack, I could be wrong. I always thought with proper weight transfer one could be a good ball striker regardless of where the ball is (within reason). I'm very particular about "tips" from playing partners. I prefer not to be given advice unless I've asked for it.

[golf_junkie27]

Drew

Ball position depends on the type of shot you are taking. If you're going to draw it, it should be further back in your stance. If you're trying to fade it, it's a little further up. (Your body alignment changes to0 but the principal remains the same)

If that's not a concern to you, then do what feels comfortable and works. The last thing you need to do is feel uncomfortable in the middle of a round.

Congrats on shooting 84.

[Avid Golfer]

That guy does not know what he is talking about. Most of your shots should have the ball positioned where your left ear is.

I agree with Cizzle. Take a look at the ball positions of the pros playing irons in the picture below. The ball is never behind the left ear in any of the pictures.

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/254...ballposdg0.jpg

[tm22721]

According to theory, bottom of your swing depends on how well you transfer your weight to the lead foot by the time of impact.

If your transfer is good then the bottom of your swing will be about 1" behind the heel of your lead foot. For irons, the ball should be 2-4" behind that for a total of 3-5".

Most people like me don't transfer all of their weight to the lead foot by impact. So the bottom of the swing is farther back in the stance.