Fundamental Question

[traviswise]

Here is the situation. I am a chronic slicer/fader. I have been working on several things and tonight I found something that seemed to work for me and my swing. In lieu of placing the ball further back in my stance I actually had straighter ball flight if I placed the ball closer to my toes instead of the inside of my heel (w/driver) and just inside my heel for my iron shots. It seems as though my timing for getting the club back square is just slower than most. So the further ahead the ball, the more closed the face at impact.

My general question is, is there anything fundamentally wrong or is the something that I am ok with repeating and incorporating into my swing?

[Stacey_E]

Makes sense to me. The club goes up and down and around the body during a swing. Each person's swing is different I know. But at some point during the downswing the face is open, then square, then closed. Sounds like you found the square place for your swing. Kudos!

[Shindig]

Here is the situation. I am a chronic slicer/fader. I have been working on several things and tonight I found something that seemed to work for me and my swing. In lieu of placing the ball further back in my stance I actually had straighter ball flight if I placed the ball closer to my toes instead of the inside of my heel (w/driver) and just inside my heel for my iron shots. It seems as though my timing for getting the club back square is just slower than most. So the further ahead the ball, the more closed the face at impact.

Funny you should say that: If I am reading what you say correctly, then I do the same thing. In fact, so does Ben Hogan. The following link contains a diagram for ball position that also appears in Hogan's book. Note that the ball position and left foot aren't changing, but his distance from the ball and right foot placement is. Hogan Ball Position Now, Hogan wasn't famous for fighting a slice/fade, but I find it hard to argue with his fundamentals.

[jambalaya]

I guess a simple answer to your question is yes, it is fundamentally wrong. But that doesn't necessarily mean it won't work. This past year I played with a guy that no kidding put the ball at least 6 inches past his front toe on the target side. No, he wasn't very good. I guess he just couldn't figure it out but it is what made him feel comfortable. If you somehow have an address and posture that causes your swing to bottom out further up in the swing and you consistently bottom out there I see no reason not to move the ball there? The alternative would be to change posture, alignment and the width of your feet. Do you swing with an open stance?

[traviswise]

I have taken a lesson and the instructor told me that my left shoulder at address is slightly open at address. If I try and square it around it makes my torso twist to a position that feels absolutely un-natural. I think the placement of the ball further to the front actually promotes more release of the club and hence a more square impact.

[Henry]

I am a slicer a well so i might try out what your saying when i g to the range tomorrow

[traviswise]

I am a slicer a well so i might try out what your saying when i g to the range tomorrow

I find it absolutely crazy that here in America they call football "a game of inches", when golf is by far more incremental (sp) than any other sport I know of.

[jambalaya]

I have taken a lesson and the instructor told me that my left shoulder at address is slightly open at address. If I try and square it around it makes my torso twist to a position that feels absolutely un-natural. I think the placement of the ball further to the front actually promotes more release of the club and hence a more square impact.

You open the front shoulder because you reach forward and down to put your right hand on the club handle at address and because the right hand is lower on the club handle. If you were to let your torso tilt back slightly and reach down to the club with out moving your shoulder forward the shoulder would be more square. Without a club, get into an address position and let your arms hang straight down palms facing. Now just tilt your back shoulder straight back which should lower the right hand below the left. That is what you have to do to keep the shoulders square and still put the hands on the club.

[traviswise]

That is very true, I have recently incorporated that spine tilt into my swing and it has helped with contact, but as far as straight shots and reducing my natural fade, having the ball on my left foot's big toe seems to work.

*of course as any golfer knows this all could change the next time I play (damn golf)