How to improve ball striking?

[Zeph]

I've been struggling with ball striking, wonder if anyone got tips on how to work on this. I will do some testing with impact tape, but I know I'm hitting all over the face of the club and it's costing me a lot of consistency and distance.

My biggest problem is probably my focus. I realised some weeks ago that I'm not looking at anything when I swing, I probably look some inches behind the ball. I know most suggest you look at the back of the ball. I must work on getting better there. Same thing I've struggled with when bowling too. You are supposed to aim for the arrows, which I do, but I never look at the arrow I want to hit. I'm kinda looking a bit down at nothing special.

I've maybe answered my own question here, but any ideas are welcome.

Edit: Btw, is it possible to find out where the sweet spot is on my driver? I know where it is on my irons, but not the driver. I know the SS is high on the club compared to older clubs, but exactly where should I want to hit it?

[Uber$winG]

I have heard that the sweet spot on modern drivers (as pictured on your attachment) is between 1 & 2.

I focus my aiming point on the front of the ball – it helps me to get set to swing through the ball.

[shankapotamus]

Actually try looking ahead of the ball. That should help you hit it more consistently. For more information I would suggest reading "The Impact Zone" by Bobby Clampett.

[iacas]

Edit: Btw, is it possible to find out where the sweet spot is on my driver? I know where it is on my irons, but not the driver. I know the SS is high on the club compared to older clubs, but exactly where should I want to hit it?

It's usually right in the middle of the face. People sometimes like to hit it a little higher on the face though because the ball will come off a little higher and with a little less spin.

The "sweet spot" is simply where the CG would project through the face. But since you're not gonna feel the club twist down if you catch it a bit high, again, most people try to catch it just above center.

[CG031]

Here are the two best ways to improve ball striking:

A. Get some Professional Lessons (has helped my ball striking a ton...my first ever lesson was a year to this day and my handicap has dropped at the very least 7 strokes since last year at this time.)

B. Hit as many balls as you can at the Range. (Last month I bought a driving range membership, and boy has it been a difference. I'm a lot more confident with my swing, and it was worth every penny because I get to hit up to 300 balls per day, which is obviously plenty. It lets me work on all different kinds of shots, and just gets me into the repetition of a consistent swing!)

[ks8829]

back to basics, grip, posture, alignment, take away and full swing. you can watch some helpful videos such as swing like tiger on you tube from video jug.

[Righty to Lefty]

To me the best way to work on ball striking is by hitting shots at less than full speed. You must hit the ball first then the turf to be able to consistently control your distances. Hitting lil half draws and fades and high and low shots can be easily translated to full shots once you understand how the clubface must strike the ball. Impact only last for about .002 seconds, if that, but you can feel that impactw, or at least the sensation of it, alot better moving at slower speeds. I play golf both right handed and left handed and have broken 80 both ways and I will tell you that alot of the things you learn in golf will come from simply doing it until you find a way that works for you. You have to figure out how it must FEEL to you to excecute the shot properly and no one, no one can teach you how a shot is supposed to FEEL. Working on ball striking isn't just swingin the club, it is finding out where each ball needs to be positioned in YOUR stance to stike the ball, then stike a thin layer of turf with all your clubs. Of course drivers and woods don't take much of a divot but you get what I'm tryin to say.

[bentur123]

it is essential to hit the ball first and then the ground, if your out on the course try sticking a tee into the ground next to the ball your about to hit then see where your divot is in relation to the tee this will give you a good idea if your gettign a clean contact

[ks8829]

I have found that if you lose your swing that you can find it with your wedge practice from 20-50 yards. The wedge play is a mini version of your full swing and solid contact and consistent solid contact are what you are practicing.

proper grip, take away club position are all practiced with your wedge practice. you can hit full shot or gentle shoulder turn swing and you can practice this with a shag bag and not have to go to the range if you choose not too.

once you are making solid contact you can test your swing with 9,8,7,6 irons on the range all the way to your driver.

It works for me and maybe for you too

[Zeph]

I've been removing a slice recently, it is as good as gone, but then I'd have to welcome a hook. But that wasn't the only change, I hit the ball a lot further. A hole I normally tee off with 6i I decided to try 7i, but it wasn't in my bag (I leave out some clubs I never use on this course), so I tried an 8i instead. Still hooked it a bit, but difference lies in the release of my hands.

The ball striking was a lot better, the ball did at least come off the club way better than it normally does. I obviously do not want to hook it, but playing that draw with that distance is definately something I'd appreciate. It may be too much and hard to control, I don't even know if it's remotely close to correct. I'll have to video tape some swings and analyse it.

My pitching distances was way off. I normally hold off the club from releasing, but today it went over and the ball flew the green. I'm thinking I may have been doing this holding off with all my clubs.

Edit: Did a quick check of my swing from earlier this year and it does look like I'm turning the wrists gradually from the top, whereas the pros seem to keep the position longer and turning right before impact. Could have something to do with lag also, but it feels really good when I don't hook it. Is it possible to hit the ball too far with excessive wrist action that jeopardize control and can cause hooking?