What Ball Position Says

[Travtex]

After my first range lesson, I had a dramatic improvement in my ball striking. On the surface, this seems like an obvious noob thing to happen, but no actual changes were made to my swing. There were three basic areas purely relating to my setup that added about twenty yards, got me some actual say in which way the ball went, and enabled me to hit my longer clubs.

1) Ball Position (Further back)
2) Forward Press (Having MUCH less of one)
3) Weight/Balance (Further back)

The one I'm most curious about is ball position, as it seems to have the most dramatic impact with the most subtle changes -- And also seems to make me a bit different than what I've read over the past few months.

In a simple question, "What does ball position say about your swing?"

For me, moving it further back in my stance made the difference between a 100 yard pull hook to a 150 yard straight shot with my 7 iron.

Now, previously, I was using the Hogan Five Lessons setup. Everything was about at my forward armpit. With my short and middle irons, directly in the middle was the way to go for a straight shot. An inch or two forward with an exaggerated release produces a draw. An inch or so back holding off on the release produces a cut.

Not entirely abnormal, but I've noticed the same improved consistency all the way up to my driver. I'll get good contact on a 3 wood with the ball in the middle of my stance, and I can even get into trouble with my driver if I try to move the ball any further forward than say... forward nipple range.

Most of what I read advocate a further forward ball position for 3w, up to off the front foot for a driver, etc. I can't make good consistent contact that way, and I was wondering why that would be -- I think it'd help me understand what makes the ball do what based on the setup position.

Is it a steeper-than-average swing, or more likely a weight transfer issue, or...?

[Williamevanl]

HAHA, Forward nipple range. Sorry, I've heard a lot of different ways to describe golf positions but thats definitely a new one.

Alright you have kind of a tough question here. You are wondering why moving the ball back and forth in your stance has had such a dramatic effect on the shot shape and you've read that it shouldn't cause to much of a difference.?

There are a couple of threads to read that might help. The first one would be how to hit a draw and the second 'I hate the release' thread. You mentioned that the ball positioned a couple inches further forward with an exaggerated release causes a draw. I would argue that what is actually happening is that you are coming in above plane and that the release or snapping the club face closed is causing a pull draw/hook. There shouldn't be any conscious release of the club.

You have an over the top move with a closed club face angle. If you move the ball up slightly the club face is too closed and you hit a pull hook/draw. If you move the ball back the club doesn't have time to close as much 'but I bet its still closed' it cancels out the over the top move and you end up with a straiter shot. With a good swingplane it should actually be the opposite, the ball moved back in your stance allows you to strike the ball with an open club face 'to target line' but with an inside path causing a draw. The ball moved forward allows you to hit the ball with a closed club face and a swingplane coming in from the outside causing a fade.

A low handicap golfer is able to move the ball forward and backward in order to regulate the overall trajectory both side spin and shot height but the differences are subtle. What you are describing is different.

Post your swing and it will be easier to answer your question.

[Travtex]

You mentioned that the ball positioned a couple inches further forward with an exaggerated release causes a draw. I would argue that what is actually happening is that you are coming in above plane and that the release or snapping the club face closed is causing a pull draw/hook. There shouldn't be any conscious release of the club.

Perhaps. Obviously, I don't know if it's a 'Normal' method. My entire sum of knowledge on the matter was that my pro said 'Do this and the ball will do that' and after doing that the ball did that. :D

I do fight a tendency to close the clubface. Pro noted that with my swing and natural tendencies, that my giant offset SGI irons probably exacerbated the problem.