How to play the ball?

[motsco]

With my woods I play the ball off my left heel, Irons I play it close to my right heel.

Where should I play the ball if the ball is above or bellow my feet?

[mc0388]

  motsco said:

With my woods I play the ball off my left heel, Irons I play it close to my right heel.

You should align the ball from the center of your stance (60* wedge) to off the front heel (driver). With having the ball that far back with your irons leads to balance issues on the follow through and a steep downswing (large deep divots)

If the ball is above your feet: club up, choke up, and 3/4 swing. Placement should feel comfortable, not sure if differing from where you would place it on a flat lie matters? Aim slightly right of the target (if your a righty) If ball is below your feet: bend your knees more, keep your head down, aim slightly left. Again not sure if ball placement in stance make much of a difference.

[Mud ball]

  motsco said:

With my woods I play the ball off my left heel, Irons I play it close to my right heel.

Good question - don't know if my answer is right... but here goes: Personally I tend to play my shots inside the left heel - driver an inch working back to a wedge - middle of stance. I only really plays shots closer to the rear foot if they are chips or short pitches.

I think I tend to play shots with the ball above my feet slightly further back in my stance - this is only slightly further back, maybe an inch at most and I think is subconsciously about trying to avoid hitting the ball left, which ball above feet tends to do. Whereas with ball below feet - which will tend to go to the right - I play the ball very slightly further forward than normal to ensure the club face has had time to close and get the ball going left allowing for the movement to the right that I'll get due to affect of the slope. Going straight uphill - tend to play the ball back slightly and going downhill - tend to play it a bit further forward. However, to be honest this is just my gut feel and I wouldn't be surprised if someone was to measure it and tell me my perception versus actual were wrong...!

[SQ Bimmer]

  Mud ball said:

Good question - don't know if my answer is right... but here goes: Personally I tend to play my shots inside the left heel - driver an inch working back to a wedge - middle of stance. I only really plays shots closer to the rear foot if they are chips or short pitches.

This is basically what the magazines tell you to do.

To add to this, you can move the ball forward or back a little bit to control trajectory.

[Mud ball]

  SQ Bimmer said:

This is basically what the magazines tell you to do.

Never listen to tips from magazines or golf forums...

[Travtex]

  None said:

You should align the ball from the center of your stance (60* wedge) to off the front heel (driver). With having the ball that far back with your irons leads to balance issues on the follow through and a steep downswing (large deep divots)

Huh. My biggest improvement in ball-striking ever was found by simply moving the ball back in my stance. I had originally been working everything off my front armpit and just adjusting the width of my stance. I was erratic and taking monstrous divots.

Now I play middle of the stance... well, for damn near everything. I start creeping it forward an inch or two at about my 5 iron. Hybrids, woods, and driver are maybe 2" or so forward of center. Dollar bill divots and drastically improved contact. Must be something weird in my swing.

[MizunoPlayer]

  mc0388 said:

You should align the ball from the center of your stance (60* wedge) to off the front heel (driver). With having the ball that far back with your irons leads to balance issues on the follow through and a steep downswing (large deep divots)

I think this is a great answer. Ball position really has nothing to do with your lie. The only thing that should affect ball position is the trajectory of the shot you're attempting to hit. You should never hit a full regular shot with the ball past the middle of your stance. Like the statement above, that can lead to you moving in front of the ball, hitting a block, hook, and taking huge divots...and the dreaded shanks.

[MiniMoe]

Ball position always changes with type of shot, distance of shot and desired trajectory. If the ball is on an upslope and I have 100 yrds, I'm going to play the ball back, keep my shoulder level and swing "into" the hill to control the trajectory. If I have a 200 yrd shot with the same lie, I'm going to play the ball more forward, keep my shoulder inline with the slope and swing along the slope... taking more club.. of course.

Downslopes are more difficult. I just play the ball back, align my shoulders to match the angle of the slope and swing along that angel. I take a little less club because the slope will deloft a club. Basically, I don't try to do much with the shot.