ball position question

[RIduffer]

What are your thoughts on playing iron shots back in the stance (just back of center)?

If I try to play a 7i just forward of center (the way alot of people suggest) I will hit the ball thin about half the time. As much as I try to drive my hips forward, get more weight forward, maintain my flying wedges, I just can't seem to get the low-point of my swing forward enough. At the range it's no problem, but during a round I'm hitting too many thin shots.

So far, the only fix I have found is playing the ball back in my stance. Anyone else do this?

[westcyderydin]

maybe try that for a while and then move it up as you start hitting it better. i kind of had that feeling where i just wasnt making good contact and i found that i was collapsing my whole backside and dropping my shoulder. i usually hit way down on the ball and i no longer had that feeling either. so i quieted my lower body and got everything back in sync.

[zeg]

I've been doing that lately. It helps me hit down without hitting fat. I'm hoping to work on moving it forward a bit, but for now, it works so I am living with it.

[14ledo81]

What are your thoughts on playing iron shots back in the stance (just back of center)?

I also struggle with this same problem. One thing that helped me was to practice hitting balls off the inside of my front foot. This forces me to get my weight forward. I read a quote from a pro (cant remember where) that said he trys to move his right hip pocket in front (toward target) at impact. This swing thought also has helped me to stop hitting thins and fats.

[RIduffer]

Thanks for the feedback.

I watched my swing on video recently, and my impact position looks really flat-footed. I know some guys like Kenny Perry keep the right foot down, but I think they still have alot more weight driving forward than I do.

Anyway, leagues start soon, so I kind of need to go with whatever works, you know? Thanks again for responses.

[boogielicious]

I've been working on this as well. One other thing that can move the low point forward is how fast your right arm extends. We don't have any grass tees open yet here in MA, so I've been going to a field near my house and just make swings and divots while hitting acorns. If I think about letting my left arm lead the downswing as a swing thought, then the divot moves forward. If my right arm starts too early, it will move back.

On the course, I see where my practice swing makes contact, then adjust ball position to suite. I stll have trouble with uneven lies and figuring where to place to ball.

P.S. Hope things are well in your area. RI is a mess with all the flooding.

[Zeph]

I keep every ball somewhere between the middle of my stance and a couple of inches forward. Rarely all the way to the inside of my left foot, usually an inch or two from it. Bunker shots I play it more forward, chipping sometimes more back.

[Shanks A Million]

What are your thoughts on playing iron shots back in the stance (just back of center)?

Pretty simple problem here. You're releasing the wrists way too early, and by the time the club gets to the ball (when it's forward) it's already moving back up, so you catch it thin. You are used to releasing it early to hit the ball in the back of your stance. I actually went through this for quite some time, and it was hard to adapt. The back of the stance seems to be a transitional phase, it helps teach us to hit down and inside out, but then becomes a problem because we can't hit it high enough from there.

All you need to do is place it forward, and get used to it there. Take a few days, maybe a week, and just hit balls. Adapt to the new position.

[RIduffer]

I've been working on this as well. One other thing that can move the low point forward is how fast your right arm extends. We don't have any grass tees open yet here in MA, so I've been going to a field near my house and just make swings and divots while hitting acorns. If I think about letting my left arm lead the downswing as a swing thought, then the divot moves forward. If my right arm starts too early, it will move back.

Yes, someone told me before that I "run out of right arm" too early. I will check that again on video.

Alot of folks in RI have been pumping water out of their basements for the past 3 days. I was lucky.

Pretty simple problem here. You're releasing the wrists way too early, and by the time the club gets to the ball (when it's forward) it's already moving back up, so you catch it thin. You are used to releasing it early to hit the ball in the back of your stance. I actually went through this for quite some time, and it was hard to adapt. The back of the stance seems to be a transitional phase, it helps teach us to hit down and inside out, but then becomes a problem because we can't hit it high enough from there.

Thanks, but I have used a forward ball position for a while now (about a year), and always struggled with thin shots on and off. Maybe my question was misleading, but I just recently started moving the ball back in my stance to compensate.

Anyway, you're probably right that there is some flipping going on and I just need to work more on that. I'm done hitting off range mats for good...these thin shots seem to creep back into my game after driving range sessions.

[Shanks A Million]

Thanks, but I have used a forward ball position for a while now (about a year), and always struggled with thin shots on and off. Maybe my question was misleading, but I just recently started moving the ball back in my stance to compensate.

It could still be an issue. Do you have a video?

Another thing to think about, any changes made recently. A heavier swingweight, for example? Any little thing. It could be that you have it too far forward. I'd like to see a video. I personally don't have a pretty swing, but I can usually spot pretty well for people.

[RIduffer]

It could still be an issue. Do you have a video?

I have video of my swing that was e-mailed to me (not my camera) but I don't know how to post it. It's not in any of the formats listed here.

[Shanks A Million]

I have video of my swing that was e-mailed to me (not my camera) but I don't know how to post it. It's not in any of the formats listed here.

YouTube works. Either that, or you could mail it to me, or use AIM. There's a lot of ways.

http://www.SwingAcademy.com/ is the best.

[RIduffer]

YouTube works. Either that, or you could mail it to me, or use AIM. There's a lot of ways.

Ok, thanks. The video is from a lesson, so I will check with the instructor first to make sure he doesn't mind.

[Zeph]

Use Youtube, it can be embedded into the forum and is easier to use.

[Trey]

I went through the same thing a couple weeks ago. My instructor started to have me play every shot except driver 3 -4 inches from my left instep and adjust my stance width for long irons/woods and short irons. What helped me was to try to let my shoulders do all the work for my upper body and let my arms naturally follow through. This kept my arms from releasing early and I started hitting much more flush shots.

[RIduffer]

I played a practice round today and saw some major improvement with the irons. A couple thin shots, but probably 80% were very solid. Was striping my 4i for the first time all year.

The adjustment I made was simple, but really helped. I watched my swing videos again, and noticed that I was setting up with my hands WAY ahead of the ball (i.e. a ton of forward shaft lean) and delofting the clubface. Today I set up with my hands just slightly ahead of the ball, and the clubface in a more square (even slightly open) position. For some reason, this helped me to eliminate the thin shots even when using a forward ball position.

I know I'm still getting a little flippy at times, and straightening my right arm too soon, but at least I'm working from a better set-up position now. Felt like the clubs were doing all the work today if you know what I mean.

[Zeph]

I often get better wrist action with the hands in line with the ball than in front. What happens I think is that with forward pressure, I hold harder onto the club and lock the wrists. By keeping them square, I maintain more loose wrists. The result is less clubhead throwaway and more lag.

[uttexas]

If you aren't having problems at the range, then nerves are creeping into your swing on the course. At the range, you are probably more relaxed, make a better weight shift forward and maintain your wrist cock through the ball. On the course, you are probably tightening up, and not making these moves as well. I played a very competitive round this weekend at a course I've never played before (practice range was closed before tee off)---I hit too many thin wedges because I wasn't relaxed and comfortable.

Moving the ball back is a quick fix, but I've got to put more pressure on myself at the range and play more competitive rounds to get more comfortable.