Ground the club at address?

[powerfade]

I ground the club. There's too big a risk in accidentally touching/moving the ball (when not on the tee).

[bwmgolfer]

I prefer to stay grounded, the only time you cannot stay grounded is when you are hitting out of a bunker or water.

[Lefty39]

I like to ground all my clubs, I feel it keeps me less tense.

[Avid Golfer]

I don't ground the club at address, I once heard it helps with a smooth takeaway. Nicklaus never grounded his club so it can't be that far off. What do you do, ground your club or hover the clubhead above the ground?

I hover the club as well. Like you said it can help with a smooth takeaway in addition it can also prevent you from using it as a crutch at setup, it reduces the chance of tension as you start back, and can reduce the chance of getting weight too much toward the toes.

In addition to Nicklaus other golfers who hover the club and advocate its benefits are: Greg Norman, Ernie Els, Ian Poulter, Adam Scott, Davis Love, and Payne Stewart hovered as well. http://www.shark.com/sharkwatch/inst...n/lesson15.php

[WeeT]

I stay grounded with all clubs but NOT with the driver off the long tee...it hovers.

Same for me at the moment.

[kwijyboy]

I ground with everything...even in hazards if no one is looking. It helps me, along with practice swings, to get the right swing path and contact with the ground. I still need that reinforcement on where the ground is.

[iacas]

I ground with everything...even in hazards if no one is looking. It helps me, along with practice swings, to get the right swing path and contact with the ground. I still need that reinforcement on where the ground is.

You might catch more flack from others than you will from me, but please know that you're cheating (and you know it since you admit to only doing it when others aren't looking) and that, in the end, will only harm YOU.

I think you're almost always better off playing by the rules. Learning bad habits has never helped anyone.

[g.fletcher]

I saw on Ernie Els video, hovering the driver can help to give you a smoother take away.

[mkoreiwo]

I recently started to hover the club on my wood tee shots, and find I have gotten to like it better. On all other shots I still ground the club. That may change as the year progresses, but for now, its only woods on tee shots.

[penguin]

I guess I'm ahead of the pack. I not only ground the ball at address, I ensure I follow up that grounding with a wonderfull duff during my swing...


I actually ground to try and get a feel for my spot and then step back (on the same like as the ball) and do a few practice swings there.

[MrKadash]

I ground with my irons, hover off the tee.

[Wisco-Kid]

I have tried not ground the club before my swing and it just feels so awkward. Can't do it.

[Steaksauce]

Wow, I thought a lot more people would be hovering . I'm still getting used to it, but I have found that keeping the club hovered prevents me from getting stuck in the grass and ruining my backswing and timing. Also I will never have to worry about moving the ball with my clubface. Remember Bobby Jones in the 1925 US Open?

[irspow]

I noticed that the average poster who grounded their clubs had an index of 15.3 while those who hovered their clubs had an average index of 6.3.

I personally hover all clubs at address. This is primarily because I have found that lifting the club off of the ground immediately forces a slight but definite increase in grip pressure. I like to think that the grip pressure necessary to hover the club at address is that which I strive to maintain throughout the swing.

I use this line of reasoning with all of my students to help them feel the light pressure that they should try to maintain. The wrists and arms can stay very relaxed without any sudden transition of weight at the start of the backswing.

Earlier posters have noted that it nearly eliminates catching turf in the backswing which is very important as well. I would like to add the benefits of avoiding unnecessary penalties as you have not technically addressed the ball until you have "soled" your club.

For those who wish to sole their club at address it is fine if you are successful with it as golf is a game of results. I would recommend that anyone who has not tried to hover the club dilligently to try to do so to see if it doesn't help them in some way.

I do disagree somewhat with those who suggest that soling the club behind the ball helps them prepare for impact. Anyone who hits the ground before the ball does not strike it properly.

Tom

"Live the game, love the game."

[supah]

Hmm, a lot of sense in what you're saying. I'm gonna give it a go next time at the driving range. :)

[ganjagolfer]

not only ground the club but do the old-fashioned forward press

[outrider2288]

mine is kind of a mix... after i address the ball i waggle the club quite a bit, than i ground the club which, for me, calms my nerves and allows me to be sure i dont have too much pressure on the grip, than i take it away from there.

[dave39]

I ground my club, unless I'm not allowed... stupid bunker!!! haha

I believe that hovering (for me) gives me a false sense of where the ball is and I either top it or chunk it due to trying to compensate and get back on the proper path. I also like to set my club down so that I can adjust my grip to ensure a square club face at impact. Some guys love to hover but I am not one of them and never will be.