Ground the club at address?

[nykfan4life]

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

I agree 100% wit this. I always skull it when I hover, and then after 5-6 times doing that, I try to compensate and I hit about 2 inches behind it. Extremely frustrating.

The only time I don't ground the club is if I'm teeing up.

[AmenCorner]

I ground it, but lightly. I think it simulates for me where I actually want the club to return to in the impact zone.

[ctmurrray]

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?

Nicklaus said in an interview once that he did this so he could never be assessed a penalty if the ball moved during his swing (a portion of the rule says it only applies if you have grounded your club).

[michaeljames92]

by not grounding your club at address, you are effectively playing a bunker shot(club can't touch ground) i struggle enough hitting it properly without grounding my club

[domvalentine]

I have to admit that I ground wherever I can.
It gives me a sense of limit..I hate bunker shots.

[Klean]

I ground the club. If I don't, I top every shot lol

[Callawaytour]

i've gotten into grounding the club lately. Partially as a relaxation technique, so i'm not so wound up. It gives me a nice pause to keep me on the right track. I find i get ahead of myself if i don't ground it.

yeah I do what he does.

[jeffhale08]

For good, consistent contact, you must ground your club. I have taught my son this method over the years, it sets your limits, your target area for contact, etc. 75% of your bad shots come from an inconsistent setup and grounding your club is one of the first steps in your setup.

[JaY_B]

For good, consistent contact, you must ground your club.

Not true, many of the worlds top players have not grounded their club at address such as Nicklaus and Norman, It is supposed to encourage a smooth takeaway, and also makes it impossible to receive a penalty for a moving ball, as you have not grounded the club you are deemed not to have addressed the ball.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying there is anything wrong with grounding the club (I ground the club at address unless the situation requires something different) but do not assume that grounding the club is the only right way to set up to the ball

[fistfullofbeer]

Definitely ground my club. I am inconsistent enough as it is. Atleast by grounding it I I am 100% certain that the clubface is pointing where I want and centered as well.

[IronGuy]

At alignement I ground it for sure, to place my hands correctly. But at my takeaway, I elevate it, because it helps avoiding the club to stick to the ground, for instance, the club hit a hiden tee on your upswing, but you continue your swing, deconcentrate. 'Made it a couplle of times

-Djou

[CG031]

Always on my irons. I don't think I do with my driver, but don't really think about that stuff. Always do it on chipshots too and putter.

[Dub]

Waggle and tap a bit getting into an athletic stance.

Hover the woods every so slighty when hitting off tees.

Ground for everything else except bunker play, of course.

[Craig Mac]

Needs an option for a little of both.

[ElTigre]

The only time I don't ground the club is in deep rough, where my clubface catches on the backswing. Other than that I let it rest on the ground.

[LottaBalata]

I tend to ground the club most of the time for comfort. Helps me relax my hands just before the shot. I grip the club way too tight.

If I have a crappy lie, or I'm in sand, or in the rough, etc., I may check for ground contact but I won't leave it there in fear of moving the ball.

[rusek]

The main reason to not ground the club is so that if the ball ever moves, you cannot get a penalty for influencing it.