Tour players addressing the ball

[verderaul]

Is it just me or they hardly let the club touch the ground ?

[uttexas]

some don't ever want any club to touch the ground prior to hitting the ball to avoid penalties if any of the following occur:
ball moves
they are in a poorly defined hazard
ball falls off the tee

[sean_miller]

some don't ever want any club to touch the ground prior to hitting the ball to avoid penalties if any of the following occur:

Why would someone touch the ground behind the ball? The ball falling off the tee would be embarassing, but not a penalty.

[shankalots]

Matt Kuchar has a weird address. Starts with the club head close to the ground, raises the club above the ball and then starts his backswing. Works for him pretty well it seems.

[TourSpoon]

Nicklaus hovered the club at address...I believe Norman did the same to promote a smooth takeaway and to avoid some of the issues already mentioned. It's a great way to keep tension light by not having to pick up the club.

[verderaul]

"It's a great way to keep tension light by not having to pick up the club. "

I really like what you just said.

[$2 Nassau]

I feel the opposite on this...hovering the club causes more tension for me. It causes me to tighten up a bit to keep the club in place while suspended in air. I like to just barely rest the club on the grass (if not in a hazard) almost like the ground is helping to hold the club but just a little bit. Then I start my backswing and it doesn't feel like my grip pressure changes at all when I do so.

[golfro]

Matt Kuchar has a weird address. Starts with the club head close to the ground, raises the club above the ball and then starts his backswing. Works for him pretty well it seems.

I do this. I don't always ground the club but it'll hover pretty close. my "trigger" is raising the club very slightly above ground about an inch right before I take it back.

[alo1984]

"It's a great way to keep tension light by not having to pick up the club. "

Something kinda strange about that response....

[Zeph]

some don't ever want any club to touch the ground prior to hitting the ball to avoid penalties if any of the following occur:

Really? Doesn't sound right to me. If anything, I thought some players hover the club because of how the feeling works in their swing. More common with driver than irons.