Flared lead foot & ball position with irons

[$2 Nassau]

Do you flare your lead foot at all? (meaning, is your lead foot a little "open").

If so, ever notice what it does to your ball position? For example, if I'm hitting a shot iron, like a 9 iron, I'm looking to put the ball in the middle of my stance at address. But what I perceive to be the middle of my stance, and what actually is the middle of my stance are two different things.

I played a round yesterday with my brother-in-law and father-in-law, both who are better golfers than I am (one of the reasons I like playing with them) and they commented on how I play the ball a little forward in my stance with short irons. I tend to hit my irons a little fat at times.

When I stopped to take a look at it, and with their help, we noticed that I was playing the ball in the middle of my toes, and with that lead foot a little flared the ball position was actually a little forward in relation to my actual stance and center of gravity. I've always flared the lead foot a little and I wasn't about to change that, so I moved the ball back about an inch or two so it was truly in the middle of my stance. It helped greatly for solid contact.

Just a thought that I figured I would share.

[powerhitter]

I used to flare my left foot to restrict the length of my backswing, but I am trying to move away from that to ensure that I am coiling correctly and am aiming down the correct target line.

[golfchief]

When I stopped to take a look at it, and with their help, we noticed that I was playing the ball in the middle of my toes, and with that lead foot a little flared the ball position was actually a little forward in relation to my actual stance and center of gravity. I've always flared the lead foot a little and I wasn't about to change that, so I moved the ball back about an inch or two so it was truly in the middle of my stance. It helped greatly for solid contact.

Not sure what your saying about the middle of your toes,but if your saying your playing the ball in the middle of your stance based on the width between your feet, maybe you should try using your belly button to line the ball in the center of your stance, then play it a little forward or back depending on the shot your hitting.

[SFore]

When I first started playing golf, I had a pretty nasty reverse pivot and I found that by flaring my left foot, it helped me kind of "push off" and get the weight going towards the back foot. It actually hepled and as I developed a more natural golf swing, the flared foot just kind felt right and stuck. I don't flare it as bad these days and I never really felt it was affecting my ball position though. Actually, now that I think about it, I have always preferred the ball a little forward with my irons, even my mid-irons and maybe it's because of the flared foot but never really thought about it. I definitely play my short irons and wedges in the back of my stance though, but I'm not flaring my foot then since my stance is often open for those shorter approach shots. Interesting subject.

[JKilgore44]

I never really flared my lead foot. I used to slightly flare my back foot to encourage better rotation in my back swing, but quickly out grew that. I honestly don't see how it could benefit you, if anything it seems like it would take your clubhead off the desired swing path.

As far as ball position, only you can truly decide "correct" ball positioning. It has a lot to do with your swing and where your clubhead is coming down on the ball. But, if they're more experienced golfers, take there advice, but don't let them totally reconstruct your swing!

[CG031]

I dont do this but my Dad does. He has no problem with hitting the ball fat though because he hits a lot of stuff off his middle to back foot anyway.

[lamebums]

I always flare my left foot, and on occasion, my right one as well. I put the ball well back in my stance, so I'm sure I'm hitting down on the ball. The only time I put the ball in the center of my stance is a sand shot.

[irfan]

line up and set up with ur feet square to get the ball position set... then flare the toes if u have to. ball will be in the right spot.