Teeing up driver square to the club face?

[clickagent75]

I just wanted to get an idea of whether what I've been doing is right.

When I tee up my driver, I position my clubface square to the ball. Since my driver has an offset, my hand position is towards my left leg (not in the center of my stance)..I'm right handed.

Basically when I position my clubface, when its square, I let it dictate where my hand position should be.

So far when I swing it works for me and I'm fairly comfortable.

Is this the right way to go?

I had an old duffer at the range tell me to position my hands at center at all times. I found when driving the ball I was pulling my swing b/c I couldn't clear it properly, resulting in a bad slice.

Thoughts?

[mikelz]

I just wanted to get an idea of whether what I've been doing is right.

He was an old duffer. If you put your hands in front of your zipper the hand/ball relationship has only three variations. All of these variations are wrong: 1. Ball is off your right foot with hands ahead 2. Ball and hands are in center 3. Hands are behind ball Try this: (I got it from a Jerry Heard book) 1. Assume your basic athletic position (knees a little bent, bend forward a little from wasit, push your butt out) 2. Grip the club and hold it in front of you with the shaft parallel to the ground and the clubface vertical. 3. CLOSE YOUR EYES 4. Drop the club to the ground. 5. That's your ball position (more or less - you may fidget around)

[sonicblue]

For the driver, your ball position should be toward your front foot to encourage striking it on the upward stroke. Keeping your body square at address (shoulders, feet, hips, etc...), but with your spine axis tilted slightly away from the target, your hands will be slightly forward of center AND even with the ball. And I would always take my address with the club square to the ball - why would you want the visual of the club hitting the ball at any other angle?

[$2 Nassau]

I've been experiencing better results lately with the technique sonciblue describes, which I think is fairly common/popular and have seen it in many golf publications, on TV, etc. Ball forward in your stance - this might be tough to get used to, but eventually it will prove beneficial. Hands even with the ball, which because of where the ball is will put your hands in front of your left thigh more or less. Left shoulder higher than right shoulder causing slight spine tilt away from the target.

[clickagent75]

Thanks for the input. I thought so, basically with my stance and hand position, my hands are either in line with the club/ball or even ahead of it (b/c of the offset of my club).

I was getting pretty decent results with this combined with my new TM R7 460...until the duffer came along and made me question my technique.

Goes to show that just b/c someone has a tip doesn't mean it's right for everyone...be careful who you listen to!

[5ironDraw]

My driver is unfortunately offset so I open my driver up. I put the ball a little bit more towards the center (I do for all my clubs, 7iron and below). I also have to have my hands lag a little behind on the downswing so that as I come through the club face is just a little open of square.