Float or ground driver

[metbid]

I have always grounded my driver behind the ball at address, I felt more in control (just more comfortable) with it resting on the turf.  I asked the pro I get lessons from what he did, and he said he floats/hovers it off the ground behind the ball.

Just looking for a consensus, with a brief explanation of why you do which.

Edited June 26, 2016 by metbid

[tshapiro]

My personal approach is to hover all my clubs. My reason is that I want my club to hit the ball first. Therefore, I don't want to setup with my club path going into the ground. I feel that hovering the club allows me to setup in a manner that let's me 'feel' what the actual club path will be in the downswing. 

[Buckeyebowman]

It's all personal preference. I ground my driver while my best buddy and league partner hovers his. I ground because it feels like I can keep my wrists and forearms more relaxed. Ever notice Matt Kuchar on TV? He'll ground the club, then stand up just slightly enough to hover the club just before he begins his takeaway. All kinds of things you can try to see what works best for you.

[amoline]

I float it. It always keeps me keeping constant grip pressure for the driver and for whatever reason or another just has always been what I do. 

My miss on a driver will be a heel strike. And I ground the driver, centered align, and lift it like it would be hitting it off the tee, at address the ball turns to the heel portion of the driver. So if I line it up centered while floating it seems to do better for my own swing. 

All other clubs are grounded. I almost never ground in the rough, regardless of the type of rough. Just too afraid that I'll end up moving the ball. That's a different discussion, though! 

[DrvFrShow]

I ground my clubs so I can relax my arms. But then I suck so don't go by me. 

[Valleygolfer]

I hover. Jack Nicklaus did too. I don't see any point to putting the club anywhere I don't want it to be. Plus I tee it (really) high and let it fly.....

[metbid]

33 minutes ago, amoline said:

All other clubs are grounded. I almost never ground in the rough, regardless of the type of rough. Just too afraid that I'll end up moving the ball. That's a different discussion, though! 

Thank you all for the info so far, I appreciate it.

As for irons, yes I also ground them except in rough for the same reason amoline states.

[Patch]

I hover all my clubs, irons and woods a like. I was never comfortable with taking a chance of presetting the low point of my swing arc. Just a personal preference. 

Sometimes during a practice session with my irons, I will ground the club in front of the ball, where my divot might start. Then I move the club head around to the back of the ball with out changing my posture . 

[Piz]

I started hovering because Jack Nicklaus mentioned it in Golf my Way.  That was back in the 1900's when a smile was not just something you wore; it could also be put on a golf ball.  Things were tougher back then...a lot tougher; but we were smarter and better looking.  Then the moxie ran out.  No one knew exactly what it was and, before long, neither did anyone else.  Now where was I?  Oh right!  Jack Nicklaus!  Fat Jack we used to call him...not to his face...never met the man...but he was a chunky fellow...hit golf balls into next week...married a nice lookin' blond gal...Barbara, I think...high school sweethearts they say...or maybe they met in college...don't rightly know...

[Rainmaker]

I hover my driver and I semi-hover my irons.  I never really thought that much about it until right now - but with my irons - the club head is hovering just a fraction above the ground.  It's definitely touching the grass . . and it may or may not actually touch the ground - but it's never resting full weight on the ground. 

@Patch - that's one of my favorite drills this year . .I ground the club 6 or even more inches in front of the ball and I start my swing from there, too . .lifting over the ball on the way back . .which is a little weird but the point still seems to get across.  I'm extremely tempted to hit shots on the course this way, lol . .someday when nothing is working, I just might. 

Edited June 26, 2016 by Rainmaker

[CyboNinja]

I ground the ball while I am squaring up my shot and while I'm getting into position. Then before I start my backswing I lift the clubhead and hold it just for a second. This allows my muscles to feel the added weight and make their micro corrections to my balance. If I can stay perfectly balanced throughout my whole swing I usually like the result.

[boogielicious]

I ground my clubs to align the face and get my arms set. Then I lift them slightly to unweight them from the ground. I've tried hovering, but I was less accurate with face impact.

[metbid]

Thank you all again for the input.  I kind of like the idea of grounding to set then lifting to position.  I am going to try that today.

[gregsandiego]

23 hours ago, DrvFrShow said:

I ground my clubs so I can relax my arms. But then I suck so don't go by me. 

I'm with you. I've tried lots of things. I used to hover it about 5" behind the ball because I wanted to have a centered stance. Taking lessons now my instructor said that's nuts. So now I ground it right behind the ball.

And since my mishit is usually topping it, the lower the better.

[SavvySwede]

I prefer to address the driver slightly toward the toe when I really want to hit up on it.  That way the sweet spot still lines up as the force of the swing draws the club outward.

[saevel25]

I have a tendency to hover the clubs more now.

[Groucho Valentine]

Its personal preference. I ground my driver behind the ball. I don't have a reason for doing so, its just what seems to happen. If anything, i would say it relives tension in the forearms to ground the club. 

[jkelley9]

Ground all my clubs. I don't get as close to the ball as some. I need the relaxed feel in my arms with that hanging feeling to know I'm in a good swing position. A little bit less-so with the driver.