Comments on Grouchy Golf Blog: Golf Tips - Ball Position

I agree with the constant ball position philosophy...

2008-05-28T20:41:00.000-07:00

I agree with the constant ball position philosophy. If you look at the image linked below for irons (regardless of if it is a wedge or 3-iron) it is in line with the left ear / logo area. With the modern driver the tendency is in line with the front shoulder.
https://img99.imageshack.us/img99/254/golfprosetupballposdg0.jpg

I used to shift the ball along the same width stan...

2006-10-18T00:47:00.000-07:00

I used to shift the ball along the same width stance - forward for long irons, middle for middle irons, back for short irons. Did this for years with a reasonably good iron game (h/c) 12-15).
Tried this tip, biggest problem was I previously had a wide stance and when I narrowed for middle and short irons I swayed. Now I have got that sorted and things have improved significantly. H/C now 10.3.
More good tips please.

I agree that ball position is important. However, ...

2006-02-06T04:36:00.000-08:00

I agree that ball position is important. However, to place it relative to the feet don't make sense as golfers have different stance width in their setup. The wider the stance the more forward the ball for long irons and more and backward for the shorter irons. To me this is one of the myths in golf like all the other tips one find in magazine and books written by the pros.

I find that much of my golf game / swing has to do...

2006-01-17T20:36:00.000-08:00

I find that much of my golf game / swing has to do with confidence.

After I fully committed to these grip and ball position techniques, my game has improved tremendously. Knowing that these techniques are correct, or at least accepted by some of the most respected golf teachers, has been all the difference. You just can't play well if you don't have confidence in what you are doing.

Remember, the slightest amount of doubt can send your game into a tailspin. Good luck!

I always thought Leadbetter and Harmon were mortal...

2006-01-17T11:26:00.000-08:00

I always thought Leadbetter and Harmon were mortal enemies. You know, Coke and Pepsi, Redskins and Cowboys, Oil and Water, Tiger and Phil, etc...

I really am just commenting to say that I liked this post. I have been so hung up on posture and tempo at the range these days that your alignment tips were refreshing. I hit the ball great last night, and a lot of it had to do with reading this and refocusing on something simple.

I haven't played golf in almost 2 months and it ha...

2006-01-16T20:34:00.000-08:00

I haven't played golf in almost 2 months and it has eveything to do with the position of my balls.

My wife has them in a jar on the nightstand.

just played today, and I recall that I didn't move...

2006-01-16T19:08:00.000-08:00

just played today, and I recall that I didn't move around as much...kept the ball in basically the same place...so yeah, this works..at least today...
read your stuff on grip, and agree totally, that for me at least, stronger is better, and a little uncomfortable at first, but staying with it....
Putting your site on my links tomorrow.

Interesting post. I definitely agree that ball po...

2006-01-16T12:39:00.000-08:00

Interesting post. I definitely agree that ball position is important. I've seen the David Leadbetter video you took screen caps of, which you can tell is pretty old because Nick Price doesn't look that young anymore.

More interestingly, about 2 weeks ago I saw a talk segment on the Golf Channel with Kelly Tilghman chatting with Butch Harmon and 2 of his pupils, Stewart Cink and Adam Scott. Scott described his typical short iron shot as being more of a knockdown shot with a much lower, driving trajectory with the ball positioned back toward the middle of his stance (which delofts the club face). He even admitted that this is now his "go to" shot and is his dominant iron shot ball flight, regardless of wind factors.

When I attended a Monday morning practice round for the AMEX tourney at Harding Park last Oct, I saw with my own eyes that this was definitely the case. I was shocked to see Scott's approach shot into the 9th green (8-9 iron range, no wind) having a lower, driving trajectory than what I had thought these pros should be hitting with short irons.

After this statement by Scott, Harmon responded by confirming that pros had a preference for these lower trajectory iron shots because distance control was so much better with this type of ball flight. Also, playing the ball back in your stance promotes ball first contact which makes it easier to pinch the ball off the turf for solid ball striking, especially with short irons. However, with long irons I tend to agree that the ball should be played off the left heel.

Suggestions for future Grouchy Golf Tips:
- Swing plane (Have you read "The Plane Truth for Golfers" by Jim Hardy?)
- Slow, smooth, and complete backswings
- Weight Transfer (check out: https://www.golfdigest.com/instruction/index.ssf?/instruction/gd200602suttie_intro.html)

I will give this a try. It sure will simplify all ...

2006-01-15T02:21:00.000-08:00

I will give this a try. It sure will simplify all the different ones I have been using.