Ball position: The Debate Continues
By Tim Mahoney
One of the interesting concepts about the golf swing is the position of the ball with-in your stance. One school of thought mentions a ball position in the same spot and another mentions a ball position that moves with the club. At the Mahoney and Troon Golf Academy we believe that the ball position is the effect of the desired swing angle at the ball and the golfers basic swing tendency. Keep in mind our ultimate goal is to produce a solid strike every time a golfers hits a shot. The ball position is constantly being adjusted during a practice session or a round of golf.
The ball position is the effect of your desired impact goals, swing tendencies and the design of the club. As the club length is varied and the club head design is implemented the basic ball position will be adjusted as well. Shorter irons with more loft the ball will be farther back in the stance and a wood club with less loft and the shaft behind the ball will have a more forward ball position.
The desired angle of approach of the club head at impact will effect the ball position as well. A short game shot that requires a significant amount of back spin and a steeper angle of approach, the golf ball should be positioned back in your stance. A driving club with a golfer’s objective of distance with ground speed requires a shallow angle of approach or slightly upward, a forward ball position is needed. All golfers need to keep in mind that the position of the ball at set-up in relation to your feet and head will effect the angle the club approaches the ball. Ball back-steep angle and a ball forward shallows the angle.
During a round of golf the goal is to get the ball into the hole in the lowest amount of attempts. Your golf swing is constantly changing as your body and mind set changes as well. If your swing path is too much in to out, your golf club will bottom out behind the ball. This swing path will result in a ball position farther back in your stance. A swing path that is out to in will produce a swing bottom forward of the ball and a more forward ball position. Golfers need to adapt to the playing positions and your golf swing.
Lower scores are the effect of the golfer adapting to the swing and conditions. Keep in mind that the golf ball relationship within your stance is constantly moving and being adjusted. A cemented position will produce inconsistencies and an adjusted ball position will result in lower scores.
Ball-Flight Consistency
Consistency is the number one goal of all players from Jordan Spieth to Jack Nicklaus. Distance, Direction and Trajectory make up the elements of the ball-flight. Golfers need all three elements for consistent ball striking. I believe that the sequence of learning is: trajectory, distance and direction. The three components are interrelated and we cannot have one with out the other.
Trajectory is controlled by:
1. Club Selection- the club is designed to provide loft. Allow the manufacturer to get the ball airborne.
2. Angle of Approach- the correct angle of approach provides solid impact and the proper effective loft.
3. Set-up- consistency starts here. Grip, posture, ball-position, aim, mind-set and tension level are the fundamentals of the pre-swing.
4. Swing plane- a vertical swing shape will produce high shots and a flat swing shape will produce lower shots.
5. Swing speed- without swing speed the golfer has a difficult time producing loft. Golfers with a limited swing speed will produce the same trajectory for all clubs.
Distance is controlled by:
1. Club Selection- longer clubs longer shots.
2. Length of motion- increased range of motion will assist in distance.
3. Solidness of contact- hitting the ball in the center of the racket. Path and plane are significant influences. Vertical plane produces toe hits and a flat plane produces heel hits.
4. Swing speed at impact. Body rotation, arm speed and wrist movement are the biggest influences. Overall swing speed is a goal not club head speed.
Direction is controlled by:
1. Aim- parallel lines of the eyes, shoulders, forearms, hips, knees and heels.
2. Clubface alignment at impact. Clubface at right angle to your swing path at impact.
3. Swing path at impact. A swing path that is from the inside to along the target line to the inside.
Every golf lesson and group activity I participate in every golfer is in search of consistency. Ball flight has three elements: trajectory, distance and direction. You master all three in order to gain consistency.