hands

hi guys quick question, my freind told me that my hands should be in front of the ball at address is this correct? i always thought that they justed hanged loose, also on my setup ive been told to stick my backside out a bit but on address this feels silly and peeps have told me i look like im getting ready to be mounted is this right or wrong can you over extend your bum ?

I just had a lesson yesterday with a local PGA Professional, if you have the opprotunity I suggest setting up an hour session with one in your area. This site is great for theory, and combined with a hands on lesson... things click.

I too had a serious flaw with my setup. The PGA Professional gave me the following key things to focus on (and the visuals differences between how I was doing them vs. how they should be done):

1. Make sure you have a proper grip. Easy enough to say and best to have someone in the know check for you.

2. Feet vs. Club Head alignment. For me my back foot is parallel to the target line and my front foot slightly open. I suspect this depends on your athletic stance (how broad chested you may or may not be). The but of the club should remain centered on your sternum and the swing occurs through the rotation of your hips and shoulders. Arms and hand just go along for the ride.

3. The Ball position dictates where your hands lie in relationship to your club shaft. The shaft is actually what needs to be just front of the ball at address.

4. When coming through impact, you have to maintain your hands cupped position. Greg has a great drill for this.

The most amazing part of my lesson was the fact that the instructor just by seeing me make a pratice swing knew what my ball flight tendencies were. And more importantly identified both the good and bad things in my setup routine.

If you're hitting an iron off the grass then you need to ensure that you're hands are in front of the ball at address, and also at impact. This will help to promote a downward blow on the ball and better striking.

Yes, you should stick your bum out at address as this helps to keep your spine straight which is another assistance to good, consistent striking. It's worth checking this is a mirror as if you stand fairly upright to the ball then sticking your bum out too far means that you curve the spine the opposite way. Ok, so your mates might laugh for a couple of times, but when you start spanking the ball 300 yards down the middle of the fairway then you'll be the one that's smiling.

does this mean also hitting fairway woods of the grass or is this diffrent ?

I have a 5 and 7-wood that I hit regularly off the fairway. I tend to find that having my hands just a little forward of the clubface at address results in a better contact but I'm not sure that's a universal rule as it might depend on your swing and the design of the club. I use the Adams Redline fairway woods which have a very pronounced curve on the sole which means it can cut through the top of the grass, I'm wondering if one with a flatter sole might bounce more and therefore require some swing adjustments. All I can suggest is give it a try until you find what suits best.

i hit my fairway 3 wood just of the inside of my left heel, having my hands just in fron of the ball at this position feels akward, does any one else keep there hand infront at address

I don't put my hands in front at address. The main thing is having your hands in front at impact. Usually my hands are even with my head club at address, but thats just me. Not sure if it's the right way or not.

Danny is correct - your hands don't need to be infront at set up, but it is NECESSARY that your hands are ahead of the clubface at impact. This ensures that you will be accelerating through the ball.

As for set up, many people find the forward press very usefull so that they know that the clubface will be square at impact. Address position is a personal preference, impact position is a requirement.

[quote=CrimsonMKII]For me my back foot is parallel to the target line QUOTE]

I think you meant perpendicular instead of parallel

|| are parallel
|- are perpendicular

[quote=Started2k3]Yeah, I had a brain fart. Thanks for catching that.

i usually like to see a golfers hands just off his left thigh with the irons, and usually right around the zipper with the woods. now if you set up with a good posture and grip this will happen anyway and you dont need to think about it.

however, dont bend your wrists forward, as this will cause a closed clubface and inconsistent contact

Good point - always make sure your left wrist is flat and the right wrist is cupped. As the right hand drill goes, that is the position of your wrists until after impact.