Where to aim to strike the ball...

On drives, I have been focusing on striking the ball about 4 o'clock, about 45* inside the rear of the ball. One would think this would send the ball way right, however, when accomplished, this produces a really nice, straight, long drive.

Is this common? And, if so....should I do the same on irons and wedges?? I have a lot of trouble pulling irons. I aim at the back of the ball when using them.

I do the same with all clubs if I hit a full swing. If I hit a 3/4 or 1/2 shot, I take the club more straight back and through.

If you are having problems doing it with your irons, I'd suggest your swing is probably too steep. Stand a little further from the ball.

i allways thought you was supposed to hit the ball square with all clubs ?

That's a misconception. All players have a curve preference. A very select few actually are dead straight and if you are one of them, then, sure, try to hit it straight. If you're not, it is easier to follow and even exagerate your natural curve. This way you can always be pretty confident about where the ball is going.

All the pro players curve the ball. Sometimes you even hear announcers say that it's a difficult shot for a particular player because a fade is needed, and the player can only hit draw shots (Kenny Perry being a prime example of a guy who can't really fade the ball very well).

__________________
Regards, Peter
(WITB)

Im not quite sure as to were you are supposed to hit the ball.I have experienced great dificulty trying to hit balls as strait as possible.but I had a very distinct slice and could actually bend the ball to a full right angle to the right without trying. then I came accross an article on cocking the wrists to waist high and on the ball to taget line.the rest of the swing falls into place naturally. now I dont bend it any were near as much and even hit them strait.Just cocking the wrist first made all the difference.try it.The club face comes back square to the ball naturaly.I hope this helps a little as it helped me a great deal.

care to elaborate or point me to a website???

Here's a nice article explaining the physics behind where to hit on the ball...

http://homepage.mac.com/brianmanzell...zellaaug03.pdf

Isn't it sad that a lot of us (beginners) are not even aiming the inside of the ball but usually straight down the line, and yet still slice and fade the ball?

That is probably because the club face is open at impact. The direction of the ball is determined by the path of the club head, the curve is determined by the angle of the club face.

There is a drawing floating around that shows the 9 different path/curve combinations, but I forget where I saw it.

Heh believe it or not I have a printout of that diagram on my desk

Have already tried teeing the ball as front as the toeline, but still driver shots are going right. I guess it's time to tape my swing and see how the club is travelling - but really difficult to see with a normal video recorder.

Back to the topic at hand, I guess focusing on the inside of the ball is good for people who are already drawing the ball more than they want to, but I guess what I'm saying is that this is hardly a concern (at this point) for beginners whoe are slicing more often that not

I googled and found this:
http://www.golfbiz.net.au/p3pro/improve/ballflight.php

On the contrary, especially slicers will benefit from hitting the ball like this.

I would go as far as saying that if there is a single correct way to hit a golf ball, it is to hit the inside back with a descending blow.

The correct path of the clubhead through impact is inside to inside sqaure. So yes you should aim to hit the ball through 4 o' clock to 10 o'clock, as this has you coming from the inside. Swing to right field is an analogy often used here

For people who come over the top and slice/pull this will feel like youre about to hit even further right but you wont provided your mechanics are right and you stay behind the ball through impact

A good drill is to put a headcover or another ball about 1 inch in front of the ball you will hit. If you hit the second ball you are still coming over the top and hitting the ball more at 2 or 3 o clock

http://www.golfhelp.com/golf-tips/In..._Stripe_2.html

If you mean the wrist cocking bit its easy.Address the ball then without turning the body at all or lifting your arms.Just cock your wrists Back till the clubhead is level with the waiste or waist high.the club head should then be pointing strait up at the sky. And the club shaft is in a derect line with the ball to target line.from there go into your swing you will soon get the hang of it.the rest of the swing falls into place nasturaly.and the club head comes back to the ball square to target line naturaly.keep your head still and your eyes on the ball It as worked wonders for me when I am home with a little time spare I pratice cocking the wrists that quater of a turn which is basicaly what it is the first quater.then the arms and body do the rest hope it helps.

Ps you will find that the club goes over and behind your head much easier as well.

Great link Peter, thanks! Much better than the previous diagram I found elsewhere, especially the 9 explanations below.

And I agree with you, slicers will benefit from hitting at 4 o'clock for the simple reason that it trains them to him from the inside. Personally for me I'm fighting more of a fade right (2) and a push right (5). The occasional slice right (8) does happen, and I think that's when I really try to hack the ball and end up coming over the top and from the outside, meaning I hit the ball more at 2 o'clock or 2 o'clock. Am I making sense?

Sure, they are all a result of the same basic swing: coming a bit from the outside.