Irons on the toe. Need advice PLEASE!!

For the past 4-5 months, I have made a comeback to golf after a 2 year lay-off due to shoulder(s) surgery. I am hitting EVERYTHING on the toe!! I CANNOT it the sweet spot. I have moved ball up, back. I am too close or too far away. I even hit short irons and chip shots on the toe. Please advise. I used to be a 16 hcp player. Now it is miserable. Another thing, I can usually work it out at the range, but I CAN'T take it to the course.
Someone's response would be appreciated.

Thanks, Lefty

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Lefty-9

Hi fellow lefty
a quick fix to help you get around the course would be to address the ball more towards the heel of the club( be warned , this can lead to shanking ). This is not a cure , just a quick fix.
never move your ball position as this will lead to further problems ( see shootin4par thread on self diagnosis ). you need to pay attention to how far or near you are standing to the ball . try not to let your weight settle on your heels as this also can lead to hitting of the toe.

good luck pal

Hitting the ball off the toe can be caused from all sorts of things, from to much of an inside path, outside path and all sorts.

The best thing for you to do for now is, line the ball up on the heel of the club ( this might look like heel of the club to you but might be in the center of the club because you might of got into a habbit of lineing the ball up on the toe without yourself realising) and the second thing is to stand closer to the ball. Set up and and then put your right hand inbetween your belt buckle and the end of the grip that should be how close you stand to the ball.

Cheers, hope this helps.
Ricky

Thanks Aftford. I had a 2 day tourney this past weekend. I don't think I hit 3 or 4 good irons!! Something has happened to my swing. I used to never have this trouble. I really appreciate the advice. My finger is sore from hitting on the toe (blades!!).

Lefty

Ricky, I have tried the heel thing; I STILL manage to hit it on the toe!! I can focus on a spot on the ground and take a practice swing: I swing inside where I'm looking!!!!!

What gives????????

Blades! That could be part of your problem. What is your handicap.

I would reccomend blades to 5 handicappers and below!

Ok, so you are coming into the ball on a inside path! Inside path is good but you are obviously over doing it.

So, you could do this - when swinging concentrate on the RIGHT SIDE of the ball ( if ur righty but im guessing your lefty so concentrate on the left side of the ball) and try and hit the left side of the ball! Sounds abit crazy. I am guessing your divots go to the left (if ur a lefty) try and hit the outside quarter of the ball and feel yourself trying to get your divots to go to the right.

Try it, experiment.

Cheers,
Ricky

Hi lefty


Take your normal set up.
Release your left hand gently off the club.
if it releases straight to the left , your distance from the ball is fine.
if your hand and arm go slightly forward of where it was on the club, you are too close to the ball.
if your hand and arm come towards you then you are too far away from the ball.

Please try it and let me know what happens and then we can work from there .

cheers . ANDY

16 hcp. I used to use game improvement irons in the past. I went back to blades. I can't tell where I miss a ball with the cavity back clubs. I use Mizuno muscle backs. When you hit it in the screws, you can't feel it. When you hit it on the toe, wow do you know it!!

Thanks, Lefty

Will try it this pm Aftford. I posted about a month ago about ball position. I think it is a real issue with me. Never knew a layoff from the game would be so miserable!!!

Thanks again, Lefty

at address, is the weight on the balls or heels of your feet?

We have all been there and we are all here to help pal

I try to keep it on the balls; it seems I have trouble shifting my weight sometimes though.

that could very well be your problem, if it is too much on the balls, if it stays there your body could loose it's balance, so in order to regain its balance it subconsciously shifts back to your heals, or you straighten up, and therefore your hands pull in and you hit it on the toe. put the weight even between balls and heals or favor the heels, give it a half bucket or so, and see what happens

As shootin says you may be falling forwards on the downswing becuase you arent balanced properly. Have a look at the attached PDF