Why does standing closer help me???

Ok, I had been spraying the ball all over the place the last two rounds. Finally, the last nine hole I start standing close to the ball again to where I almost feel crowded. Sure enough....start hitting the ball a LOT better coming in. Why is this the case. I must admit things feel a lot more together when I do this and it seems to link my body and arms a lot more. When I do this, people are like....you are way to close the ball....any thoughts??

This is just a guess, having not seen your swing, but you probably fixed your swing plane by standing closer. Maybe before you did this, you had an inside out or an over the top, and tried to over correct it causing heeling and toeing off the club. This would cause the inconsistent spraying and what not. Moving closer can give you a good plane without a strong concious effort, from my experience. Hey, if it works for you, stick with it.

Why does standing closer help you??

Because you were standing too far away?

I am assuming that you are having trouble with you longer iron when you stand farther away because that changes you backswing?

I would think that you are so used to this position that you are subconciously making adjustments to hit it well. However, if it works for you and you are happy............

Because your more in control! Or maybe it was an AH-HA moment an tommorow standing closer to the ball wont work!

Standing closer probably allows you to swing more in balance.

This makes more since. I do get the feeling of turning more around my spine and in one place. When I get a little further from the ball, I seem to sway more.

Yep, dont count your chickens..... ... but i hope is does work next time aswell.

You may find that having the ball too far away also means your hands are too low at address. This encourages excessive wrist action in the swing which I suspect may be impacting your ability to get the club face consistently square at impact.

Try keeping your left arm and club shaft on the same line at setup (though this needs to be relaxed not tense). Rather than dropping the hands so an angle forms.

I can only guess at this without seeing a picture of your setup and do not claim to be an expert.

I also agree that balance will play a big part as the weight is likely to be forward in your feet.

Bascially 90% of swing faults are caused by poor setup (e.g posture, alignment, ball position (distance and position in stance). Get these right and the swing should be consistent. So look at these before messing with swing changes!

Good luck

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JCBDB

The above is a great answer and sums up most inconsistant players, however for my penny, standing a little closer, if you were to far away in the first place changes two things:

A more upright swing plane leading to a steeper attack into the ball.

It also makes the body work, by moving out of the way........................look at Jim Furyk for a prime example..he stands too close but it should give you an idea of the body shifting through impact.


Hope this helps


Ian.

Good point Ian...Furyk is a perfect example. I would say that I have been paying attention to different golfers as of late and it seems most pros stand a lot closer than the average golfer.

I seem to be noticing this as well hornsfan. They appear to be "over the ball" more. Hands coming through low to the ball. Especially on fairway/approach shots. Not so much the driver with it being a longer club and all....

Is this an astute observation to you better golfers out there or am I just imagining things

Allowing the arms to hang down from the shoulders feels like you are standing closer when in fact you are now just relaxed in tension free position. Before, you were probably stretching your arms out and flattening out your swing.
Be careful standing close because you can overdo it.
Also, bending from the hip joints not the back will feel like you are closer but in fact this is correct.
Keeping an erect spine angle will allow you to get a better shoulder turn; you can't hunch over or be round shouldered and turn properly.

Standing too close gives me the SHANKS just as sure as the day is long!!!

Just my experience..

Chessbum...