Hand position on driver setup...

if playing a ball for driver is off left toe or left heel, where are your hands in relation to the middle of your body? Do you forward press your driver or do you keep your hands in front of belt buckle??

If no forward press (like an iron) then how do you set up with driver and the ball so far forward.

Thanks

Great question....

I would recommend a setup where the ball is played off the left heel. From there, take a wider than normal stance.

You do not want to forward press (lean the shaft forward). What you want to do is have the shaft either straight up and down OR lean it back slightly. I like to lean it back slightly. This sets up a launch pad for your drive. You want to catch the ball on a slight upswing. You are not hitting down on the ball.

Not only do I lean the shaft back slight, which also gets my hands behind the ball, I tilt my shoulders away from the ball slightly as well. Again, this promotes a sweeping, collect the ball, swing.

When I set up, my hands are infront of my belt buckle AND behind the ball.

You should feel a little more weight on the right side with this setup.

__________________
What's in my bag....
Cleveland VP 2 Blade Putter
Ping Tour Wedges, 54 & 60
TaylorMade rac LT2, 4i thru PW
Tour Edge Exotics Iron-Wood 21* 3i - Aldila NV 90 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 18* 5 Wood - ProLaunch Blue 75 Stiff Shaft
Ping G5 15* 3 Wood - Aldila NV 75 Stiff Shaft
Cleveland HiBore XL 9.5* - Fujikura Fit-On Red Stiff Shaft

I think in placing the ball forward, I have been reaching or pressing for the ball....which opens the left shoulder...which causes this looooog a$$ pull or a high slice (all stemming from the shoulder causing a out to in swing). Hmmmm. can't wait to get to the range now.

I would consider even putting the ball an inch back from the heel. If you have to reach forward you most likely will hit slice.

The key is an inside-out swingpath. Keep your head back behind the ball, make a nice smooth turn. Don't try to kill it. Take your time.

Good luck! Let us know what happens!

Hi

Sounds to me you stance is too wide if your reaching and opening up your shoulders. Try Placing the ball in line with your left heel then move your right foot to shoulder width. Now lean more on your right foot so that it is about 60 % of your weight is on it and dip your right sholder but keep your left one closed and in line to your target. With this your hands should be behind the ball so you will be hitting on the up swing. Also when taking away your drive keep it low to the ground and dont raise it until your about a 1/4 into your back swing.
Hope it helps
Cheers
Mark

Like you, I've always wondered about the proper way to setup for the driver.

There were some basic rules that I wanted to follow but enforcing them just brought on some other issues that necessitated compromises and compensations in other areas of my swing.

Ball position - should be off the left foot. This increases the chances that impact will occur after the clubhead path has bottomed out and is on its upswing stage. This also allows me to use higher tees and optimize my ball's launch angle.

Spine Tilt - contrary to most articles on the driver swing, as part of my quest to simplify my swing, I try to minimize my spine tilt. I believe that doing so sets me up for the most stable, balanced and efficient swing possible. This also lessens weight transfer issues. Any spine tilt that I may have is only because I put my right hand lower on the grip than my left hand like we all do.

Hand position - With all my strokes and swings I always want to set up with my hands in the middle - again as part of making my swing simple and repeatable.

The problem is that with the ball positioned off the left foot while keeping my hands in the middle, once I put the clubhead right next to the ball, a bunch of undesirable side effects happen: 1) an open shoulder line 2) more spine tilt than what I want and 3) an unbalanced weight distribution.

Here’s how I fixed it:

• Tee the ball high
• I kept the ball positioned off the inside edge of my left foot. My left foot btw points forward because doing so keeps my forward lateral from turning into a lateral lunge.
• I make sure that my spine has the least possible amount of tilt.
• I keep my hands in the middle
• I position the clubhead in front of my hands - not right next to the ball but about 4-5 inches behind it.
• I directly face the clubhead. I look at the ball by just moving my eyes.
• I also minimize my weight transfer on the backswing but allow a natural weight transfer forward on the downswing

You got to believe me when I tell you that this has been the biggest breakthrough I’ve had in my entire golf game. This simple change transformed me from a hardhitting, inconsistent, out-of-balanced, long at times driver of the ball to a smooth swinging, consistently accurate and long driver of the ball.

The usual comment I get from my friends when I ask them to try this setup is that they feel that they won’t be able to hit the ball. It doesn’t even take them a few attempts. Most of them start hitting straighter and longer drives from the first ball that they tee up.

Interesting! I was trying some of the same things the other day. I was actually placing the club head about 4-5 inches behind the ball....so as to keep my hands from reaching forward. It was working well but....I didn't stay with it because I didn't feel it would have long term results. Maybe I'll try sticking with it.

I know a guy that hits his 3 wood like that (off the deck). He hits it a mile and straight.

I would take it you are more upright and closer to the ball??? Are your hands down low or up higher (closer or away from your body)?

[color=black]Here’s how I fixed it:[/COLïR]

• Tee the ball high = HOW HIGH??
  
  
• I kept the ball positioned off the inside edge of my left foot. My left foot btw points forward because doing so keeps my forward lateral from turning into a lateral lunge.

You mean you point your left foot forward towards the target or forward towards the ball? If to the target, to what degree from pointing straight in front of you?

Here’s how I fixed it:

• Tee the ball high

If I put my clubhead next to the ball about 3/4 of the ball would be above it. No set rule here - I suggest trying various tee heights.

• I kept the ball positioned off the inside edge of my left foot. My left foot btw points forward because doing so keeps my forward lateral move from turning into a lateral lunge.

Sorry, by forward I mean perpendicular to the aimline or forward towards the ball.

I don't try to setup more upright or closer to the ball. I do setup with my hands farther away (about a hand's width) from my body with my woods and driver than I do with my irons.