Driver ball position

[ShaneNZ]

I am not one to get too technical with the golf swing - if I think too much my golf game suffers so I am a step up, clear mind and hit it golfer. But I was playing with a guy in the weekend and he commented on how far back in my stance i set the ball up with my driver. I always knew I do this as it feels natural and I have noticed most players have ball in line with there front foot where as my ball is probably 1/2 way between middle of stance and my front foot. Down here we do not have any launch monitors or anyhting to tell me spin numbers etc. but what disadvantages are there to playing ball further back ?

[mr_divots]

Your angle of attack is likely very steep as a result, pushing your spin rates higher. Hard to catch it on the "upswing" with it too far back.

[Divot Dan]

He succeeded in getting into your head.

[ShaneNZ]

He succeeded in getting into your head.

If he was trying to get inside my head he didn't do a good job as I didn't change and won my match 3&2 

[ShaneNZ]

Your angle of attack is likely very steep as a result, pushing your spin rates higher. Hard to catch it on the "upswing" with it too far back.

I am sure I don't catch on upswing as I hate the feeling - might have something to do with being 6'4" with quite short arms but it feels un-natural. Interesting about spin rates - might explain why I get on well with the Diamana WB & BB shafts I am currently using.

[Yanner]

I have the same ball position but I'm 5'8" with normal length arms so not sure how relevant this is  

On the Trackman I had very low spin numbers (C1800 with an Adams BUL 5000) as I was very level through the ball despite having a very steep angle of attack, so steep Trackman couldn't read it. My launch angle was virtually identical to the loft on the driver which is why current gamer has 13 degree's of loft, I'm struggling a little bit with spin and angle of descent with current driver but it's much better than launching too low.

I find if I play the ball any further forward I hit hooks, I'm guessing because my inside-square-inside swing path is already past its outer most arc point and is heading back inside with a closing club face?

Either way, being very steep does not necessarily mean big spin numbers and whatever works is good!

[bl8d]

some things to keep in mind about ball position, and that you can't mix and match.

If you play with a negative AoA , play the ball approx. 1-2" inside the heel ,and raise the bottom of the ball not more than 1.5" from the ground.

If you play with a positive AoA you can move the ball forward of your instep, and tee the bottom of the ball 2" above the ground.

Now, all you have to do is find out if you are playing a negative or a positive AoA.

[crazyIvan60]

But you have to make sure you plant-hit!

[ShaneNZ]

some things to keep in mind about ball position, and that you can't mix and match.

If you play with a negative AoA , play the ball approx. 1-2" inside the heel ,and raise the bottom of the ball not more than 1.5" from the ground.

If you play with a positive AoA you can move the ball forward of your instep, and tee the bottom of the ball 2" above the ground.

Now, all you have to do is find out if you are playing a negative or a positive AoA.

Any easy way to find out if I am negative or positive AoA ?

I play ball about 3 inches inside my left heel and tee ball up at 1"

[bl8d]

Any easy way to find out if I am negative or positive AoA ?

I play ball about 3 inches inside my left heel and tee ball up at 1"

Aside from stepping into a Sim or on a LM were there are numbers to work with, you have to gauge and trust your ball flight as an indicator of AoA. Definitely use impact tape on the face to see the exact contact the ball makes and change it often as you move the ball around in your stance. In both cases look for contact about 1/4" -3/8" above center.Put two yardsticks on the ground intersecting at 90*. Peg your feet position on the yardstick with a tees opposite each toe.
Slide the other yardstick along at 90* to locate the ball. Take notes .

If you don't have a hip slide(lateral shift) then your setup at 3" inside the heel  and only 1" height you are typically set for a level sweep at the lowest point in your swing arc. A slight hip slide will make that a negative AoA. The more hip slide, the more negative it becomes.

The ball flight of a negative AoA is often a low riser that peaks and drops with minimum roll on a flat fairway.
The flight of a positive AoA is typically more ballistic.