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Conference 7.286::golf

Title:Welcome to the Golf Notes Conference!
Notice:FOR SALE notes in Note 69 please! Intros in note 863 or 61.
Moderator:FUNYET::ANDERSON
Created:Tue Feb 15 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2129
Total number of notes:21499

973.0. "How close to/far from the ball at address?" by DICKNS::F_MCGOWAN (Zoot who?) Sun Jun 17 1990 00:16

    Confusion reigns, as usual. When I watch the pro's on TV, I notice that
    most, if not all, of them seem to be taking their stances pretty close
    to the ball, hands in close to their bodies. Yet the golf instructor in
    whom I have the most faith advocates standing far enough away to allow
    the arms to swing freely.
    
    This morning I was taking what I thought was the right stance, but was
    consistently coming over the top, pulling everything. Finally, with a
    couple of holes left (and my score irretrievably in the dumper), my
    partner mentioned that he thought I was standing too close to the ball
    at address (not to mention after hitting it!). I stepped back a little
    and reached a little, and voila, problem solved. I wonder if any of you
    had any advice or opinion to offer on this subject?
    
    	Frank
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973.1find the swing that's right for YOU...WILKIE::GORDONMon Jun 18 1990 15:2046
    Confusion reigns, as usual. When I watch the pro's on TV, I notice that
    most, if not all, of them seem to be taking their stances pretty close
    to the ball, hands in close to their bodies. Yet the golf instructor in
    whom I have the most faith advocates standing far enough away to allow
    the arms to swing freely.
    

	Frank,

	Just a comment....your instructor is correct but while watching
the pro's on TV take note of the person whom your watching as reguard to

	1) their height

		taller players tend to swing more upright and therefore
		normally stand closer to the ball than a shorter player

	2) their shot shape

		a player who predominantely fades the ball will have
		a more upright stance and therefore stand closer to
		the ball

	3) every player has a correct "plane" for their swing and shot shape
	   and it varies depending on many factors...

		height of player
		strength of player

		shot shape (fader or drawer of the ball)

		age of the player (older players who have lost some strength
				   tend to swing more around their body with


				   a flater swing plane and therefore stand 
				   farther from the ball than a younger player
				   who will usually stand closer and swing more 
				   upright)


	Your instructor is correct...you must find which is correct for
your swing,age,height,shot shape, etc...


just my observations over the years...
973.2STANCE???SWAM2::JOHNSON_DOMon Nov 12 1990 20:4318
    FRANK,
    
    I FIND THAT BIGGEST PROBLEM YOU FACE IS WHEN YOU ARE STANDING TO CLOSE
    TO THE BALL AFTER YOU HAVE HIT IT.  OTHER THAN THAT, JUST HIT IT. 
    
    AS FAR AS STANCE IS CONCERNED, REMEMBER, THE KEY TO GOLF IS TO GET THE
    CLUB HEAD BACK TO THE SAME POSITION IT STARTED IN AFTER YOU SWING, I.E. 
    THE REST IS A FUNCTION OF SIZE, FLEXIBILITY STRENGTH, HAND EYE
    COORDINATION ETC.  THE SIMPLER YOU MAKE, THE EASIER IT IS TO MAKE
    ADJUSTMENTS.  IF YOU STAND IN YOUR NORMAL GOLF STANCE, YOUR ARMS SHOULD
    HANG LOOSELY.  THIS IS A GOOD START POSITION,  BUT THE KEY IS WHETHER
    YOU SWING THE CLUB UPRIGHT MORE OVER YOUR HEAD, OR FLAT(MORE OVER YOUR
    SHOULDERS).  
    
    I USE A DIFFERENT SWING AND STANCE FOR MY DRIVER THAN THE REST OF MY
    CLUBS.  GOOD LUCK AND KEEP HITTING THEM.