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how does the golf club face change with ball above or below your feet

by Sonya Romaguera Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The opposite happens on shots with the ball below your feet. In the case of a ball-above-feet lie, this occurs because the slope causes the clubface to point left, weight to move toward your heels, and your swing to become flatter and more rotational (think baseball).

Full Answer

Are your feet lower than the ball on a golf course?

While it occurs more often in mountainside or links-y courses all golfers will still from time to time find themselves in situations where their stance is not level, in this case when their feet are lower than the ball.

Why is the golf ball position under the logo?

This is why the golf ball position for all stock shots off the ground is under the logo of our shirt or the left ear. Having a constant golf ball position allows for clean contact every time.

How to aim a golf ball above feet lie?

Aim Right of Target. When you are faced with a ball above feet lie you should expect the ball to shoot a little left of the tar get. This happens because the sole of the club is at an angle rather than being perfectly level on the ground. To account for that tendency to shoot left, aim a little right of the target.

Why is my clubface so open at impact?

Three factors cause this to happen: 1) An open clubface at address. 2) A spine angle that's tilted forward and makes the swing plane more upright. 3) Difficulty in firing the body through the shot, inhibiting the release and leaving the clubface even more open at impact.

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What happens when the ball is above your feet?

2:156:09Golf Tip | How to Hit a Ball Above your Feet - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if this is my normal swing. I'm going to stand up a little bit taller as this ball gets higherMoreSo if this is my normal swing. I'm going to stand up a little bit taller as this ball gets higher and higher above my feet I can stand more and more vertical. So I'm staying a little bit higher there.

What happens when the golf ball is below your feet?

3:246:37Golf Tips | How to Hit a Ball Below Your Feet - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the farther the ball gets blow your feet and the more it's going to feel like a ferris wheel.MoreSo the farther the ball gets blow your feet and the more it's going to feel like a ferris wheel.

Do you play golf ball above or below your feet?

Ball Position: When the ball is above your feet, you should adjust the ball further back in your stance than normal (close to center of stance). Balance: Because the ball is closer to you, you will have to adjust your spine angle at address to a slightly more upright angle than normal.

How does ball position affect shot shape?

0:522:34Titleist Tips: Use Ball Position to Shape Your Shots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if i put a ball more towards my back foot. And slightly inside the center ball you can see thatMoreSo if i put a ball more towards my back foot. And slightly inside the center ball you can see that that's where the club's going to come from for a draw now conversely if i want to fade the ball.

How do you hit a golf shot with the ball below your feet?

0:466:11HOW TO PLAY A BALL BELOW FEET GOLF SHOT - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBelow the feet will sub take into consideration. This is for a right-handed golfer. So ball belowMoreBelow the feet will sub take into consideration. This is for a right-handed golfer. So ball below the feet will generally encourage. The golf ball to move a little bit more left to right okay.

How do you hit a downhill sidehill lie?

1:064:43HOW TO HIT A GOLF BALL ON A DOWNHILL LIE - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThan normal for me that's further back then I would play a 7-iron for you maybe further back thanMoreThan normal for me that's further back then I would play a 7-iron for you maybe further back than that it's just a little added insurance of hitting the ball before the hill. And in the swing.

Why do I hit the ball better when it's above my feet?

From this upright posture, the swing will be flatter or more around the body, like a baseball swing. That creates more hand and arm rotation through the shot, with the clubface closing at a faster rate on the downswing. So the tendency with the ball above your feet is to hit it to the left.

How do you chip a ball above your foot?

0:582:53Golf tip: Adjust your stance for a short chip with the ball below your feetYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPosition really in the middle. You want to be more over the ball when you adjust the position youMorePosition really in the middle. You want to be more over the ball when you adjust the position you want to feel your arms to be low under your shoulders. So you can reach for the ground.

How do you chip a ball under your foot?

Hold the grip as close to the butt end as necessary to comfortably reach the ball, and make sure the club's sole lies flat on the ground. Aim left of where you want the ball to land. The farther below you it lies, the more right it come off the clubface. Plan for less spin than with a standard chip.

How to pick a golf ball off a slope?

Stand a little closer to the ball. Again here, this is a tip which has everything to do with helping you reach the ball. By moving in just an inch or two , you will have less distance to cover between your hands and the ball. Also, this adjustment is going to help you make an upright swing, which is ideal when trying to pick the ball off of a side slope. A flat swing would run the risk of catching the ball fat in this situation, so move in a bit and make an upright move to take the ball off the turf cleanly.

What causes a golf club to be open?

Three factors cause this to happen: 1) An open clubface at address. 2) A spine angle that's tilted forward and makes the swing plane more upright. 3) Difficulty in firing the body through the shot, inhibiting the release and leaving the clubface even more open at impact.

What happens if you miss the green and have to chip?

When you miss the green and have to chip, you will usually be dealing with some kind of uneven lie. To build a good short game, you have to know how to cleanly chip the ball toward the target time after time, regardless of the slope you may be dealing with.

How to hit a shot when the ball is below your feet?

To hit quality shots when the ball is below your feet, you need to make some adjustments to your setup position. The ball is not where it usually is when you have a flat lie, so you need to tweak your stance in order to make solid contact. These changes aren't going to be dramatic, but they are very important. Without these changes, it will be almost impossible to hit a good shot in this position.

How far away should you chip the ball to putt?

You are trying to get the ball up and down, so you are hoping to chip to within just a few feet of the cup to set up an easy putt. It takes skill to chip accurately when the ball is below your feet. To build up your skills in this area, consider the tips listed below.

What direction does a ball curve?

Commit this fact to memory: A ball that's above or below the level of your feet will curve in the direction of the hill's slope.

How to hit a sweet spot in golf?

With the ball well below your feet, it can be hard to get the sweet spot all the way down to the back of the ball at the right moment. To avoid making that task any harder than it needs to be, make sure your hands are all the way up at the top of the grip. Many players choke down slightly for most of their shots, and that can be a good idea – when you are on flat ground. It is not a good idea here, however. Stay up at the top of the grip and use every last bit of length that the club has to offer.

What happens when the ball is below your feet?

This is in contrast to your normal swing speed. When the ball is below your feet, favour a slower and smoother swing instead of going at it with all of your 100%. To make up for the difference in yards travelled, use one more club than you normally would for the distance.

How to swing a golf club without bumping your legs?

So at address, make sure that the bend in your knees allow for the club to rest behind the ball and that you will be able to perform your takeaway – and swing – comfortably without the shaft of your club bumping into your legs.

Why is a wider stance better?

A wider stance will give you more stability and will lower the bottom of the swing arc slightly, bringing you closer to the ball and helping in promoting a clean contact with the ball.

What to do instead of a flatter swing?

Instead of using your normal swing, or using a flatter swing, try to use a steeper swing.

How to get closer to the ball?

Widen your Stance. A simple change in the width of your stance can have dramatic effects on both your stability while also bringing you closer to the ball. Indeed, make sure to widen your stance a little bit when the ball is lower than your feet.

What direction does a ball shoot after impact?

So similarly to a ball above feet situation that would see the ball shooting left after impact, expect a ball below your feet to shoot right after impact.

How to make a swing stable?

In order to provide a stable base for your swing, make sure that the bulk of your weight is located towards your heels. Doing so will ground you, more than if you were to stand with your weight towards your toes which could lead to your falling forward.

Why is my golf club closer to my hands than it would normally be?

Grip Down on the Club. Through the simple fact that the ball is higher on the ground than your feet, the ball is therefore closer to your hands than it would normally be. That means that unless you make some adjustments your clubhead is bound to dig deep into the ground as it makes contact with the ball, probably resulting in a fat shot.

Why does my golf ball shoot left?

When you are faced with a ball above feet lie you should expect the ball to shoot a little left of the tar get. This happens because the sole of the club is at an angle rather than being perfectly level on the ground. To account for that tendency to shoot left, aim a little right of the target. Note that the shorter the club or the steeper ...

Can sidehills affect balance?

Depending on the severity of the sidehill you may find yourself in a situation where it is harder to keep your balance. So while a small sidehill may not impact your balance too much, a more pronounced one will. Accordingly and while setting up, test the severity of the slope and make sure you are comfortable, that you are balanced ...

Does a lower loft golf club send the ball further?

To account for that change in distance, use one more club that you normally would. Yes, the lower loft would send the ball further but the shorter shaft length (through gripping down) ...

Do golfers have a vertical or flat swing?

Or in other words, some golfers have a flatter swing while others have a more vertical swing. If you naturally have a more vertical swing, you’ll need to be particularly careful here. Indeed, a very steep swing, combined with a ball above feet lie can result in the clubhead digging straight down into the ground.

Where should the driver be in your swing?

The ball position with the driver should be farthest forward, just inside your left heel, then move progressively farther back until you get to your wedges, which should reside squarely in the middle of your stance.

Is glossing over fundamentals a trend?

Glossing over the fundamentals has always been a popular trend among recreational players.

What happens if you move the golf ball too far back?

If we move it too far back, now the club is going to swing out to the right because this is at an arc.

Where is the bottom of the golf swing?

If you have the proper golf swing fundamentals, the bottom of this swing arc is going to be directly under your left shoulder. That's going to be the longest point in the swing. That's going to be the bottom of your divot.

What is the left heel on a golf swing?

In order to achieve a good blend of distance and accuracy, the left heel is, roughly, your desired ball position. (Keep in mind this is a simplified explanation of how to maximize your driving distance.

Why is it important to have a constant golf ball position?

Having a constant golf ball position allows for clean contact every time.

What does it mean when your golf club is dead straight?

That means your feet, knees, hips, shoulders, club - everything's going to be lined up a little bit more to the right. That way as your club starts to release as you're hitting it more on the upswing, it's going to be dead straight.

How many ball positions are there in a rotary swing?

We're going to have one constant ball position, whether it's with irons, the driver, 3 wood, hybrid...anything through the bag, you're going to have one ball position.

Where is the bottom of the swing arc?

No matter what you swing, the bottom of the swing arc (and divot) is always below the left shoulder. For maximum consistency the ball should be placed off the left ear for ball-first contact with every club in the bag. For a consistent swing with the driver, use this same ball position.

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