Standard Pitching 30-75 yards and Ball Position
 

For a "standard" pitch shot (no flop, lob, etc), where do you place ball position?

I tend to play all standard pitch shots, even full wedge shots back of center of stance (helps ensure I would hit it fat). Consiquently, my pitch shots are generally lower than others, unless I hit a cut pitch (which is played in my center or still back of center).

Comments please.

Depends on what pattern I happen to be using...and how much axis tilt I need...

My normal one I keep the ball just inside my left heel (an inch or a couple) and vary stance width and weight distribution....narrower stance and more forward weight for more descending strike.

If I am using a varying ball position with respect to the left heel....I don't really ever put the ball back of center....but I vary stance width as well.

...

Whichever way works best for you and you're most comfortable with you should choose...

And whatever way you happen to choose it's good to understand that when you change ball position and those other factors (stance width, weight distribution) what you're really doing is changing the ball position in relation to the left shoulder. (that's why it works kinda the same...not exactly the same tho)

The left shoulder of course is the low point of the swing.....it's the centre of the circle.....and the left arm is the radius of that circle.....thus right under the left shoulder is as low as your hands can be....the low point of the circle.

Here's a picture I took from Paul Smith at iseekgolf:



Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus, and Ben Hogan are the 3 most notable golfers who have used an "always off the left heel" ball position.

Normally ball in the center.

If I want it a bit lower then I move it back.

For shot of this length up to 75 yds, I normally don't have a full width stance.

For a shot a bit higher in that range I will open the stance a bit.

Way too often, when I play mid body ball location, I hit it fat??? Drives me nuts.

Also, even though I hit my irons, I get way better results when I swing my pitches and chips. Cant really understand this, fully.

I suspect that with pitches, when I try to use a hitting pattern, my body "stalls" and does not rotate, so, I bottem out too soon, whereas when I swing, I obviously am rotating much much better, thus cleaner contact.

Unacustom to giving tips, but here is one you can try to see if you are not set correctly. Take stance to chip, the take the rear foot position it so only the point of the toe is touching the ground.

This should force you to keep the weight forward. If it doesn't do any good then more than likely you are running out your right elbow.

It has been my experience that most chunks on chips is because of the weight is back.

[quote=birdie_man]Depends on what pattern I happen to be

Here's a picture I took from Paul Smith at iseekgolf:



QUOTE]

Bird, i'm actually the creator of that image that i did for Paul for his avatar. Funny how on some other forum i got a little bashed for this image. Guess who the ghost is on the downswing? lol!

I did the text...

It's still a really good image!

Stance Width
 

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The WIDTH OF THE STANCE is a big factor concerning ball position. The guys that play the ball off the left heel with chips and pitches, probably also have a narrow stance, which puts the left shoulder more forward in front of the ball. The length of the divot is from where the club first strikes the ground, before low point, and lasts until the club reaches low point. After low point, the club will exit the ground(with a proper down, out, forward stroke, and LAG SUSTENTION) and start moving up the other side of the plane.

Now... some special wedge shots can be hit using more BOUNCE on the club. With some of these, a little bit FAT, can work, and work well. This is done similar to a bunker technique. The BOUNCE on the wedge, and LIE ANGLE of the club can be important also with these special shots.

Community Service
 

And the Circle Geometry is from my lecture presentation of 2-N-0. Seems like Paul Smith's avatar is quite the community thing! :)

It's Hogans 6p