A 2nd set of eyes, especially early in the season, on your setup is extremely helpful. I have made a lot of comments to fellow golfers on the range when they have asked for help where I have commented on all of their alignments, shoulders, hips, and very often their spine angle (which is often leaning forward when they think it is backwards). When your alignments go haywire, it then leads to the chain of events of ball position being wrong, which leads to path being wrong, which leads to your brain / hands trying to fix everything at the last minute when the ball flight is not giving you what you expect. This video is a perfect reminder, before the season begins, that the best fit clubs and shafts will not help you in the slightest if your swing is reacting to improper ball positions which often comes from improper alignements - i.e. knowing where Square / perpendiculars are to the target. Pros practice with alignment sticks for a reason.
Another great informative video to help understand the impact of the ball position. What I would have really loved to see was exactly where in the stance "Forward", "Neutral" and "Back" was for each club and what the ideal position in the stance is for each club. Kepp up the great work guys. Love this channel!
I have watched this Chanel twice. And I’ve tried the grip size (I have size 10 hands) and moved to mid grips and started moving my stance to suit the club etc and understanding that. So I’ve made my clubs work for me. When the shop was trying to sell me different clubs. I’m not a fool. But I owe this Gentleman for sure. Mr Ian Fraser. If you work in the UK or have a service here I’ll use it. I’ve a lower back injury from service in the military and watched the videos for tips to help my golf (to hit straight 🤣) because I’ve been advised to mobilise my sacroiliac and sacrum.
Thank you for this video, guys! I have a perfect example of what ball position will do, particularly on a windy day, from just four days ago. I normally play the ball too far forward in my stance with my irons and hybrids/fairway wood. Because winds were a steady 20 MPH or more on Monday, with gusts of 30 MPH, I was very conscious of getting the ball back into the middle of my stance, and I did this whether I was hitting downwind or into the wind (more so into the wind). I have NEVER (and I actually mean never) hit my irons better, hitting tee shots on all four par-3s within 11 feet of the pin (three within 7 feet) and my left-to-right dispersion was even tighter. My approach shots on the par-4 holes was just about as good, with a couple of shots within 3’, which I knocked in for birdies. Normally, I struggle with hitting the ball too high and often short with my irons due to the ball being too far forward in my stance, so I’m going to continue concentrating on keeping the ball in the middle of my stance with my irons, and just forward of mid-stance with my hybrids and fairway woods - wind or no wind! I also now realize why I hit some excellent 5-wood shots off the deck when hitting downwind, but hit short, ballooning shots into the wind .... ball too far forward again. This may be the best piece of golf advice I have gotten in a long time!!!
I'm a UK 5HC. I was such a middle of the stance hitter. 'keep it all the same for consistency' I thought. Had a driving lesson one day last year and he MADE ME hit of the left heel. Unlocked so much freedom in my swing never mind better results (in time) . Matty just illustrates this here. Great non club fitting video.
I don't know if we give Matt enough credit. It's not easy to change things as he does and give such great data. His consistency is the real reason I come back to TXG's videos every day. Well done Matty-boy!
The point you made having it too far forward has a tendency to slice with high loft. I complete relate. Without trying to teach you guys are scrutinising the mechanics of the swing. Makes so much more sense to me with these instant facts.
Plus Matty is a seriously talented golfer for videos like this, he's the perfect specimen to display what each thing does he's incredibly consistent. He hit 94 out of 94 greens when they were trying to do that "hole out" challenge. That's absurd.
As someone that struggled ROYALLY with a slice for years I found moving the ball forward in the stance helped a lot which is a bit contradictory to the video. I felt it gave me more time to get the club face square or even a little closed.
Everyone is different, too many people think there is only one way to play golf, but everyone has different bodies and abilities, if you understand the golf swing you can fix a problem very easily by just doing one simple thing, the problem is, most people do not and just practice and recycle the same thing over and over. Sometimes they get lucky and that re-affirms the belief the setup they have works and they just need to get better. But their setup is probably increasing the chances of failure and a bad shit, so they just randomise between good, ok, and garbage, which most of it between ok and garbage - hence weekend golfers. Many golf tutors have an interest in not teaching their students too much, its in their interest to keep the student as ignorant as possible because that's how they make their money.
Very helpful video on the impact of ball position. One issue, you didn't show us the ball position in his stance. Just "front of normal" which isn't helpful if we don't have a reference point for normal.
It's amazing how Matt still maintains a positive attack angle when he tees it up in the back of his stance. Most guys struggle to get that number above zero teeing it up outside their front foot lol
Another great one! Really like how you guys are coming back around to the "basics" concepts with full detail and excellent illustrations. The one thing I wish you guys could've included would be actual dead face-on views of Matt's alignment for each of these as a reference point. As you guys discussed at the end, I'm terrible at judging my ball position and always have it further back than I think I do, which doesn't help my already I>O swing path. Could be interesting to see how/if ball position matters for short game as well. Keep up the great content!!
This really blows up the teaching of putting the ball quite far forward in your stance in order to hit "up" on the driver. So good guys - IMO much better than the club testing (spoiler, they're all good - go get fit for the right one for you). Thanks for this.
Ball position relative to feet doesn't allow for the the most consistent contact without compensations. The low point remains constant when referencing your chest center line.
Amazing. I have been struggling with hitting hybrids off the fairway (when my driver makes it there 😬) with my miss usually being a top or a stinger 10 feet off the ground. My overall miss is a push right so I'm hesitant to place the ball towards the middle. Forced myself to put the ball further back and WOW! Game changer. Thank you gentlemen.
Interestingly, anyway who watches or has read George Knudson's awesome swing teaching, his ball position remains the same relative to the FRONT FOOT and simply moves his back foot away from the ball based on club length. Ingenious and amazingly consistent. Guess what I'm saying is find the optimal ball position relative to your front foot, that produces optimal numbers, then move your back foot away from the ball based on length of shaft. It really is simple and effective as the ball position itself never changes relative to the front foot. George demonstrates it in his swing perfectly. Obviously better players can manipulate this more but for 90+% of golfers George's approach is solid.
Thanks Guys, that was fascinating. As someone who habitually hits shots with the ball positioned too far forward, it will hopefully remind me to move the ball back in my stance!
This reminded me to check my ball position. I have a tendency to get the ball up in my stance and I start taking tiny divots and the contact is low on the face. Fantastic video !!!
Absolutely love this content guys, it’s so easy to lose these foundational pieces over time, or hear variations that confuse people like me. Love these basics.
A truly excellent analysis gents so thank you. Ball position critical for me - dominant left eye so tendency to position the ball further forward than I think it is ...
You guys are doing lessons/instructional videos now? Every other golf teacher is in trouble... Thanks again guys. One day I am going to travel all the way to Canada to get fit!
Helped to understand the why. I trial and errored ball position today since it was windy after a half day of work. I got to where I was hitting fairway woods and my longest hybrid off the deck real solid for me and not getting eaten up by the wind. For me, I had to put the ball back in my stance (relative to my “normal”). Kinda wish I watched the video before going out to shorten the process. Nice to hear the explanation though to reinforce my hunch.
Short and to the point is something TGX regularly acknowledges that they are not lol. Love the channel but that's the most bass ackwards way to describe it.
Ball position will also effect grip position, alignment, motion. You guys should do an iron test with shaft weight and it's effect one the swing. Lighter isn't necessarily better? I've fitting for over 25 years. Every fit never ceases to amaze me. Equipment effects swing motion.
Came for an explanation of why I’m sucking with my hybrids and if it was ball position and ended up possibly learning why I slice the ball like Jack the Ripper. Hitting the driver is indeed that gruesome. Thanks guys!
You guys have been killing it with content lately, its almost as if I think of things I want to see and you guys just end up doing it without any provocation. Keep up the great work.
This is an awesome thing to try on the range and tee box where you have a flat lie. Especially when you start factoring wind, or needing specific ball flights, correct ball position is key. The only caveat I'll add is lie on a less-than-flat- surface. As an example, it is EXTREMELY difficult to have a ball forward position if you have a a downhill lie (you front foot lower than you back foot). More often than not, you'll hit this shot thick. It's also why an uphill lie (ball above your feet) is considered a draw lie -- it's very difficult to get over the top on this lie, because it's likely going to hit the ground before the ball. I know you guys can't illustrate this right now, but it's an important thing for golfers trying to lower their scores to know. Maybe ball position in relation to ball lie could be a future video?
Love this series of videos. Could you show a video with what Matt said about positioning using alignment to show each shot difference. For me the visual is key to show how different.
I spent about a year trying to work out ball position with my fairway wood off the deck, went for a lesson with my coach about it as I kept topping it no matter what I did, after trying a few things he notice when it comes to woods I’m more of a “sweeper” compared to my irons so pushed the ball position forward and bang, I nail it every single time off the deck now. Hitting my wood off the floor is my favourite part now compared to a couple months ago I wouldn’t go for a wood in to a green and would just hit 2 130 yard shots instead. Funny how we do things different without even realising when it comes to the golf swing.
I always end up back at this video when my game is off, and almost always I’ve formed a bad habit around ball position. So much to remember and focus on in golf, it’s easy to lose track of the fundamental basics.
Great info. Part 2 video would be great on ball position for how far away to stand from the ball. I find the longer the club, I start standing too far from the ball and the only path for the club to go is way inside on the takeaway. I forgot which pro said it, but he said something like almost all amateurs should stand closer to the ball.
Thank you for your content. I learn so much from your videos. I have been struggling with my ball position as well as more consistent swings. After several injuries, your videos help me think about what to focus on at the range. Thank you. Please keep up the great work. I would like to see a comparison video between the straight to consumer clubs . Like the Sub 70, New Level, and Haywood blades and hollow backs. Thank you.
Great work again guys. Everybody considers this basic but its so important! While we are all still at home in lockdown can you reach out to Foresight Sports and ask about a consumer product from them or why not sell 100,000 units of GCQuad at $5000 as opposed to 10,000 units at $12,000 to $20,000. Flightscope Mevo + sales will show how keen the consumer market is. Thanks as always
Ball position between clubs has 2 classic variations, stable feet width and move ball back in stance for shorter irons ( eg. SNEAD) OR ball off left foot for all clubs but move the position of your right foot (wider stance for longer clubs) (eg. HOGAN). Ball position is relative to low point of swing (around about left nipple/shoulder) and not to feet is the key message.
Love this i had issue with massive in to out flipping with irons now my lessons taught be to be further back more ball flight control no im definitely more push draw its just taking more getting used to with irons flatter i dont have to aim right anymore
Another excellent video with some great information! Have you seen players utilize ball position to achieve the desired shot shape? i.e. pushing the ball back in the stance to hit more of a draw or up in the stance to hit a fade. Stay Safe!
Heres my take...no matter WHERE Matt places the ball he still hits it a country mile... could yalll maybe explain what "mid-kick"point and "low-kick" point on shafts has to do with ball flight and distance. Thanks guys for the awesome videos, learning a lot. Stay safe....
It's so true how the whole feel vs real concept also applies here with respect to our eyes. Can't tell you how many times I thought the ball was middle of my stance to hit a short iron, but then when I video myself... it starts creeping more and more forward. Using video every now and again to check myself really helps. Also PS how are you lads liking the PIX ball so far?
Okay i rarely criticise any of your videos but i felt this video could be longer. I'm sure it's just the right length for maximum views but i seemed rushed. Great info as always...would just like more of it. Also the illustrations are fantastic!
Super clip lads, just a few wee questions. With the driver, forward ball position meaning opposite left toe? Mid ball position meaning mid stance? And back ball position meaning midway between mid stance and right heel? The same goes for the fairway wood and 6 iron.....asking for a friend!
There is a school of thought that your forward arm is what makes the arc or circle in the swing. Fir me it would be my left arm. Therefore straight below my left armpit would be the bottom or the arc.
Ian it might of been easier for us to see this example if you had placed something on the carpet to show the difference between the shots like how much forward and where was neutral and how far back was "back" Thanks
Great information as always! Can you guys show how ball position affects club delivery when the ball is too close or too far away from the body? Thanks!
Wow! Ball position does make a big difference on your ball flight and distance! I am a 12 handicap and my struggle is a a slice at times! I guess moving the ball back a few inches would definitely help. Correct?
Would love to somehow see a test with different slope lies. For example hitting off an uphill slope and downhill slope. So you club down on an upslope do you club up on a downslope? What does the slope do to launch and spin etc.
Agree with Streck. On 7 iron he said ball was 2.5 balls ahead of neutral which I assume is in the middle. Would have been nice if he said where the ball is on the 3 and driver.
Would like to see something regarding hand position and ball position, at least for the driver. Example: when I tee up driver off my front foot, inside heel, my club face always “feels closed at address” unless I push my hands towards my leading thigh. Should my hands still be centered on my body? Move them out to “meet the ball”? Response appreciated. (Disclosure: Lefty, and didn’t want to confuse the readers with right/left leg designation.)
As others have said great video, but a follow up to identify the correct position would be awesome (I always thought I had the ball back, but it sounds like I have it too forward). Also do you adjust hand position based on ball position?
