Mike Malaska demonstrates the driver and ball position. When most Tour Players swing the driver, the club runs into the ball; the low point is behind the ball and is slightly on the upswing as it hits the ball. Some still catch the ball on the downswing, but long-drive players catch the ball on the upswing.
To do this, Mike moves the ball forward. With the 3 wood and driver, they both move forward. The driver is up because it is sitting on a tee, so you don’t have to have the ball hit off the ground anymore.
Instead of the line being in the center of your body, the ball is off your left foot. You will catch the ball slightly on the upswing, which will get the ball up into the air. This will make your swing bottom out just before the ball.
Distribute your weight more on your right foot than your left, about 60% to 40%. More weight on your right foot allows you to swing down into the ball and time it, so your club hits the ball on the upswing.
Mike sets up with the ball slightly off his left heel; some players do it off their left toe. Mike makes a swing and hits his driver.
To recap, Mike monitored where the ball was and changed his setup to make the circle of the arc work to do different things to the ball. The shorter the club, the steeper the angle of approach. As the club gets longer, a little less when the ball is up on a tee, you want to catch the ball slightly on the upswing.
Those little adjustments are huge, and you want to be consistent with them. If you move your ball position around, it’s definitely will change where the ball goes.
Mike positions himself with the ball in the center, and it goes low when he hits it. That is a shot, but it shouldn’t be your stable shot.
Tour Players are very consistent with where they set up, and they are precise about where they put the ball and how they aim for their different clubs. They want to launch the ball in the same window every time. They also want the ball position to be the same so that it compresses and launches at the right angle when they hit the ball.
Again, it is important where you put the ball in your stance and where force is in your feet. That changes the swing circle and what it is doing.
The fitness tie-in to Ball Position is that you must be consistent with it.
Mike keeps exercise bands in his golf bag so he can use them at any time.
He has an exercise routine that he goes through before he plays. He uses the bands on his legs and then uses his body weight with the bands to st...
Mike Malaska discusses how sports connect golf, tennis, and baseball. It’s about where you catch the ball in the swing arc.
Mike talks first about baseball. He has a baseball bat, and a baseball set up on a tee stand. Baseball players will position themselves in the batter’s box to catch the pit...
Mike Malaska reviews the ball position series. There is an ideal setup and ball position for your different clubs.
Starting with wedges, most of your weight is on your left foot. The ball position is in the center of your body, and you are up on your left side. This means your swing will bottom ...
