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 pitch at different points. Where you set up in the batter’s box will help you relative to where the pitch will be and what you want to do with the ball. Mike makes a swing and hits the baseball off the tee.
The same concept in golf applies to tennis. In tennis, you are judging the ball bounce and getting your body in the correct position to hit the ball.
All of these sports have an arc in them that use a racket, bat, or club. You are trying to hit that ball on a particular part of the arc you are swinging.
The ball position dramatically affects the angle of approach the bat, racket, or club has with the ball. They all have their optimum angle of approach.
The key is to have all these angles consistent. When you consider baseball, the ball is moving. You may have an idea where you want the ball to be, but you will still have to judge the speed of the ball and adjust to hit the ball. In tennis, the ball moves too, and your body must react to hit the ball. That is harder than golf. In golf, the ball isn’t moving. It should be easier! When you set up, you know where the swing arc will be. You need to be consistent with how you run the club into the ball.
Again, golf should be easier than baseball and tennis because the ball isn’t moving. You must be disciplined and make sure your swing is consistent.
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 ...
