Already doing so for half a year (address behind to hit up) and beyond the driver middle to counteract centrifugal pull of the head (4 years). I've rarely heeled driver since. toeing is another story, but less damaging. Funny story: the trick to address beyond the driver middle marker I tried on two of my golf buddies who are notorious slicers. It mentally messed them both up somehow, they reacted by reaching out further going more out to in and slicing worse. That was one hole win for me :-)
Hey Alex I was wondering how to perfect a Punch Shot with my irons without getting in the habit of dropping my shoulder to hit down on it too much. How do you hit a consistent punch shot that doesn't fade or draw? I play in the wind a lot and I could really use the advice of setting up and following through on a perfect punch shot
Alex “genius” Elliott …, this made a huge difference in my driver - 30+ yards easy- went from hitting 240 or so to 270 to 290’s @ 69 years. Will work on my irons this week. Your simplification of teaching the game of golf is well “game changing!!! No disrespect to Pete Cowen who is outstanding also but you have really helped my game.
I watched this video and saw immediate results! My drives were straighter and more consistent, hitting the middle of the face, and my iron had way better flights and accuracy. This is one of the few RUclips lessons I can say benefited my game. Great work, Alex!
I’ve played golf for over 30 years & watched numerous videos & read multiple tips. This has to be the most succinct & best explanation of address, that will definitely knock off shots & reduce terminal embarrassment for lack of consistency. Thank you 🙏
I started doing this with driver about a year ago, along with a few other small changes, my slice is all but gone! Another tip that helped me with driver and irons, was to look at the ground just behind the ball (driver) and just in front of the ball (irons) what a huge difference that made for me!!! I will try this iron tip on my next trip to the range!
Alex. Tried this yesterday for forst time and wow couldn't believe the difference made to my drives. Never been a high ball flight player till now. Thanks keep up the simple short videos as such a joy over the 30min yawn fest others do.
Spot on Alex. and it is why Moe Norman, arguably one of the best ball strikers the game has ever seen, always addressed behind the ball on the tee. (and got $%^t for it) "It helps ensure I hit up on the ball and less room to screw up my takeaway." Great stuff as always and thanks for supporting some of the counterintuitive ideas in golf.
Excellent explanation and technique to take to the course. Wish I watched it yesterday and not after I played this morning but there's always next round
I learned this by practicing with one of those Wilson drivers with the white stripe on the crown. I saw that the driver was actually swinging beyond the ball, resulting in heel strikes. I now ground the driver inside the ball, and make center contact.
Great video Alex! I put my driver head approximately 6” behind the ball. This helped a lot with my slice, I have more time to close the head. Thanks, I learned that awhile back from one of your other videos.
Alex this is the best explanation I have heard for hitting driver and irons!!! Totally explains why I never get height on my shots. Thanks so much💗 I am a beginner golfer and really like your explanations!
I have been lining the driver off the toe for some time now because i was always a heel striker, it definitely helps since the club is not grounded on impact like it is in setup. However, after seeing this and trying your technique with addressing the ball 5 to 6 inches back, COMPLETE game changer! it makes it so easy to achieve backward body tilt during setup and keep it there on the downswing through impact. along with this and teeing it slightly lower i am finding my strikes to be more toward the middle now instead of high on the face, plus getting the ball more airborne now. thank you so much this is amazing.
@@AlexElliottGolf After a few months with this setup I have found so much success with driver addressing it off the toe to find the middle because of the centrifugal force and have completely left behind those heel strikes. However, I was having the occasional shanks with irons and full wedges, so I figured that the theory of centrifugal force would also apply to these swings. I did the foot powder spray test and found when addressing irons out the middle my strikes were all near the heel and dangerous close to hosel or sometimes hosel, explaining those few shanks. Have started addressing irons out the toe as well and now the strikes, more often than not, are generally middle. Cant thank ya enough!
Wow, I took this to the range, and yes with the Driver starting away from the ball felt weird but a couple of balls later and it was happening. Consistency was there 💣 Irons felt good and tried it with the hybrids and they seemed to gain distance 😅. Cheers, Alex, a great tip hopefully it translates to the course later this week
I do address a bit back from the ball with driver. When I addressed right at the ball, I had a tendency to catch the ground from time to time, trying to hit up on the ball. However, I must be an anomaly regarding addressing at the toe. I have to address heel side to hit the middle. For the longest time, my driver face was covered with ball marks on the toe side when I addressed center face. Heel side was spotless. Now I’m hitting straight balls out the middle with a heel address.
I'm afraid of addressing toe. Like you said I also have a lot of toe strikes already. I guess I'll need to try both addressing toe and heel and see how it works! That's something the channel forgot to mention, maybe it won't work depending if you have ana out to in or in to out path!
This is a superb tip. I've been hovering both, flushing my irons but struggling to hit very up with driver. Going to try setting it on thr ground farther behind the ball
Moving the ball that far forward also adjusts the arc going around your body. You'll be coming across it and tend to pull/slice with the out to in path.
Club medal this morning. 20 hcap. I’m going to try this, what do I have to lose. I’ll let you know. I normally shoot around 88-94. 50% of drives ok, I have a tendency to slice. My 2nd shots, long irons, let my game down. This all makes sense.
I shot an 85. I was on 35 after 8 holes, then carded an 8 on a par 5 for a 43. Shot 42 on the way back. A Low 80s better score was definitely achievable. I used my driver on 12 holes, and I’d say only 3 went slightly wayward, 9 were much better than normal. Early days, but will keep this up. If anything, it added more consistency in my setup for drives.
Another great tip and video so well explained and your swing looks so smooth and easy as though you are putting no effort in at all. I wish I could swing like that!
Can't wait to try this, I started hitting the driver okish for a high handicapper. (Giving myself a chance) But this will Defo help more. As for irons I'm having a mare, don't know if niggling pain is counteracting or what. But that iron setup Defo looks like it'll help. Thanks for the video.
I had a lesson from my club pro a few weeks ago as I always had a negative angle of attack on the driver, he told me to do the same thing and it has completely changed my driving, so much more consistent and it has given me far more confidence standing on the tee.
I'm out for a game tomorrow morning, so I will give this a try. I have a feeling hovering with the irons, I will top the ball more than usual. So every iron shot instead of every second shot 😂.
Well, I gave it a go, and I have to say neither worked well for me. The driver I was hitting out the toe every time, and as I thought with the irons, I was topping the ball more than usual . Hope others had more success.
I always line up with the toe of my driver. This forces me to think about pushing my club head out. Puts just the right amount of left to right spin on the ball to straighten my natural slice
Hey Alex I was wondering how to perfect a Punch Shot with my irons without getting in the habit of dropping my shoulder to hit down on it too much. How do you hit a consistent punch shot that doesn't fade or draw? I play in the wind a lot and I could really use the advice of setting up and following through on a perfect punch shot.
Love the video Alex. Makes so much sense for both clubs. Question re the driver head position please. When 3-6 inches set back, are you keeping a club face flush to the target? Or is the face to point slightly to the right of target adopting an arc line when swinging back? Thanks, Mark
Alex Good video. Got a question, I golf at 4500 foot elevation and I'm going to a tournament this Saturday at elevation 289 foot elevation how many yards do you think I'm gonna loose because of the elevation change, I'm getting to the event late the night before and can't play a practice round beforehand, thanks.
Hi Alex I actually do this too but not quite as forward as you with toe with me I’m a little more towards middle but at toe end. With my addressing the ball my club face is about 3 inches back not 6 I’ve tried it that distance but it didn’t look right and I actually have a slightly open face too. Now with hovering the iron do you hover about half a ball or more? As with my irons I tend to top them more often than hitting them squarely on the face and with your video it might just be what I need to help hit them purely. Thank you for such a great video
It’s never been made clear to me whether you hit hybrids with a sweeping swing or a descending one like irons. I have a five hybrid and based on the less angled club face it looks like a sweeping swing with no divot is the correct approach to striking the ball. I also have a seven hybrid which looks like a descending swing is basically correct? Thanks for a quick response.
Hybrids typically play middle of the stance. Like irons they have a natural loft you want to play. Fairway woods are just a smidge forward of the middle. You’re hitting slightly down but not as much as an iron.
Hovering the irons works for me. Having the driver lined up off the toe does not. I hit the driver more flush when I line it up more off the heel. Maybe my driver swing narrows a bit on the downswing at impact and if I line it up off the toe, I hit it even more off the lower toe.
@@AlexElliottGolf ya it’s showing up now, idk what was up, the option wasn’t showing on my laptop or phone when I originally made the comment. Saved it now, great vid!
Alex, I have been doing this with my driver since 2007 (Cleveland Hi-bore) and I did it to give me more space/time to square the club. Doing this made my driver my favorite club. I could drive the ball approx 265-270 back then (I’m now, at 56, down to 245 - 255) Now, I have begun doing your tip with my irons and I do like it. Especially with my 7-PW. But - can you do a video on the best way to hover the chub at address. Is it a pushing down with the left hand and lifting either the right index finger - OR - is it just straightening the spine just a bit so everything from the waist up moves upward by about an inch? Doing the push down with the left hand to help the club hover really helps with the 7 - PW, but I really hit my 3,4,5 irons fat doing that.
*Who’s going to start doing this right away?*
Alex do you address iron out on the toe side as well?
I tried this today and it’s the best I have ever hit my driver. I can’t believe that such a little setup change made such a difference!
Already doing so for half a year (address behind to hit up) and beyond the driver middle to counteract centrifugal pull of the head (4 years). I've rarely heeled driver since. toeing is another story, but less damaging.
Funny story: the trick to address beyond the driver middle marker I tried on two of my golf buddies who are notorious slicers. It mentally messed them both up somehow, they reacted by reaching out further going more out to in and slicing worse. That was one hole win for me :-)
Hey Alex I was wondering how to perfect a Punch Shot with my irons without getting in the habit of dropping my shoulder to hit down on it too much. How do you hit a consistent punch shot that doesn't fade or draw? I play in the wind a lot and I could really use the advice of setting up and following through on a perfect punch shot
I hit so poorly today. I’m going to do this next round
Alex “genius” Elliott …, this made a huge difference in my driver - 30+ yards easy- went from hitting 240 or so to 270 to 290’s @ 69 years.
Will work on my irons this week.
Your simplification of teaching the game of golf is well “game changing!!! No disrespect to Pete Cowen who is outstanding also but you have really helped my game.
I watched this video and saw immediate results! My drives were straighter and more consistent, hitting the middle of the face, and my iron had way better flights and accuracy. This is one of the few RUclips lessons I can say benefited my game. Great work, Alex!
I’ve played golf for over 30 years & watched numerous videos & read multiple tips. This has to be the most succinct & best explanation of address, that will definitely knock off shots & reduce terminal embarrassment for lack of consistency. Thank you 🙏
I started doing this with driver about a year ago, along with a few other small changes, my slice is all but gone! Another tip that helped me with driver and irons, was to look at the ground just behind the ball (driver) and just in front of the ball (irons) what a huge difference that made for me!!! I will try this iron tip on my next trip to the range!
i practice today i just did what have you said
amazingly i hit the ball easily
Any updates?
Alex. Tried this yesterday for forst time and wow couldn't believe the difference made to my drives. Never been a high ball flight player till now. Thanks keep up the simple short videos as such a joy over the 30min yawn fest others do.
Great to hear!
I've played golf for 30 years and this is the first time I've seen this tip...can't wait to try it this weekend.
Spot on Alex. and it is why Moe Norman, arguably one of the best ball strikers the game has ever seen, always addressed behind the ball on the tee. (and got $%^t for it) "It helps ensure I hit up on the ball and less room to screw up my takeaway." Great stuff as always and thanks for supporting some of the counterintuitive ideas in golf.
Excellent explanation and technique to take to the course. Wish I watched it yesterday and not after I played this morning but there's always next round
As soon as I saw your set-up, it intuitively all made perfect sense to me. Great tips, thanks.
The best explaination on angle of attack that I've seen.
Thank you 🙌🏼🙌🏼
I learned this by practicing with one of those Wilson drivers with the white stripe on the crown. I saw that the driver was actually swinging beyond the ball, resulting in heel strikes. I now ground the driver inside the ball, and make center contact.
Great video Alex! I put my driver head approximately 6” behind the ball. This helped a lot with my slice, I have more time to close the head. Thanks, I learned that awhile back from one of your other videos.
Glad it helped!
That divot did look good, watching it full speed, it looked like a pure strike. Nice shot.
Alex this is the best explanation I have heard for hitting driver and irons!!! Totally explains why I never get height on my shots. Thanks so much💗 I am a beginner golfer and really like your explanations!
Great to hear!
I have been lining the driver off the toe for some time now because i was always a heel striker, it definitely helps since the club is not grounded on impact like it is in setup.
However, after seeing this and trying your technique with addressing the ball 5 to 6 inches back, COMPLETE game changer! it makes it so easy to achieve backward body tilt during setup and keep it there on the downswing through impact.
along with this and teeing it slightly lower i am finding my strikes to be more toward the middle now instead of high on the face, plus getting the ball more airborne now.
thank you so much this is amazing.
Love this
@@AlexElliottGolf After a few months with this setup I have found so much success with driver addressing it off the toe to find the middle because of the centrifugal force and have completely left behind those heel strikes.
However, I was having the occasional shanks with irons and full wedges, so I figured that the theory of centrifugal force would also apply to these swings. I did the foot powder spray test and found when addressing irons out the middle my strikes were all near the heel and dangerous close to hosel or sometimes hosel, explaining those few shanks. Have started addressing irons out the toe as well and now the strikes, more often than not, are generally middle. Cant thank ya enough!
Wow, I took this to the range, and yes with the Driver starting away from the ball felt weird but a couple of balls later and it was happening. Consistency was there 💣 Irons felt good and tried it with the hybrids and they seemed to gain distance 😅. Cheers, Alex, a great tip hopefully it translates to the course later this week
I do address a bit back from the ball with driver. When I addressed right at the ball, I had a tendency to catch the ground from time to time, trying to hit up on the ball. However, I must be an anomaly regarding addressing at the toe. I have to address heel side to hit the middle. For the longest time, my driver face was covered with ball marks on the toe side when I addressed center face. Heel side was spotless. Now I’m hitting straight balls out the middle with a heel address.
Nope that this gives you some clarity !?
I'm afraid of addressing toe. Like you said I also have a lot of toe strikes already. I guess I'll need to try both addressing toe and heel and see how it works!
That's something the channel forgot to mention, maybe it won't work depending if you have ana out to in or in to out path!
this video helped me hit so much better with driver today. Thank you
I do exactly that with driver as well and it works ! Thx
Amazing to hear! Are you going to try it with irons?
Awesome Alex ---- I've lost distance because of not doing these moves.
This is a superb tip. I've been hovering both, flushing my irons but struggling to hit very up with driver. Going to try setting it on thr ground farther behind the ball
Glad it helped
THANKS ALEX SIMPLY EXPLAINED BUT 2 GREAT TIPS THAT I WILL USE TOMORROW
Moving the ball that far forward also adjusts the arc going around your body. You'll be coming across it and tend to pull/slice with the out to in path.
Club medal this morning. 20 hcap. I’m going to try this, what do I have to lose. I’ll let you know. I normally shoot around 88-94. 50% of drives ok, I have a tendency to slice. My 2nd shots, long irons, let my game down. This all makes sense.
I shot an 85. I was on 35 after 8 holes, then carded an 8 on a par 5 for a 43. Shot 42 on the way back. A Low 80s better score was definitely achievable. I used my driver on 12 holes, and I’d say only 3 went slightly wayward, 9 were much better than normal. Early days, but will keep this up. If anything, it added more consistency in my setup for drives.
Another great tip and video so well explained and your swing looks so smooth and easy as though you are putting no effort in at all. I wish I could swing like that!
Can't wait to try this, I started hitting the driver okish for a high handicapper. (Giving myself a chance) But this will Defo help more. As for irons I'm having a mare, don't know if niggling pain is counteracting or what. But that iron setup Defo looks like it'll help. Thanks for the video.
Very informative, gonna try that toe angle think it might help me.
I had a lesson from my club pro a few weeks ago as I always had a negative angle of attack on the driver, he told me to do the same thing and it has completely changed my driving, so much more consistent and it has given me far more confidence standing on the tee.
Thank you Alex. You laid this out plane and simple. Do fairway and hybrids strike between the 2? At the bottom of the arch?
Yeah that’s right
Cheers Alex. I'll definately try this on my next round
Both interesting theories Alex on teed and ground type shots. I definitely need to look into it! As always, well done Alex!
Alex thanks for the information on
the angle of attack on your driver and irons ,
Think I need a RUclips lesson on how to reset the swing after going down a RUclips golf lesson rabbit hole
Thanks for these tips , so grateful for you're helpful lessons !
Fantastic tip! Thank you Alex!
Going to try this at the range this week!
What’s the optimum attack angle for your driver please Alex? Cheers
Best tip you’ve done, also simply explained.
I need to start doing this!
Wow! Really easy to think about! Great subject! Beach, NC
Glad you liked it!
I'm out for a game tomorrow morning, so I will give this a try. I have a feeling hovering with the irons, I will top the ball more than usual. So every iron shot instead of every second shot 😂.
You have to report how you get on with this!
Well, I gave it a go, and I have to say neither worked well for me. The driver I was hitting out the toe every time, and as I thought with the irons, I was topping the ball more than usual . Hope others had more success.
I always line up with the toe of my driver. This forces me to think about pushing my club head out. Puts just the right amount of left to right spin on the ball to straighten my natural slice
Thank you for a great tip
I'm definitely giving this a try!!
Excellent points.....although on that second shot I would use a 5H for a bit more control. 😉
Me too! That would set up my approach shot for the green lol
Hey Alex I was wondering how to perfect a Punch Shot with my irons without getting in the habit of dropping my shoulder to hit down on it too much. How do you hit a consistent punch shot that doesn't fade or draw? I play in the wind a lot and I could really use the advice of setting up and following through on a perfect punch shot.
i will try and cover this in another video for you 🙌🏼 thanks for tuning in!
@@AlexElliottGolf Thank you very much I appreciate it!
Another great tip for for tomorrow at the range
Love the video Alex. Makes so much sense for both clubs. Question re the driver head position please. When 3-6 inches set back, are you keeping a club face flush to the target? Or is the face to point slightly to the right of target adopting an arc line when swinging back? Thanks, Mark
i will try and cover this in another video for you 🙌🏼 thanks for tuning in!
Alex, do you hover the fairway woods too? Bill
yeah
I already have a steep enough AOA on my irons at -4 to - 5 degrees, so would you recommend skipping the hovering technique?
yeah i would for this
Very interesting well we all know I must try this, thanks
Great content Alex. What would you recommend for fairway woods off of the fairway?
What are you currently
gaming?
@@AlexElliottGolf Ping G430. 3,5&9
Careful with this one. Just brought this tip to the range and my driver went from moderately inconsistent to now I'm losing my actual mind
Alex Good video. Got a question, I golf at 4500 foot elevation and I'm going to a tournament this Saturday at elevation 289 foot elevation how many yards do you think I'm gonna loose because of the elevation change, I'm getting to the event late the night before and can't play a practice round beforehand, thanks.
i will try and cover this in another video for you 🙌🏼 thanks for tuning in!
More outstanding information, thanks Alex.
Hi Alex I actually do this too but not quite as forward as you with toe with me I’m a little more towards middle but at toe end. With my addressing the ball my club face is about 3 inches back not 6 I’ve tried it that distance but it didn’t look right and I actually have a slightly open face too. Now with hovering the iron do you hover about half a ball or more? As with my irons I tend to top them more often than hitting them squarely on the face and with your video it might just be what I need to help hit them purely. Thank you for such a great video
i will try and cover this in another video for you 🙌🏼 thanks for tuning in!
Hey Alex. What about hybrids and fairway woods?
I will cover this in another video , i do jane quite a few videos on that on my
channel already too
excellent video!
Alex what if you are hitting hybrids instead of irons?
Do you mean how to position them? sorry not fully understanding question - i would treat same as iron
It’s never been made clear to me whether you hit hybrids with a sweeping swing or a descending one like irons. I have a five hybrid and based on the less angled club face it looks like a sweeping swing with no divot is the correct approach to striking the ball. I also have a seven hybrid which looks like a descending swing is basically correct? Thanks for a quick response.
@@stevenmyers9300 depends on lie, tight lie just like an iron, if it's sitting up(or teed very low)then slightly on the up....
@@barrywilliams4866 thanks!
Wow, makes so much sense.
Just what I needed today. Thanks.
Anything will help. Makes sense.
That hole was a nightmare yesterday! Happy with a 6!
Ow no!!!
Hope you enjoyed your game!
Brilliant information as always 🎉❤
I am playing tomorrow and will definitely try this with my driver and irons. What about woods and hybrids?
Hybrids typically play middle of the stance. Like irons they have a natural loft you want to play. Fairway woods are just a smidge forward of the middle. You’re hitting slightly down but not as much as an iron.
@@indianajim Thank you for your answer. I meant should you hold those clubs the same way was your irons slightly above the ground.
I would hover them for sure! Like an iron
@@AlexElliottGolf Got it. Thank you.
@@AlexElliottGolftried this today and it worked fairly well with irons, wood, and hybrids. The tip about the driver didn’t work out as well for me.
If you want to change the angle of approach, just change weight distribution, simple as that.
excellent will try.this
Well done alex 👏 😊
Great shots Alex
Thank you!!!
This is not new Moe Norman was doing this all his golf life. One of the best ball strikes of all time.
Great advice. Just add one more thing. Clubface address should be about a 1/4 inch open….not square.
How do I hit the ball higher with hybrids and irons?
i will try and cover this in another video for you 🙌🏼 thanks for tuning in!
Great tips! Thank you!
What’s a good AoA when using irons?
What do you mean sorry
@@AlexElliottGolf angle of attack
Tip is dropping on this on sunday
Do you hover the irons on the heel, centre or toe?
center - but find what works for you
Can’t to get to the driving range tomorrow to try this!
Yes Sean! Let me know how you get on!
good job!
You need some slow motion photography on the club contact.
Do you hover your woods too?
Yeah
So,did you make the green??
course i did 🤪
“Course “ Was that an unintentional, pun or intentional pun
Thanks coach 🔥👍
This is real good!
Hovering the irons works for me. Having the driver lined up off the toe does not. I hit the driver more flush when I line it up more off the heel. Maybe my driver swing narrows a bit on the downswing at impact and if I line it up off the toe, I hit it even more off the lower toe.
Yep I will thanks
There’s 3 ways to hit a golf ball straight
1…out to in hit on toe
2..in to out hit on heel
3..straight down target line hit out the middle
Why cant I save this video to my playlists? Like it was a great vid, I want to be able to go back to it
yeah there is an option to do that
@@AlexElliottGolf ya it’s showing up now, idk what was up, the option wasn’t showing on my laptop or phone when I originally made the comment. Saved it now, great vid!
I used to do that thinking I was lined up behind the sweet spot. It's terrible to do.
Thankiuu !
xcellent tip
Glad you think so!
Alex, I have been doing this with my driver since 2007 (Cleveland Hi-bore) and I did it to give me more space/time to square the club. Doing this made my driver my favorite club. I could drive the ball approx 265-270 back then (I’m now, at 56, down to 245 - 255)
Now, I have begun doing your tip with my irons and I do like it. Especially with my 7-PW.
But - can you do a video on the best way to hover the chub at address. Is it a pushing down with the left hand and lifting either the right index finger - OR - is it just straightening the spine just a bit so everything from the waist up moves upward by about an inch? Doing the push down with the left hand to help the club hover really helps with the 7 - PW, but I really hit my 3,4,5 irons fat doing that.
i will try and cover this in another video for you 🙌🏼 thanks for tuning in!
Mo Norman did it
gonna try in the studio……
Let me know how you get on!!
Off the toe and into the woods, tee up a provisional! Goos advice for some, just not for me.
Ancient stuff here. Moe Norman invented this 60 years ago. I’ve addressed driver 4 inches behind the ball for twenty years . I miss very few fairways.
Great
🏌🏌🏌🏌🏌
Thank you ken
WRONG
So just a different way to visualize ball position? K