Ball position?

**TN94z** · October 6, 2009

I know I have read a thread on here about this but I can't seem to find it with the search.

I just read Ben Hogan's Book and in there he talks about feet positioning for the different club lengths. He states that he positions the ball an inch or so off of his left heel and then adjusts his right foot for the narrowing of the stance. I do it differently and it has worked pretty good so far.

My question is how many of you position the ball as he does and how has that seemed to work out? Is it better than say moving the ball back in your stance or middle of the stance, etc...?

**TMO** · October 6, 2009

I use the older-Hogan method. When Hogan was younger he played the ball inside of his left heel but shoulder width apart with his 5 iron rather than his driver. As he got older, he narrowed his stance to shoulder width apart with his driver but still kept it off of his heel. Nicklaus adopted that method as well. While I know a lot of people disagree, I find that to be the easiest method.

**TN94z** · October 6, 2009

I use the older-Hogan method. When Hogan was younger he played the ball inside of his left heel but shoulder width apart with his 5 iron rather than his driver. As he got older, he narrowed his stance to shoulder width apart with his driver but still kept it off of his heel. Nicklaus adopted that method as well. While I know a lot of people disagree, I find that to be the easiest method.

That is what I am referring to. Not only that but it was also said that as the club got shorter he would actually move his right foot closer to the line of the ball....basically opening his stance a bit to allow the left hip to already be out of the way since it has less time to get out of the way with the shorter clubs. I don't do this either.

I guess my ultimate question would be, is there any benefit to doing it this way rather than (1)moving the ball backwards and forwards and (2)opening the stance as opposed to having a square stance on the shorter irons?

**Scott_K** · October 6, 2009

I think when you have a ball off the left heel in the same position, it allows the left arm to be straight at address and impact. The difference would be the distance of how close you setup to the ball.

The grip and the plane were the most significant things I learned most from Ben's book. I'll have to revisit the ball position and stance, since mine is all over.
My feet are pretty much shoulder width apart with all my clubs. I think I got that part Jack's "Golf my way" though.

**TN94z** · October 6, 2009

I think when you have a ball off the left heel in the same position, it allows the left arm to be straight at address and impact. The difference would be the distance of how close you setup to the ball.

My stance is that way as well. I have always used a shoulder width stance ( more narrow than my friends) even with my driver. It allows your hip to turn more if you aren't that flexible. I have had the TPI tests done and my left hip was weak and this was causing it to slide more than turn and that is what got me into my stance that I just stuck with. Over the winter I plan on really starting to exercise more specifically for golf ( I know there are people that say there are no "golf specific" workouts but I tend to disagree) and hit those weak areas that showed up on my test.

**WUTiger** · October 7, 2009

Just did a side-by-side of the Hogan and Nicklaus' discussions on ball position.

In the book Five Lessons , (1957 / 1985), Hogan says put the ball 2" inside the left heel for all shots. Also, he progresses from a fairly open stand for wedges to a fairly closed stance for driver. (6-iron = square) The higher the club loft, the narrower the stance.

On pp. 124-5, he talks about how this helps the left hip clear for the shot.
____________________

Nicklaus says put the ball just inside the left heel. He says you want to position the ball "to locate it at the point where the path of the descending clubhead momentarily coincides with the target line." ( Golf My Way , 1974, p. 89)
____________________

What that means for us? Everyone is built differently, and has greater or lesser flexibility in different body parts. For starters, I would say pick a spot and stick with it. Then, a pro can adjust you up or back a little depending on how your swing develops.

**TN94z** · October 7, 2009

Just did a side-by-side of the Hogan and Nicklaus' discussions on ball position. In the book Five Lessons , (1957 / 1985), Hogan says put the ball 2" inside the left heel for all shots. Also, he progresses from a fairly open stand for wedges to a fairly closed stance for driver. (6-iron = square) The higher the club loft, the narrower the stance. On pp. 124-5, he talks about how this helps the left hip clear for the shot. ____________________ Nicklaus says put the ball just inside the left heel. He says you want to position the ball "to locate it at the point where the path of the descending clubhead momentarily coincides with the target line." ( Golf My Way , 1974, p. 89) ____________________ What that means for us? Everyone is built differently, and has greater or lesser flexibility in different body parts. For starters, I would say pick a spot and stick with it. Then, a pro can adjust you up or back a little depending on how your swing develops.

I have got the same ball position I have had for years and it will probably be that way from now on unless my teacher tells me different. I was just asking the question mainly to see if anyone on here uses the Hogan technique, and how well it was working. Did they notice any benefit in using over other techniques. This isn't really a "should I do this" thread. It's more of a curiosity thread.

**jambalaya** · October 7, 2009

Here is the Hogan method:

Sorry. Can't get image inserted.

Is it true that if you've uploaded an image in one thread you can't upload the same image in another thread? Why does the program ask me for a URL of an image I want to insert rather than letting point at my computer?

**Marinemike** · October 7, 2009

I've used the Hogan method since I've read the book. I try to keep the ball position pretty consistent. I have found a few caveat over the past summer though.

1) With wedges I move the ball around depending on how I want the ball to behave.

2) I have alignment issues with the woods using his method. His instructions for stance while using woods is the modern day instruction for a power fade. I was getting so mad about it before I went back to getting my heals on line with the target line.

Puttsalott · November 22, 2011

I've just "discovered" the position the ball at the same point, just off the left heel recently. Now that there is snow on the ground, I haven't had the opportunity to work this method but it makes a lot of sense to me and even if I don't end up using this method, it has already helped me to realize why I tend to hit some shots fat compared to others. I do plan on giving this method a solid go and see how it helps me.

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