Schools of Thought: Ball Position

[Divot Tool]

I had a great lesson with a local CPGA pro this morning. One of the few changes he had me make after watching me hit balls for a few minutes was my ball position. He advised me that one should always play the ball 2-3 inches off the left heel (in the case of right handed golfers) for all irons/wedges and off the left heel for woods. Hogan, Nicklaus and many contemporary instructors hold that this is the correct ball position. This I presume is one of 2 schools of thought on ball position.

There is another school of thought which dictates that wedges/short irons are played in the middle of your stance, with the ball progressing towards your left heel as the clubs get longer with finally the woods off the left heel.

I have always used the latter approach, however at times I find that sometimes the ball creeps back and fro in my stance. Needless to say, this recent tweak in ball position is helping me strike the ball consistently solid.

Which approach do you use and why?

[TinCupTampa]

I've done both... I am now back to the ball more towards the front of my stance. I am more consistant that way. With the ball in the middle... I found myself hanging back and not transferring my weight very well. With the ball more forward I feel like I have better vision throughout the swing and can hit it more pure.

[shortstop20]

I play my wedges about 2/3 back in my stance. Playing them further forward has never felt right to me. I've even played a few wedge shots just inside my back foot, just depends on the shot. Seems to work for me but judging by my handicap don't take this as gospel.

[Dub]

I tend to play my irons well forward of center, too.

I was struggling, though, with getting the "normal" distances with my wedges. Hitting high shots that came up well short. I went back to addressing the ball further back...a couple inches back from center. It seems to have worked out for the best.

[lolzzlolzz]

Simplest way is to put it at the lowest point in your swing, which, if you're swinging correct, should be somewhere off your left heel. I never understood why people would change ball position for different clubs.

[Surefire]

Its worth noting that if you open or close your stance, the ball appears to be in a different position.
Opening your stance makes the ball look like it is further back, and closing vice versa. So having a more open stance for shorter shots could mean the ball position doesn't actually move nearer the middle, but appears to do this.

I think thats confused it more. My work here is done!

[pjsnyc]

I typically set the ball just a smidge forward of center for mid to long irons and a smidge back of center for short irons and wedges. I also adjust the ball a little forward if I'm trying to fade and a little back if I'm trying to draw the ball. Very subtle adjustments that probably wouldn't be noticed unless you had my eyes.

[beung]

Simplest way is to put it at the lowest point in your swing, which, if you're swinging correct, should be somewhere off your left heel. I never understood why people would change ball position for different clubs.

Well the position is different in relation to your feet. With shorter clubs your feet tend to be closer together and wider on longer clubs. So if you play the ball say 2" behind the heel of your front foot on all your clubs, the ball is going to be closer to the middle of your stance with your shorter irons and more forward in your stance on longer clubs.

Personally I tend to play the ball a little further back in my stance then most, I feel it helps me get to the ball and trap it better before my club gets to the ground. Gives me a bit more distance, a lower flight and more consistent contact on the ball - the ground doesn't effect the contact if you hit the ball first then ground.

[pjsnyc]

...the ground doesn't effect the contact if you hit the ball first then ground.

Unless you're on uneven ground

[mikelz]

My five iron position is dead center.
I adjust from there.

Yes, my bad shots are hooks - I prefer that to slices in a big way.

[NM Golf]

I move my position but try to err on the side of too forward. I hit driver and 3 wood just inside the left heal, longer irons about 2 inches inside of that and wedges in the middle or just a little forward of middle. Many people play the ball too far back. No normal shot should be played back of middle. I see it all the time higher handicappers playing their 3 iron in the middle of their stance and wondering why they hit it right.

[iacas]

I move my position but try to err on the side of too forward. I hit driver and 3 wood just inside the left heal, longer irons about 2 inches inside of that and wedges in the middle or just a little forward of middle. Many people play the ball too far back. No normal shot should be played back of middle. I see it all the time higher handicappers playing their 3 iron in the middle of their stance and wondering why they hit it right.

Ditto. Same as me.

[Shindig]

I had a great lesson with a local CPGA pro this morning. One of the few changes he had me make after watching me hit balls for a few minutes was my ball position. He advised me that one should always play the ball 2-3 inches off the left heel (in the case of right handed golfers) for all irons/wedges and off the left heel for woods. Hogan, Nicklaus and many contemporary instructors hold that this is the correct ball position. This I presume is one of 2 schools of thought on ball position.

When I'm going for a straight-forward shot, I use the one you described above. I adjust my back (right) foot accordingly, of course: my driver stance is wider than my sand wedge shot. I find I get the ball to go higher, and I'm less likely for it to slice or hook (although my misses are hooks and pulls now). If I'm trying to shape a shot, I may set up differently, but I'm not very good (yet) at shaping shots.

[mruseless]

I think the low point of your swing depends on your mechanics. Try swinging without a ball and taking a few divots, and check your divots after hitting the ball. The ball should be placed at the back end of the divot (assuming you are making consistent divots).

[Surefire]

I think the low point of your swing depends on your mechanics. Try swinging without a ball and taking a few divots, and check your divots after hitting the ball. The ball should be placed at the back end of the divot (assuming you are making consistent divots).

Thats only true to a point. Its possible to swing and make a divot to the right of your right foot (right hander). I don't think anyone should be putting the ball there!

[mruseless]

Thats only true to a point. Its possible to swing and make a divot to the right of your right foot (right hander). I don't think anyone should be putting the ball there!

Well good point, you can hit it really fat if you try. I'm talking about the divot from a reasonably good swing.

[ScottRempel]

Since I changed my swing this year I am playing all of my irons and my wood from approximately the same location...2-3 balls inside the front foot. For the driver it's basically at my toe.

[TexasSR]

'Old school' used to be 5I mid stance with the ball moving more and more forward with longer clunbs and farther and farther back with shorter clubs. Wedges used to be played off the right heel.