Ball position and what we measure it off against

[Zeph]

If you search for ball position on Google, you'll find lots of tips. Most of the time they are suggesting a ball position relative to some part of your body, like the inside of the left heel, on line with the logo on your shirt, your left ear or the middle of your stance (body).

Here's where I think there can be improvement. The lowpoint of our swing is often referenced to be around the left shoulder. Our shoulder width doesn't change, it remains constant all day long. What does change, and what is a matter of style, is our stance width. Some have a wide stance, some have a narrow stance. The stance also change for most from the wedges to the driver.

If we use the inside of the left heel as a reference point, two golfers can get two different ball positions relative to the left shoulder. One with a narrow stance will have the ball closer to the left shoulder, one with a wide stance will have it more forward of it.

IIRC, Mike Bennett suggested a ball position two balls inside the left heel, which probably works for his stance. But for someone with a wider stance, that may move the ball farther forward of the left shoulder.

Ideally we want the swing to bottom out 2-4 inches in front of the ball. If one player with a 4 inches wider stance place the ball two balls inside his left heel, it can move the swing bottom two inches closer to the ball. In addition to that, it can be difficult to see the exact ball position from our point of view, especially when the left foot is flared out.

I have had trouble with the ball position moving too far forward myself, and thought I'd write some of my ideas on the subject. Some players may have the center of the body a bit more forward than the middle of the stance, some a bit back, so there will always be variations here, but generally I would suggest to use the middle of your stance as reference point.

I also recommend spending some time finding the correct ball position for you. Use dowels, roadway sticks or something else to find it. From our POV, it can be difficult. Make sure the lines are 90º to your body. You can also try swinging a club without a ball and see where the divot is. Swinging without a ball can make us swing differently, but it's worth a shot.

Tried a quick comparison of me and Mike. Hard to measure on a still photo, but you can see how my stance is wider. I copied the ball to see how many I could fit between our legs. The ball is the same size, so it can be used as a reference point. They do appear larger than they are, but it's the best I could find on the picture. It is difficult to use a video or still photo to look at ball position. A small difference in lens, camera angle and height can make the position appear different than it really is.

Any comments or thoughts from you guys? I'm also interested in the best ball position for different irons, what you play and recommend. When Mike says two balls inside the left heel, do you put the ball where the second would be, or inside the two balls, making a three ball link?

[The Recreational Golfer]

Start with the ball in the middle for shots off the ground, one ball forward of that for shots off a tee. Move the ball forward of this only after you've hit lots of balls to be sure, because most players play the ball too far forward. Few golfers play it too far back.

The distance that ball is away from you is critical, too. Most golfers stand too far away. If you swing the club without a ball in front of you a few times and notice where the club flashes as it goes past you, that is where the ball goes. Put a ball there now and it will probably look to be too close, but the swings you just made prove that it's in the right spot.

[akw512]

I'm interested to hear feedback from everyone on this as ball positions is one thing that I really struggle with.  I'm usually pretty good at getting it in the right spot with my driver, I just struggle with the iron positioning.  I can't wait until the weather here in Michigan breaks and the grass ranges open.  I find it much easier to work on ball position on grass ranges than on mats due to being able to see and analyze divots

[WUTiger]

Ball position is a wild one.

When I was in grade school (OK guys, don't laugh it was the 1960s), Doug Ford and Ben Hogan has popular books on how to play golf. Both of them recommended the variable ball positions: Driver off left heel, move it back as club gets shorter.

During the 1970s, Jack Nicklaus and others recommended uniform ball position: Ball off left heel, unless you were trying to hit a knockdown.

Now, beyond year 2000, my last two pros have recommended variable ball positions. Here's what I'm using now on full shots.

• 7 iron on up: Middle of stance for full shots.
• 6 through 3 iron: 6i half inch in front of middle...moving forward to ... 3i two inches in front of middle.
• Driver, FW... back of left heel. (Moving forward supposedly allows golfer to maximize longer shafts)

For partial shots:

• Chip and run - 2 balls behind middle
• Pitch and stop (lob): 2 balls in front of middle

(This may sound like a lot of hassle, but with static practice in living room it become automatic)

Looking back: What's strange, is that both single ball and variable ball positions have worked fairly well once I got used to them. So, if it's a tie, go with whichever method feels best . And it took a lot for me, the mechanic, to actually type out the feel word.

[saevel25]

My iron position doesn't change much, maybe 2 ball positions at most for stock shots. What varies more is stance, i tend to have a shorter stance for shorter irons, so that adjust the ball position as well. So i do a combo of jack and today. My driver is up in the stance, chips in the back.

[westcyderydin]

i think my ball position might be too far back...at least with my wedges and short irons.  ill have to check it on video, but i think i move my hips too far forward and my AoA gets way to steep.  i happen to like to chunk the ball more than i should.

My position for me wedges and short irons feels like its in the middle of my stance...with everything else slightly forward or that.

what would the rule on ball position be when it comes to hip slide and AoA?