Where should the ball line up in your stance

[Gaviao]

When I started golfing I got the advice that the club I am hitting with changes where I line up my feet in relationship to the ball. So if I am hitting the ball with my 5 iron the ball should be in the "middle" of my stance. If I am hitting the ball with say a 7 iron then the ball should be towards the "back" of my stance. With the driver the ball should line up slightly in front of my left foot(I'm a righty) and with the wedges the ball should be slightly behind my right foot. 3 iron in the "front' of my stance etc...etc...etc...

Last week however I went golfing with a friend who lined up ever shot in the middle of his stance and he out shot me(not a tough thing to do mind you)

So..... which way is correct?

[Beachcomber]

Conventional instruction has followed Ben Hogan's method for years...  Which can be found here:

You will see that Hogan would open his stance the shorter his club length.  The goal should be to hit the ball consistently.  I play my Driver/Woods near the inset of my left foot (front foot as I'm a right handed golfer).  And all hybrids, irons and wedges similar to how you see Hogan play his long to medium irons.

[hitnrun]

[IMG]http://img.tapatalk.com/c6e4d89c-b66e-e64f.jpg[/IMG] I kind of go by this for standard lie shots. Specialty shots and higher loft clubs will be placed differently. Generally the higher the loft, the steeper the angle and the further back in the stance. More goes into it than that, but that's the basics of what I was taught.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

Conventional instruction has followed Ben Hogan's method for years...  Which can be found here:

You will see that Hogan would open his stance the shorter his club length.  The goal should be to hit the ball consistently.  I play my Driver/Woods near the inset of my left foot (front foot as I'm a right handed golfer).  And all hybrids, irons and wedges similar to how you see Hogan play his long to medium irons.

OK, I am going to like this thread because I am struggling with this as well.  When I look at FO videos of myself, the ball is way further back in my stance (and my hands much further forward in relation) than it feels like it is when I am looking down at it live.  I also never knew that (at least in Hogan's opinion) the location of the ball in relation to the left foot never changes.

EDIT:  What hitnrun posted is a little more like I (think) I do it now, but my eyes may be deceiving me.

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

OK, I am going to like this thread because I am struggling with this as well.  When I look at FO videos of myself, the ball is way further back in my stance (and my hands much further forward in relation) than it feels like it is when I am looking down at it live.  I also never knew that (at least in Hogan's opinion) the location of the ball in relation to the left foot never changes.

EDIT:  What hitnrun posted is a little more like I (think) I do it now, but my eyes may be deceiving me.

Hogan's stance narrowed as the length of the club became shorter.  He would also open his stance line to the target.  But his position of the ball always remained the same.  The goal of solid ball striking should be this type of position:

The amateur golfer mistakes having a head behind the ball - that they need to sweep the ball off the ground.  Thus they break their left wrist and 'flip'.  But if you can put the ball closer to the inside of your left foot with the driver... And a ball or two back with your irons - then I think it is easier to get the secondary axis tilt - while still having a descending blow with an iron.

[shortstop20]

How in the heck do you hit a wedge with the ball behind your right foot? Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

[Beachcomber]

Originally Posted by shortstop20

How in the heck do you hit a wedge with the ball behind your right foot?

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

You don't.  Consistently that is.

[Gaviao]

Originally Posted by shortstop20

How in the heck do you hit a wedge with the ball behind your right foot?

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

I modified my stance by opening WAY up, but that has never been consistent and it forced me to play a miss hit .... which means I usually miss the green... just one of my many problems