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Posted
I recently finished a series of lessons with a pro who preaches Jack Nicklaus' sermon regarding ball position. That is: you should ALWAYS play the ball off your left heel (assuming you're a righty). Don't move the ball back in your stance for shorter irons, don't move it forward for your driver. In line with your left heel. Always. The only thing you change is the width of your stance, which varies by club.

(If you go to Jack's website, you'll see that the clips they've downloaded from "Golf My Way" has him saying exactly that.)

I've now seen Mr. Nicklaus mention a few times in interviews that he used to grind the faces of his irons so the grooves were more shallow, in order to produce less spin. He wanted to be absolutely certain what the total length of each club was, without having to factor in backspin distance(s). Far be it from me to argue with logic employed by one of the greatest mortals to ever swing a stick. I mean, just look at the results that method produced for him.

On the other hand, just about everything else I read and watch on the subject advises moving the ball back incrementally in your stance as you get more lofted clubs (not to mention in troublesome lies, like divots).

I have to say, while I was taking lessons, the "Jack Way" certainly produced reliable, repeatable results. Not to mention the possible mental advantage of taking a variable out of the equation. On the other hand I've been practicing "pinching" the ball with it back in my stance since finishing my lessons, and find that works well also. So now, of course, I'm confused about who's advice to follow.

What do you guys do? Anyone here a strong proponent of any particular school of thought when it comes to ball position?

Tom

Bag It:

3-Wood Wishon 525 F/D, 13*, Matrix Studio 65gm, Golf Pride Dual Compound
Hybrid: Wishon "321", 24*, MSF 85 HB, Winn DSI
Irons: Wishon 770CFE, Matrix Studio 74gm, Winn DSI

Putter: Odyssey DFX 2-Ball

Bag: Some big, honkin', ridiculous overkill of an Ogio cart bag with more pockets than I have teeth.


Posted
  Sherpat said:
I recently finished a series of lessons with a pro who preaches Jack Nicklaus' sermon regarding ball position. That is: you should ALWAYS play the ball off your left heel (assuming you're a righty). Don't move the ball back in your stance for shorter irons, don't move it forward for your driver. In line with your left heel. Always. The only thing you change is the width of your stance, which varies by club.

I suggest only 2 ball positions for most players. You can play around with it if you're trying to understand how to hit different types of shots... but in general up front for any shot tee'd up...and just under your left ear for any shot you intend to take a divot.

Equipment, Setup, Finish, Balance, and Relax. All equal in importance and all dependent on each other. They are the cornerstones of a good golf swing.


Posted
Sounds simple enough. Thanks for replying!

Tom

Bag It:

3-Wood Wishon 525 F/D, 13*, Matrix Studio 65gm, Golf Pride Dual Compound
Hybrid: Wishon "321", 24*, MSF 85 HB, Winn DSI
Irons: Wishon 770CFE, Matrix Studio 74gm, Winn DSI

Putter: Odyssey DFX 2-Ball

Bag: Some big, honkin', ridiculous overkill of an Ogio cart bag with more pockets than I have teeth.


Posted
I'm with Jack (and Hogan) on this issue. My ball position is pretty much in line with my left heel for all shots (except for knock downs, etc....) Only problem is that this will mean your lower body has to become more active in order to attack the ball/ensure good contact. As such, it could prove a problem for less flexible/athletic people.

Posted
WRT the groove comment, remember what type of clubs and balls he played with. Those balata's spun a bunch compared to balls nowadays, were much softer too.

I already take a small divot even with the ball in the middle of my stance, so I don't know if I could move it up there for wedge shots. You'd need a bunch of weight on your left side in the downswing to center your shots over your left heel.

Driver: 9.5 905R 757 Speeder X stiff
3 Wood: 13.0 Sonartec GS Tour Red Ice 70X
Hybrid: 17.0 Sonartec MD Stiff UST IROD
Irons: 690cb 4-PW w/Rifle 6.0
Wedges: Cleveland 900 Series Gunmetal 50, 54, 60Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Newport 370g head


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Posted
I play the ball in different positions. I think it makes sense to: with the driver, you're trying to catch the ball on the upswing. With the irons, you're pinching it against the turf.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

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Posted
I think ball position is related to swing type. An upright swing like Nicklaus or someone with a lot of leg drive has little risk of hitting shots fat so playing it of the heel for all shots works well. For golfers with a flatter swing or who don't drive through the ball as well moving the ball back a little, especially for the short irons leads to more consistent results.

1W Cleveland LauncherComp 10.5, 3W Touredge Exotics 15 deg.,FY Wilson 19.5 degree
4 and 5H, 6I-GW Callaway Razr, SW, LW Cleveland Cg-14, Putter Taylor Made Suzuka, Ball, Srixon XV Yellow


Posted
I play two ball positions...one for shots off the driver/3w off the tee and one for irons and anything off the deck. I had been moving the ball around too much and simplified it earlier this year.

Fairways and Greens.

Dave
 

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Posted
  iacas said:
I play the ball in different positions. I think it makes sense to: with the driver, you're trying to catch the ball on the upswing. With the irons, you're pinching it against the turf.

I do the same. Moving the ball adjusts the point of impact with the club face. The only way to do that without moving the ball is to adjust during your swing. That works, but makes room for lots of variation.
In My Bag:

Driver: TaylorMade R580XD Titanium Driver w/ graphite shaft 10.5*
Fairway Woods: TaylorMade V-Steel 3 Wood 15* 5 Wood 18*
Irons: TaylorMade rac OS2 Iron Set 3-PW w/ Steel ShaftWedges: Cleveland Tour Action 485 SW 56*Putter: An old Pete Cooper Autographed Model

Posted
driver: play the ball at my left big toe
hybrid 3-4i: ball 2-3" behind my left big toe
5-PW,SW,LW: between the ears. 5 in front of my left ear, 6 in front of my left eye, 7 in front of my nose, 8-9 in front of right eye, PW/SW/LW in front of my right ear.


works well right now.

In my stand Bag:

R7 Superquad 10.5* Fujikura REAX 65-S
Hi-Bore XLS 19* Hybrid Dynamic Gold S300
MP-60 4 thru PW Dynamic Gold S300 .588 REG 54* SW Vokey 58* LWSTX Greeny IV putter


Posted
I recently started playing the ball just forward of center for all irons with the exception of 3i and 4i where the ball is a little more forward.

Helps me get through the ball and extend my arms.

When I put it in the center or even back a little, unless I'm hitting a punch shot I tend to come down too steep, ball flight is very high with tons of spin and loss of distance.

Posted
I'm still figuring out my driver / wood positions, but with my long irons I put the ball in the middle of my stance, short irons just to the right of middle, and my chips the ball stands right at my right foot (tip from a wedge salesman, works like a charm for me!).

Posted
Well seeing as my Dad made me read Harvey Penick's Little Red Book before I ever stepped foot on a golf course, I go with his line of thought. GW and LW slightly back of center, 9 and PW center, 6-8 slightly forward of center, 3-5 about 2" forward of center, 3W of the deck about 3" forward of center, 3W and driver off my left heel. It works well enough for me (I'm a decent iron striker, but my driver always gives me problems).

Posted
change of SW/LW position as of yesterday: just off the left heel (i'm a righty). flop shots FTW! i think i may hit the range a little later when it cools off.

In my stand Bag:

R7 Superquad 10.5* Fujikura REAX 65-S
Hi-Bore XLS 19* Hybrid Dynamic Gold S300
MP-60 4 thru PW Dynamic Gold S300 .588 REG 54* SW Vokey 58* LWSTX Greeny IV putter


Posted
All irons in the middle; gives me a bit of margin so I hit the ball then turf most of the time. I play Woods directly below the left armpit to hit the ball just as the club is bottoming out. Driver inside the left heal; to hit on the rise.

Taylormade r7 460
Callaway X 3 Wood
Callaway X 5 Wood
Callaway X 7 Wood
Callaway X Hybrid (24*)TaylorMade r7 Irons (5-PW)Mizuno MP-R Series Wedges (52,58 degrees)Ping G2 Anser Putter


Posted
  $2 Nassau said:
I recently started playing the ball just forward of center for all irons with the exception of 3i and 4i where the ball is a little more forward.

curious to this set up... do you find that you pull a few balls often? i seem to do so.

In my stand Bag:

R7 Superquad 10.5* Fujikura REAX 65-S
Hi-Bore XLS 19* Hybrid Dynamic Gold S300
MP-60 4 thru PW Dynamic Gold S300 .588 REG 54* SW Vokey 58* LWSTX Greeny IV putter


Posted

I just take a good solid practice swing (highly underrated I might add) in a normal address position about a foot away and look where my divot started if the swing felt good. Then I scoot up to the shot with the ball there....easy peezy.

Rememer the less you think about it, the easy the shot is...

Sumo 5000 10.5 Aldila NV 65-X Driver
PC-III 4-SW irons
Custom Putter
Pro-V1 Balls


Note: This thread is 6549 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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