There are two main schools of thought about ball position for full swings. The first is that ball position is around the middle of the stance for a wedge and moves slightly toward the left foot (for a right-hander) for each longer club, through the driver where the ball position would be somewhere near the left heel. The stance also widens slightly for each longer club.

The second is a relatively stationary ball position near the left heel but with the width of stance narrowing a little more for each lower club. (Note that we’re talking about full swings here, not short game shots within 100 yards. Being a Pelz follower, I play those shots in the center of my stance.)

I was introduced to the stationary ball position in a lesson several years ago. At that time I had been employing the moving ball position technique for several years. It took some getting used to, but my perception is that it made me a little more consistent.

Essentially, the only thing that changes is the position of the right foot, depending on the club. There will be more width between the feet with the driver and less width progressively down to the wedges. That keeps the head a little further behind the ball when hitting drives and long irons (ball closer to the left shoulder), promoting more of a sweeping motion. The head is a little closer to the ball on short irons, promoting more of a descending blow.

Ben Hogan discussed the technique in his book Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf (actually a collection of articles he wrote for Sports Illustrated). Hogan also recommended that the stance be somewhat open for a pitching wedge and become increasingly less open for longer clubs, getting square for a five iron, and finally somewhat closed for a driver.

These days, I’m working on the Jim Hardy one-plane swing. His technique involves using the more traditional moving ball position technique, so that’s what I’ve been doing. It’s pretty much the same as we’ve all been taught at some point: ball off the left heel for the driver with each lower club moving further back until the ball reaches the center of the stance (or slightly behind center) for a wedge.

This is one of those techniques that’s probably more of a personal preference than anything. One advantage the stationary ball position provides is that only the width of the stance need change, whereas in the other method, both the width of the stance and ball position change, leaving twice as much chance for error and inconsistency.

Maybe next time you’re at the range, give the alternate ball position a shot and see what you think (whichever you don’t currently do). Next time you tune in for a Tour event, observe how the different pros position the ball at address, as well. You might be surprised at what you see.

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