Golf Ball Position at Address

May

2008

Golf Ball Position at Address

Posted by Double Eagle in Ball Striking Tips

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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There are currently 5 responses to “Golf Ball Position at Address”

1
TP Golf Online said:

To paraphrase Harvey Penick, ball position is the second most important fundemental after the grip. Personally I vary my ball postion for each club and also for the type of shot I plan on playing. When I started I played one ball position mainly because the first book I read was Golf My Way and who would argue with Jack about ball position. Over the years I changed to varying the position.

One more reason why I think ball position should vary is based on how each club is designed. Compare a driver versus a wedge. Sole each club as if you are addressing the ball. How does the shaft lean when looking down at the ball. A wedge should lean towards the target and a driver will lean slightly away from the target. If we set up address in a neutral postion our hands will be positioned near the same spot relative to our body. This “lean” in the shaft should place the club in the desired ball position.

To see the subtle differences
Aaron Baddley with an Iron

Jack Nicklaus with a Driver

Posted on May 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
2
Double Eagle said:

Great points, TP. I tend to agree that the moving ball position is probably the more technically sound way, where the stationary position is probably a little easier to gain some consistency by removing that variable from the equation. While it may not maximize the design of the equipment, it can be argued whether the stationary position does more harm than good.

Posted on May 22nd, 2008 at 6:30 pm
3
Spinny said:

A recent golfing magazine article (either Golf or Golf Digest, I’m embarrassed to admit I can’t recall which) offered a method claimed to add 20 yards or more to your drive. In sum, the trick was play it well forward–forward of your lead toes, even. The theory is it enhances the upswing element of your hit, giving your ball a higher arc and hence allowing it to travel farther.

Personally I found the trick to work fairly well, though it’s hard to tell how much of my recent drive improvement came from placement as opposed to some swing changes. One problem is the chance of the dreaded sky ball, which in my case I believe to come from twisting my body too far to the left on the downswing hence moving the lowest part of the club travel too close to the ball.

By any chance did you see that article, and do you have an opinion on it?

Posted on May 21st, 2009 at 3:58 pm
4
Double Eagle said:

Spinny, I did see the article and wrote about it back in January. You can see my thoughts here.

Posted on May 21st, 2009 at 4:03 pm
5
Joe said:

I have tried both methods over the years and keep coming back to the varying of the position of the ball based on the club I am using. It seems to work for me.

Posted on June 6th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

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