Golfers have all kinds of swing thoughts as they prepare to hit a shot. Keep your head still. Don’t slide. Tuck your shoulder under your chin. Keep your left arm straight. Don’t get quick at the top. All of these can work, but not if you forget something very simple before you start your swing — correct golf ball position.
Is the ball positioned correctly in your stance? Don’t believe me? Try hitting a driver with a ball on your back foot – how did that work?
If you’re just starting out with golf, or if you’re a seasoned pro, understanding the importance of ball placement when playing is essential. Ball placement refers to the area where your golf ball sits on the ground in relation to the target line of your unique shots.
The closer your ball is placed to the intended target line, the better your chances are of hitting the shot accurately. Improper ball placement can cause you to make poorly executed shots and miss-hit your golf ball more often than not.
The swing arc is an imaginary curve created when a golfer swings his/her club at a golf ball. This arc should be consistent in size and shape throughout the entire swing to prevent a golf slice, from start to finish. Both of these components are important for a golfer to consider when developing their golf game.
Proper sternum placement and swing arc helps ensure that the club is properly placed for each shot, resulting in more efficient and consistent swings. In addition, proper technique will help avoid strain and injury associated with incorrect form.
So, we all agree that the golf ball position is important, but where should it be? There are two key factors to consider.
1) What club are you hitting?
2) What type of shot are you trying to play?
Once you make these two decisions, you can ensure the placement of the golf ball in your stance is in the optimal place.
What club are you hitting?
Let’s start with the basics and assume you are on a golf course and you are hitting a standard shot. You aren’t trying anything fancy, just want a nice solid strike.
When it comes to the Driver, there is no such thing as having the ball too far forward. If you are a right-handed player or golfer, you want the ball on the outside of the left foot. This helps you swing up on the ball, hit a straight drive and increase distance.
For 3-wood, 5-wood, and hybrids you still want the ball slightly forward in your stance, but not as far as the driver. Make sure it is comfortable for you but recommend placing the ball on the inside of your left front foot. These longer clubs don’t have a ton of loft and this will help you get them airborne.
As you start hitting long irons (3-iron, 4-iron, 5-iron) you still want the golf ball left of the middle of your stance – let’s say halfway between your left foot and the middle.
With your middle irons (6-iron, 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron) put the ball just barely left of the middle or in the middle. You will still get them up, but this will promote the down angle you want at impact.
Finally, its wedge time (Pitching Wedge, Sand Wedge, Lob Wedge) – place the golf ball slightly right of center and push your hands a little forward. This allow you to trap the ball, hit crisp shots, and place some spin on the ball.
Almost forgot the Putter. Putting styles are like fingerprints, everyone is unique. Start putting with the golf ball in the middle of your stance, but you can try other positions. If you make more putts, go with it. Left and right handed players have found success on the greens while putting with the ball forward in the stance. Jack Nicklaus in the ’86 Masters for example!
Now it’s Time to Get Fancy
As you make your way around the course, you will run in to situations that require non-standard shots. Maybe you need to keep it low and out of the wind, or you need to escape from a bunker. For many beginner golfers, having the best golf ball and the correct golf ball position is a critical component to pulling off these shots.
- The Low Punch Mid-iron – it’s a blustery day and you don’t want to hit a high 6-iron and watch the wind knock it down. The best solution is to flight the golf ball down. In this case, move the golf ball position back in your stance – right of middle. Even though you are hitting a mid-iron, press your hands forward and make a “wedge” swing.
- The Flop Shot – you have short-sided yourself near the green and need to hit a high chip shot that will land soft. Move the golf ball position forward in your stance, halfway between middle and your left foot. Open the blade of your club and accelerate through the ball. This approach is also recommended when you are playing from a greenside bunker.
- The Fairway Bunker Shot – this is a challenging shot for most amateur golfers to play or swing. It is very easy to hit too much sand depending on the club used and come up way short of the green. Golf ball position stance is important here. Move the ball more forward than normal and hit 1-2 extra clubs.
- The Draw or The Fade – you have a tree in your way, and you need to curve the ball around it. This may require a draw (right to left curve) or a fade (left to right). From a ball position perspective, the draw will be easier from further back (right) in your ball position stance and the fade will be easier with the ball more forward.
- The Stinger – Tiger made this shot famous. As a golfer, you are playing a tight hole and you simply want a low, straight shot that will run down the fairway. Using a 3-wood or long iron (3-iron) club, place the ball back in your stance – halfway between middle and your right foot. This shot will take some practice to master.
- Hit it High – anytime you need a certain club to make a big impact and go higher than normal, the easiest way to achieve this result is to move the ball forward (towards you left foot) in your stance.
As a golfer, try these shots on the driving range. Focus on your ball position angle and make your normal golf swing. Determine which ones work best for you. Learning to escape from trouble can have a great impact on your scorecard.
Final thoughts on correct golf ball position in stance
There are so many things to consider when preparing to hit a golf shot, it can easily become overwhelming. If you pay attention to your ball position during practice, over time it will become second nature. It is a quick check as you setup to the golf ball, that can give you more control over your shots.
The ability to execute a variety of shots is one way to lower your score and handicap. You will be amazed how much you can change the way the ball flies, simply by giving your ball a good clean and moving it to different spots in your stance. Practice the basics, play around with some “fancy” shots and soon you will be impressing your friends with the “Tiger Stinger”!