Ball Position


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Golf > The Setup

Ball Position
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IMPORTANT: Read this before you start

Introduction

Ball Position is where and why you place the golf ball between and away from your feet.

Posture, Stance and Ball Position are very closely related. Positioning the golf ball correctly in your stance is fundamental to every great shot. A beginner will start by learning where the ball is in relation to his or her feet (closer to the left heel, closer to the right heel, or in the middle), also how far away the ball is from the feet. As your game develops you will need to learn how to adapt to uneven terrain and compensate to execute the shot. As you become an advanced golfer you will need to understand that by changing the ball position you can affect the ball's trajectory and flight. A person's height and club length will also play a roll in how far the ball is away from the feet.

As you practice the stance for each of your clubs as indicated below, practice a few shots in the proper stance. This will help you get a feel for how your stance should change from one club to the next.

For these basic Ball Positions we will assume you are an average height individual and on level ground.

Beginning golfers tend to place the ball too far forward in the stance (toward the front foot) and too far away from their body. This ball position generally causes players to "throw" the club (release the club early) and lunge toward the ball.

It is not sound advice to "always play the ball in the middle of your stance". The reason why the ball moves forward in your stance as you get longer clubs comes from the widening of the stance. With a wider stance, our bodies are able to make a greater lateral weight shift.

When setting out to learn your correct ball positions, it is a good idea to seek advice from a qualified PGA Teaching Professional

To view a multimedia demonstration of this tutorial, click here.
The demonstration requires Macromedia Flash 4 player. If you don't already have it, click here to get it.

Wedge

Place your feet two clubheads apart, approximately 9-11 inches apart. Put the ball in the middle of your stance. The ball will be approximately 15 inches away from your toes.

9 Iron

For the 9-Iron, place your feet approximately 3/4-inch further apart than your wedge stance. Put the ball one-clubhead length inside of your front heel. The ball will be approximately 16.5 inches away from your toes.

8 Iron

For the 8-Iron, place your feet about 3/4-inch further apart than the stance for your 9-Iron. Put the ball one-clubhead length inside of your front heel. Because the length of the club shaft is increasing, the ball will now be placed approximately 18 inches away from your toes.

7 Iron

Place your feet approximately 3/4-inch more apart for the 7-Iron than you did for your 8-Iron stance. Put the ball one club head inside of your front heel. The ball will be approximately 19.5 inches away from your toes.

6 Iron

When using your 6-Iron, place your feet about 3/4-inch further apart than for your 7-Iron stance. Put the ball one-clubhead length inside your front heel. The ball will now be approximately 21 inches away from your toes.

5 Iron

For the 5-Iron, place your feet approximately 3/4-inch further apart than with the 6-Iron. Move the ball so that it sits one-clubhead length inside of your front heel. The ball will be approximately 22.5 inches away from your toes.

4 Iron

When practicing with your 4-Iron, place your feet about 3/4-inch further apart than with the 5-Iron. Put the ball one-clubhead length inside of your front heel. The ball will now be approximately 24 inches away from your toes.

3 Iron

For the 3-Iron, place your feet approximately 3/4 inches further apart than with your 4 Iron. Put the ball one-clubhead length inside of your front heel. The ball will be approximately 25.5 inches away from your toes when using the 3-Iron.

5 Wood

When using the woods, you will continue to widen your stance and move the ball out further from your toes. With the 5-Wood, place your feet about 3/4-inch further apart than you did with the 3-Iron. Your ball will be closer to the inside of your heel, however. Put the ball one-half of a clubhead length inside of your front heel. The ball will be approximately 28 inches away from your toes.

10.

3 Wood

With the 3-Wood, place your feet approximately 3/4-inch more apart than with the 5 Wood. With the 3-Wood, you should put the ball even to the inside of your front heel, and the ball will be approximately 30 inches away from your toes.

11.

Driver

The driver demands the widest stance and the ball to be furthest in front of your toes. Place your feet approximately 3/4 inches further apart than with the 3-Wood. The ball moves forward even more, and you should place it even with your front toe. The ball will be approximately 33 inches away from your toes with a 45-inch Driver.

12.

Recommended Practice:

Standing on a sheet of brown kraft paper, use a magic marker and outline you stance and ball positions for each club. Use this template to allow you recreate the correct stance in repetition. Continue recreating your correct Ball Position and Stance until you are comfortable in position for each club.

Watch the Animation

Contributors:	Tim Ausperk, PGA Teaching Professional
	Brian Thompson, PGA Teaching Professional

Shopping List

	All Clubs

	Irons
•	Wedge
•	9-Iron
•	8-Iron
•	7-Iron
•	6-Iron
•	5-Iron
•	4-Iron
•	3-Iron

	Woods
•	5-Wood
•	3-Wood
•	Driver

•	Brown Kraft Paper 30" X 48"
•	Marker