For middle irons, the ball should be played in the middle of the stance with the hands very slightly ahead of it. (Jeff White/WorldGolf.com)

Finding your correct ball position at address

By Les Miller,
Contributor

Because most shots in golf are made from different distances, lies and conditions, we have 14 clubs to choose from.

These clubs have different lengths and lofts, so we have to change our stance and ball position depending on which club and which shot we are playing.

Some instructors say you should make the same swing with every club by playing the ball in the same spot for every shot. I believe ball position should change depending on which club you use and what type of shot you are attempting.

I like to keep it simple by breaking shots down into short, middle and long. This is because no two golf clubs are exactly alike. For instance, the longer the club, the more you need to stand away from the ball and the flatter your swing will be.

Conversely, shorter clubs will produce a more upright swing. This is why most golfers can hit their short irons well and struggle with longer clubs. The key is to make the proper adjustment with every golf club in your bag. The following tips will help get you on the right path.

Ball positions for long, middle and short clubes

Long clubs, driver, fairway woods, hybrids, long irons: With these clubs you need to sweep the ball as opposed to hitting down on it. The ball should be played off the left heel, (for right-handed golfers) with the hands behind the ball, as this allows you to hit the ball on the upswing. This helps the ball become airborne automatically.

Middle irons: Here the ball should be played in the middle of the stance with the hands very slightly ahead of it. This position will allow you to hit the ball with a descending blow, causing a shallow divot.

Short irons: Lastly, with short irons play the ball approximately two inches back from the middle of your stance. This will allow you to hit the ball on a steep angle and produce a big divot.

It is important to remember these positions are guidelines. During practice experiment by moving the ball around to find which positions work best for you.

A rule of thumb: By moving the ball forward you will hit higher shots; conversely, by moving the ball back you will hit lower shots.

November 30, 2009

Les Miller was a longtime Golf Writers of America member who covered golf instruction for several newspapers and golf publications. His many years of experience as a golf professional, director of product development and tour relations for several major golf companies gave him a unique background and ability to help golfers increase their enjoyment of the game.