Ball Positioning

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By Ron T

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  • 14 Replies
  1. Ron T

    Ron T
    Grapevine, TX

    When I first learned to golf, I was taught that the ball position with driver was aligned with the left heel. I saw a short video this weekend that said that was dated information with the advancements in club technology. It showed several pros that were more neutral with the ball position at address with the driver. I went to the range yesterday and my driver was more consistent with the more neutral ball position.

    Have I missed this over the years that it changed, or is this recent? Have any of you experimented with the alignment of the ball and your longer clubs (Driver, 3W, 3i)?

  2. Guy W

    Guy W
    Statesville, NC

    I saw that video also and plan on trying to move my ball position to see what happens. I know it affects the flight but want to see what works best for me.
  3. JDailey

    JDailey
    Ohio

    Take the majority of swing videos/ball position/setup/lessons you see online with a grain of salt. Yes, there are some very concrete fundamentals that will help anyone play better...but the golf swing should be personalized for the individual player. If you get the most consistent results with playing the ball on your left heel...do that. If you hit the ball better with it in the middle of your stance...do that. There's really no "universal" fit for ball position. It call comes down to giving the individual the best results. One reason I love this game so much, there are a million different ways to swing the club and get good results from it. Go to the range, experiment with stuff, and HAVE FUN!
  4. DK

    DK
    Northeast PA

    Good to know and worth a try. I have always positioned the ball off the left heel and adjusted based off wind. Usually I found that the further back in my stance the ball is, the lower the ball flight is. Best advice is to experiment and go with what works for you. Just stay away from the Happy Gilmore stance.
  5. It depends for me. If I'm really trying to crank one I'll move it pretty far forward and try to hit up as much as possible. If just finding the fairway is the goal, more neutral and I'll even choke down a bit. Get a bit more spin, but it'll fly straighter.
  6. Mike M

    Mike M
    Marblehead MA

    I've always played my driver and fairway woods off the left heel to make sure that they "bottom out" on the downswing, ensuring I make contact just past the bottom of the swing arc, slightly on the upswing.My irons and wedges are a different story altogether. I like to flight the irons down a bit, so my ball position is in the middle or just a touch back in my stance, making sure contact is made slightly before the bottom of the swing arc.

    Not sure it's for everyone, but it works for me.
  7. Andrew B

    Andrew B
    Morristown NJ

    I agree with that - for a right handed golfer , if you are putting the ball closer to the middle of your stance and the face is pointed to the right - move the ball farther left . Unless you manipulate the club, feet or shoulders the ball is going right
  8. PZ

    PZ

    I was the opposite of your theory. Moving the ball up to my left heel has helped me with contact tremendously. It varies for every golfer and really all comes down to angle of attack with the driver. Goal is to be hitting up on the ball so that really just depends on each of our swings. I've also learned to quit applying what I see the pros do to what I do as I'm nowhere near that level!
  9. DRoss

    DRoss
    Pennsylvania

    Agree everyone is different. Tried this last year. In my case it worked for me to go slightly more neutral as well with driver and fairway woods.
  10. I would think that if you move the ball back to a more neutral position in your stance, you’d better tee the ball lower as well.
  11. Jim R

    Jim R
    Delaware

    Agree with the previous comments, personal comfort and what YOU feel works best, will only increase your confidence level. I moved driver ball position back about 1-2 balls off left heel and it made a big difference in accuracy, with a few yards more in distance. Lower flight but squared up more for better contact.
  12. Jim R

    Jim R
    Delaware

    Agree with the previous comments, personal comfort and what YOU feel works best, will only increase your confidence level. I moved driver ball position back about 1-2 balls off left heel and it made a big difference in accuracy, with a few yards more in distance. Lower flight but squared up more for better contact.
  13. Rob_Roth1

    Rob_Roth1
    San Diego, CA

    when hitting up with the driver you want it to bottom out and on its way up so more forward the ball the more likely you will hit up with the driver.
  14. DWeiss

    DWeiss
    Orlando, FL

    You hit upwards only with the driver, so that contact point determines your initial ball placement, not a YouTube video. From there you must learn how to shape your shots based on the course layout and conditions. Further forward for high launch and further back for lower trajectory. Just watch your grip and spine angles to avoid hooking or slicing it---they're more important than ball position when driving.
  15. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Me, I do not watch YouTube videos. I go see my PGA guy, let him take a first hand look at my swing and in a short time we have my issues resolved. We have three great certified instructors at the muni where I play with years experience teaching. One is a Master Instructor. And the last thing I try to do is give advice to others. Just my thing because I am not a PRO.

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