The interesing answer to your question is that you should not worry about where your hands are in repect to the ball as long you follow this rule:

* The left (leading) shoulder, arm and the club shaft should ALWAYS be on the same line.

So no matter were you place the ball position, you will have your hands slightly ahead of the ball (since your shoulder is always ahead of the ball)

The only exception is when you place the ball position ahead of the left shoulder as in a very forward driver setup to possibly hit it high. The hands will be slightly behind the ball. That's ok. As long as the left shoulder, arm and club shaft are in a line.

Drills to help:

1. Take a driver and place the shaft from your left shoulder all the way down and point it at the ball. Your left arm and club at address should setup down that line. You will notice that where ever your ball position (forward, middle or back), your hands will be slightly in front.

2. Close you right (trailing) eye and look down the left shoulder. You should see a straight line with the arm and club.