Now! Where Should I place This Ball?

I have a particular view of where the ball should be placed for every club and how the feet and body should relate to the ball position, this has encouraged me to create this article so that I can refer to it rather than keep repeating the advice when the subject is raised again, I welcome any comments and opinions on the subject from other members.

My view on this subject was greatly influenced from Nick Bradley's book "The 7 Laws of the Golf Swing"

Each golf club has a slightly different make up in terms of the length of shaft, the lie angle and the loft of the clubface. It is only when the club is vertical and the sole of the club is flush to the ground that these design features are accurately represented at address.

Your role in the golf swing is to create that perfect lie angle at setup and then again at impact when the left arm and club shaft reach their maximum length. Keeping this fact in mind the optimum ball position will be directly below the left armpit at address.

For most this will be two to three inches right of the left heel. This relationship is a constant element of your set-up and the distance between the golf ball and the left heel must not vary to any degree with all clubs. To widen or narrow your stance simply move the right foot backwards or forwards.

Another important factor is the position of the Sternum (the bone down the centre of the chest) in relation to the ball, the sternum represents your centre of gravity and will need to be positioned with respect to the club and type of shot you are producing. As you move your right foot it is important that you also move your sternum with it.

When hitting with a driver for example the the clubface needs to strike the ball slightly on the upswing so the ball should be placed ahead of the sternum with the right foot set wide. For a pitching wedge you would narrow your stance by bringing in the right foot towards the left and bring your upper body forward so that your sternum was slightly ahead of the ball, this would allow you to create the slight descending blow required for short irons.

I place the ball 2.5 inches inside my left heel (In line with my left armpit) whatever club I use then move my right foot and sternum towards or away from my left foot to create the correct bottoming of the swing.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

I once read that the base of the spine was the bottom of the arch. Alas the spine moves forward during the stroke. Thoughts !!

If your left arm is straight at impact (as it should be) where will it bottom out? Think about it

Hi Brian,

Interesting post. I am confused. I am interested in your theory and have no reason to disagree with you, but am i not right in saying that the ball position alters from centre (wedge to 6), to more forward in stance (5 to 3), and opposite left heel for woods and driver? This is the setup positions I have been given throughout my lessons and coaching. However, I would love your freedback on my thoughts if you feel I am incorrect in my judgment. Then again, if I try your drill and it gives me level par at the w/end, I will be first to your door with the money!!!

Cheers,
Robert

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"Play to your ability, not your expectation"

Hi Robert

Both approaches to ball position are "correct" - there is a good description of why in the Golf Lessons section of this site.

In the first golf book I ever read Bernard Gallacher suggests, rightly or wrongly I don't know, that the theory Brian advocates (from Bradley among others I think) is favoured in the States whereas the moveable ball position is more European; something he claims to do with the lushness of the fairways - don't ask me why.

Until recently I have always favoured keeping the ball forward in the same position because, doubtless due to a swing flaw, when I started out that was how I could get the ball airborne more consistently.

Of late I've been pulling the ball badly with my irons, again doubtless due to a swing flaw, and I've found that bringing the ball back to centre / just forward of centre for my 6I and shorter is helping.

It seems to me that you should pick whichever approach seems comfortable and right and work on that in practice whilst being aware that (imo) at any given time the right ball position should reflect how you are swinging at the time.

I am now working on the ball positions in Tommy Armour's book, which I bought for 25p and just love, and seem to have gained a club in distance doing so, which suggests that the ball positions suit my current, hopefully improved but, still flawed swing.

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I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

Hi Robert,

Yes, the ball should be further forward in your stance for longer clubs and move back towards centre as they get shorter, personally I would not recommend the ball behind centre unless you are trying to keep the flight low as in a knockdown shot.

With my method you achieve the differing ball position by moving the right foot only back and forward but the ball remains unchanged with its reference position to your left foot. If using your driver then the right foot will be just outside your right shoulder which means the ball is forward in your stance. For your wedges your right foot moves in creating a narrower stance but the ball will be in the centre. All the time the left foot and ball position remains fixed. I hope this clarifies?

The other important factor is how your weight is distributed by the position of your sternum, ie: with the driver behind the ball with weight favouring the right foot, for the wedge slightly ahead of the ball favouring the left side and so on for each club.

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

Many thanks brian. Will try this out and report back.

Regards,
Robert

Hi Brian,

I spent an hour at the range last evening, working on nothing else other than your theory. I am rather confused and hope you might be able to answer the following.

While I did find an improvement, the one thing that baffles me is that with the mid irons it seems as if this position is more like a driver set up. As we move the right leg out for the higher iron, it is impossible to feel that this is correct. I find it also leads to the hands getting too far in front of the ball. Now maybe I am not interpeting your suggestion correctly, or maybe I am too tuned in to the theory of centre of stance ball position? Anyway, if you can understand where I am coming from, I would appreciate your opinion. Brian, one other question: Is it not widely agreed that we use the navel, rather than the armpit to get basic ball position in set up?

Cheers,
Robert.

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"Play to your ability, not your expectation"

Hi Robert,

The mid irons (say 7 iron) will be centre or very slightly forward of centre of stance. So, your ball remains in it's static position 2.5 to 3 inches inside the left heel (heel not toe) and you will have moved your right foot in towards the ball so that your right heel is around 3 to 4 inches to the right of the ball. The ball is now approximately centre of your stance.

You will need to position your sternum over the ball so that you have a 50/50 weight distribution of your feet.

I see no reason for using the navel as a ball reference, it is in line with your sternum but does not represent where the swing bottoms out. Just take a club in your left hand at address and let your arm hang naturally straight down. Does the clubface sit under your navel or armpit?

I hope this explains, I will see if I can find a suitable video link.

EDIT:

Here is a link: pick the "Ball position setup drill" video. What he shows you is almost the same as I use.

V1 Golf Video Lessons#

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Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!