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Proper ball
positioning ensures that when you make a swing the sweet spot of the club
strikes the ball every time. The placement is determined based on the club
you are using. The following table illustrates the positioning:
|
Club |
Ball
Placement |
| Short
to Mid-Length Irons |
 Just
behind the lowest point of the swing arc which is just forward of body
centerline.
In relation to the target, the ball is placed just behind the lowest point of the swing arc. This allows the clubface to strike the ball on a slightly descending angle of approach. The continuation of the swing moves the club at its lowest point through the grass, thereby creating a divot.
Generally the low point of the swing arc for a pitching wedge is just towards the leading edge of body center in the stance. From there the ball is positioned farther towards the leading edge in relation to the increase in club length. The longer the club the more towards the leading edge the ball is positioned. |
| Long
Irons and Fairway Woods |
 Between
the body centerline and the leading hip joint gradually increasing
distance from centerline as the club lengthens. For instance, assuming
you carry a 1-5 wood and 3-pw, when you choose a 3 iron, the ball
would be furthest ahead in your stance for any iron in your bag but
not as far as the 5 wood would be. During your practice swings the
goal should be to take a small a divot as possible for the longer
irons and virtually no divot for the fairway woods.
Ball position for the longer irons and fairway woods is generally between body center and the leading hip joint. This more forward ball position, coupled with the flatter, more elliptical swing plane of the longer clubs, naturally shallows the clubhead's angle of approach to the ball at impact. As a result, divots become gradually smaller and shallower as the length of the club increases to the point that the longer fairway woods sweep the ball off of the grass with a level angle of approach and only skim or brush the grass. |
| Driver
from a Tee |
Placed
outside of the leading hip and foot. Ball should be in front of the
leading foot. Furthest from body centerline of any club that you
carry.
When the ball is played from the tee with a driver, the ball is positioned generally across from the outside of the leading hip. This position is in front of the low point of the swing arc which produces a slightly ascending angle of approach for the clubhead through impact. |
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