Positioning the Golf Ball to Improve Your Golf Swing
By Teresa Justine Kelly
Ball positioning is one of the important considerations in golf. Several factors are key to producing a great, solid shot, and correct ball positioning in your stance can make a huge difference in the outcome. Every club in your bag requires a certain ball positioning, and these few tips will help you determine where to place the ball with each of your golf clubs to achieve solid impact.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Using your driver, place the ball opposite your left heel, or about three ball widths left of center of your stance. This will encourage an upward sweeping motion as the club head begins its ascent.
Using your long irons, hybrids or fairway woods, place the ball about two ball widths left of center of your stance, or about 2 inches away from your left heel. This will ensure that the ball is correctly positioned at the point where the club head will reach the bottom of its swing arc.
Using your mid-irons--clubs number 5, 6 and 7--place the ball about one ball width left of center of your stance. This ball position will achieve a slightly more shallow angle of approach, creating a small divot on the target side of the ball.
Place the ball in the middle of your stance for your short irons--that is, clubs number 8, 9 and wedges. The center ball positioning will achieve a steeper angle at impact, creating a divot on the target side of the ball.
Tips & Warnings
Use the "1-inch" rule to simplify the problem of correct ball positioning in your stance. With the short irons and wedges, place the ball in the middle of your stance; for the mid-irons, place the ball 1 inch left of center of your stance; for the long irons and woods, place the ball 2 inches left of center, and for the driver, the ball should be placed off the left heel (for right-handed golfers).
Incorrect ball placement can result in errant shots. Beginner golfers often place the ball too far forward in their stance, while standing too far away from the ball, causing them to bring the club down too soon, resulting in poor impact with the ball and ending with improper balance.
About The Author
Teresa Kelly graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. She was an editor for seven years for several magazines and publishing houses. Kelly is an avid golfer, a well-known children's book and golf author, and is currently the president of Highview Press/Golfing Lady that produces all occasion golf greeting cards.
