If you are starting out in golf and are a little confused as to where you should switch your golf stance ball position for each club, let us make it very simple for you with some basic golf tips.
It is actually quite easy to achieve the perfect golf stance and ball position.
The golf stance is a crucial element of the golf swing, as it sets the foundation for a well-executed shot.
A proper golf stance provides a solid base, promoting balance and stability throughout the swing. It allows you to maintain control and transfer weight effectively, ensuring a more consistent and powerful strike.
The actual swing for all of your full shots does not change, but your golf stance and ball position for each club will change slightly from the driver, to the irons and wedges.
Short-Iron
For a short iron, you ideally need to hit the ball on a descending angle of approach, and the loft of the club will get the ball in the air.
To achieve this make sure that your golf setup ball position is in the middle of your stance as per the below diagram.
You will notice that the proper golf stance alignment is also quite narrow for a short iron. Your goal is to hit down on the ball and let the loft of the club get the ball in the air.
Mid-Iron
The ideal golf ball position for this club would be about one inch forward of the middle of the golf stance alignment.
You also want to descend into the ball for this club as it has a decent amount of loft. As you can see there is really not much difference between this and the pitching wedge, but the ball is just slightly forward.
Long Irons and Hybrids
For a long iron and a hybrid club, you want to play the ball a little further forward in your stance. Because they have less loft you will need to play the ball forward to get the ideal angle of approach. A couple of inches forward of the middle of the stance is an ideal ball position.
Fairway Woods
The fairway wood ball position will creep up even more forward in the stance. The ideal ball position would be about two to three inches inside the left heel.
The fairway wood will also need to be attacked on an ascending angle of approach. The less loft means you need to help the ball in the air on the upswing. The adjusted golf ball positions is all you need to do to achieve this.
Driver
Finally, the ideal golf stance for the driver is a little wider and around shoulder width apart. The ball position should be directly opposite your left heel or about one inch inside the left heel.
Drivers do not have much loft on them so you need to hit the ball on an ascending angle of approach to help the ball in the air. A ball position that is further forward will help achieve this.
Changing Ball Flight
You will notice as you become more familiar with the game that some players adjust their golf ball position at address with their golf clubs.
Here are some golf stance tips and golf ball position tips on how to setup when trying to change ball flights.
The reason being is to achieve the following ball flights. This is based on a right-handed golfer, so a left-handed golfer will implement the exact opposite.
Here are some golf stance tips and golf ball position tips on how to setup when trying to change ball flights.
Left to Right – A player will place the ball further forward in their stance. This is known as fading, slicing or cutting the golf ball.
Right to Left – A player will place the ball slightly further back. This is known as hitting a draw or a hook if it is a severe right to left.
Low Ball Flight – A player will place the ball back in the stance depending on the club. Also known as the punch shot or the stinger which Tiger Woods has made famous with his 2 iron.
High Ball Flight – A player will place the ball further forward in their stance to achieve this shot.
For example, if a player had a long iron and was after a lower ball flight they would simply place the ball closer to the centre of their stance.
I hope these free golf tips have helped simplify the ball position question as it is a common question that is asked.
This is actually quite simple and with a little practice you will know where to position the ball for each club in your bag based on the type of shot you want to hit.
Golf stance is one of the most important elements of the golf swing, providing the foundation for a well-executed shot. It affects balance, stability, alignment, rocking plane, weight placement, lower body engagement, shooting, control, and overall stability. Proper posture improves balance, helps maintain alignment and focus, and allows for better weight transfer and lower body movement.
It also helps control the plane of the ball and line up the shots.
Although the position is important, it works with the other swing elements. Using and guiding a golf instructor can help you develop a reliable and personalized quality that suits your game. Constant learning and feedback will help prepare and maintain a consistent golf position.
If you want to learn a little bit more about the game, have a look at our free golf tips for beginners on chipping the golf ball and how to play a bunker shot.
If you have any questions feel free to ask them below.
As an avid golf nut myself you have made the game seem so simple with your articles. If only reality was the same lol! You have explained the basics very clearly and should be of help to newcomers to the game. If only we could hit our best shots all the time?
Hi Pete
Thanks for stopping by.
Golf would be too easy if we hit our best shots all the time. The difficulty of the game is what keeps us coming back for more. Getting some of the basics right is the best starting point to achieving any sort of consistency.
I appreciate your comments.
Cheers
If there was one sport I would have loved to excel in it would have been golf. I know it’s not too late to do anything sporty. I am a gym fanatic and do my walks daily. Your post on golf stance was fascinating and had no idea that there were different positions for different golf clubs. You explain each golf stance very simply and I am assuming one does getter with practice
Hi Richard
I appreciate your comments.
Yes it’s never too late to start golf, and improvements can be made rapidly with the right guidance and practice.
Thanks for stopping by.
Chris
I’d like to think that golf has been one of the most played sports in the world. Aside from the fact that you can have a good exercise for it, you can also improve your concentration as you try to hit the ball with the right angle to get it straight into the hole.
Thank you for providing the different stance that can be made when playing this sport.
Hi
Yes golf is great for both exercise and concentration.
I appreciate your comments.
Cheers
Chris
Felt like I was going to tear up reading this because it is 65 degrees here in New England today, a perfect day for golf, and yet there is still so much snow on the ground. Sigh.
Anyway, I am curious what changes in stance would do to my game. I probably play 10-15 times a year and am not very good. I typically have always had very little difference in my ball placement for my irons and wedges.
I have always been a little afraid that changing my stance would kill any chance I have of hitting the ball. Since I do not play very often it is hard to make huge chances and grow into them.
Is a change like changing ball placement something that will make you worse before you get better and you really need to work at? Or is that simply the best way to make quality contact with those clubs and should be done for everybody. Thanks
Hi Brad
Thanks for dropping by.
The Ball Position and Stance change is something you will adjust depending on the golf club you are using for a particular shot. As the club gets longer, the stance gets a little wider and the ball position goes a little further forward in the stance. The driver is the longest club in your bag (usually around 45 inches) this needs to be played off your left heel to achievethe desired angle of approach.
The good thing about this one is that you can actually practice it at home, as you do not need to hit a ball to get in the correct position.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Chris
HI,
Nice article. Easy to understand. I haven’t been a particularly successful golfer in the past, but your article has cleared up a few things for me.
I may take a couple of mates to a driving range this weekend and see if your suggestions improve my shot.
Keep up the good work.
Mark.
Hi Mark
Thanks for stopping by.
This is some fairly simple advice but it is amazing how many golfers get some of the basics wrong. Half the time it’s not even their fault. They might have just gotten some inconsistent advice from a friend who has developed some bad habits over the years. Golf is funny, if you play long enough with the incorrect techniques it actually becomes comfortable and some golfers play ok this way. Improvements do take a lot longer this way, so learning the correct ways initially will put you on a quicker path to better golf.
Cheers
Chris
Hello,
Awesome post on how to position yourself over the golf ball.
Many people don’t know that you need to adjust your stance according to the club in your hand. Some people think just get up and hit it!
Do you recommend and solid irons for an amateur golfer?
Thanks,
Shawn
Hi Shawn
I appreciate your comments.
Yes, ball position, stance, grip and setup are vital to hitting consistent golf shots. Get those right and learning the rest of the game becomes easier.
As for irons, I would check out the Callaway Steehead Irons. They are a great Game Improvement set designed for a lot of amatuer level players. Callaway Steelhead Irons Review.
Cheers
Chris
Hi, thanks for this article.
I noticed that you didn’t include putters in this article. Why is that? I guess its a totally different swing, that’s probably why.
Thats really good to know that your actual swing shouldn’t change according to the shot you’re trying to take, it should just be all in the positioning. That’s going to be a big help next time Im out on the course!
Hi Celeste
I appreciate your comments.
The Golf Stance Ball Position will change depending on the golf club and type of shot a golfer is trying to hit. Checkout my post on Basic Putting Lessons, How to use your Putter which will help get on the right track for putting.
Happy Golfing
Chris
In the event that there was one game I would have wanted to exceed expectations in it would have been golf. I know it’s not very late to do anything energetic. I am a rec center aficionado and do my strolls day by day. Your post on the golf position was intriguing and had no clue that there were various positions for various golf clubs. You clarify each golf position in all respects basically and I am expecting one does getter with training.
Thanks
Hi Mathew
I appreciate the comments.
The Golf Stance Ball Position does stay fairly consistent, but will move further forward as the length of the golf club increases. The position of just inside the left heel is essential to hit up on the golf ball with an optimum launch angle for the Driver.
Cheers
Chris
that is great to see because i just started learning playing golf and it is easy to read and thanks for sharing it.