Article #82
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Dear Jitterbug:
Can you explain your take on ball position? Forward for longer clubs? Back for shorter clubs?
Jeremy Rice
Jitterbug Gang Fan
Jitterbug:
My "take" on ball position is that it is very important; it greatly effects accuracy. This is because a ball positioned too far rearward, struck with an on-plane golf swing, will fly right of the target. A ball positioned too far forward will take off to the left. So, it's not just a trajectory thing, ball position has to do with getting the shot started on the correct line, too.
Mr. Vaughn:
As far as where in your stance you should play the ball, uniformity is a must. A constant ball position means you can use a constant weight shift.
For young folks, golfers who can make an aggressive move on the ball, I'd like to see a ball positioned within an inch or two of the front foot, and keep it there for every club in the bag. As golfers get older, and maybe aren't as agile any more, a ball positioned two to four inches inside the left heel works better. But, again, it should stay there for every club in the bag.
Of course, whether the ball, positioned in the same place relative to the front foot, is back or forward, will depend on the width of stance. A driver stance is quite wide, so a ball two inches inside the left heel will be quite forward. A nine-iron stance is much narrower, which means a two-inch position may only be slightly forward of middle.
Lord Berry:
Keep in mind that the constant ball position Mr. Vaughn advocates is for clean or teed up, level lies only. As uneven ground and varying lengths of grass come into play, so must adjustments be made in ball position.