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Ball Position by Club All clubs Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 8 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Ball position for each club: from the wedge to the driver

Where should you place the ball with each club in your bag? In this “Good Good Labs” segment, Grant has Garrett hit shots with everything from a pitching wedge to a driver, using two alignment sticks on the ground. We see the ball move forward club by club, all the way to the left heel mark on the driver.

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Good Good · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

5 minSame problemBall Position Workshop: Three Sticks, Three BallsPaul Lambersens · Beginner5 minSame problemBall Position and Backspin: The Why ExplainedQuentin Rachinel · Beginner3 minSame problemPhil Mickelson's Chipping Ball Position: Up or BackPhil Mickelson · Rookie

What the lesson shows

The setup is simple: a wand pointed toward the target and a second rod, perpendicular to and aligned with the ball. It shows where the ball is actually positioned in the stance, which you can't tell for yourself when standing over the ball. At the pitching wedge, the ball is positioned roughly in the middle of the stance, or even very slightly back. Then it moves forward a little with each club: barely noticeable with the 9-iron and 8-iron, significantly further forward starting with the 7-iron and 6-iron, and even further with the 4-iron and hybrid.

The farther the ball travels, the flatter the angle of attack becomes: you sweep the long irons instead of hitting them hard, resulting in high trajectories that come down gently. Your stance also widens slightly with the long clubs. At the driver, the ball is positioned against the back of the left heel to strike it on the upswing—the only club in the bag you’d want to hit that way. The two commentators point out that this is a basic rule for standard high shots, not a hard-and-fast rule. Dustin Johnson, for example, positions the ball further forward.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Point an alignment rod toward your target.
  2. Place a second stick perpendicular to the first one, pointing at the ball.
  3. With a pitching wedge, place the ball in the middle of your stance, or very slightly back.
  4. Move it forward just a little bit with each club, from the 9-iron to the 7-iron, and then more noticeably with the long irons.
  5. Widen your stance slightly as the club gets longer.
  6. With the hybrid and the fairway wood, keep the ball a little further forward to get it to rise.
  7. When using a driver, align the ball with the back of your left heel.

Key Takeaways

When you're above the ball, you can't see where it is—you need a reference point.
Pitching wedge: ball in the middle of the stance, slightly back.
The ball travels a little farther with each club, and noticeably farther starting with the 7-iron.
The further forward the ball is, the more the shot is swept and the higher it goes.
When using a driver, position the ball in front of the back of your left heel to hit it on the upswing.
For a lower shot, you can position the ball slightly farther back.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Believing that you know where the ball is without any external reference points.
  • Keep the same ball position for all clubs.
  • If you swing your long irons and 3-wood too far back, the ball won't get any height.
  • Treating this rule as an absolute law: every swing is unique.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Two sticks on the ground: one pointing toward the target, one on the ball
  2. Move the bag from the pitching wedge to the driver while looking at the club
  3. Ask a partner to check from the front
  4. A few strokes lower, with the ball positioned slightly back

Your Questions

From which club does the ball actually start rolling?

In the video, the difference between the pitching wedge, the 9-iron, and the 8-iron is very slight. It becomes noticeable starting with the 7-iron, and then clear with the 6-iron and the 4-iron.

Where exactly is the ball when you hit it with a driver?

Face the back of your left heel. This stance allows you to strike the ball on the upswing, which is what you want with the driver—and only with the driver.

Why does moving the ball forward help when hitting long irons?

A ball positioned further forward flattens the angle of attack: you sweep the ball without hitting it too hard. The shot soars high and lands gently on the green.

Can we make an exception to this rule?

Yes. For a lower shot, one of the caddies moves the ball back slightly. And some players, like Dustin Johnson, always play it further forward. The rule applies to shots of standard height.

Learn More

All videos on “Ball Position by Club” →Find the lesson that's right for you Too Close or Too Far from the Ball: The Arm TestThe correct distance from the ball is achieved by letting your arms hang down: they should fall below your shoulders, not onto your thighs. Ball Position and Backspin: The Why ExplainedThe ball's position relative to the club is determined by the angle of attack and the desired amount of backspin: the more precision you want, the further back the ball is placed. Ball Position Workshop: Three Sticks, Three BallsA driving range station with three clubs and three balls, positioned at the center of the swing (front shoulder), to ensure a consistent ball position with every club.

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* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros