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Ball Position by ClubSpin (create a…) All clubs Beginner ⏱ 5 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Ball Position and Backspin: The Why Explained

Why is the driver played on the front foot and the sand wedge on the back foot? Quentin Rachinel answers in one word: backspin—and uses this to derive a simple rule for positioning the ball with each club.

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Quentin Rachinel
Quentin Rachinel · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

5 minSame problemBall Position Workshop: Three Sticks, Three BallsPaul Lambersens · Beginner8 minSame problemBall position for each club: from the wedge to the driverGood Good · Beginner / Intermediate11 minFrom the same proIncreasing Your Clubhead Speed: Adjustments and ExercisesQuentin Rachinel · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Quentin Rachinel explains the ball's position by backspin, the backspin that makes the ball fly and causes it to stop quickly upon landing. The lower the clubhead comes down, the more the ball “rolls” upward on the clubface, and the more backspin it generates. The ball position is therefore used to adjust the angle of attack: With the ball back, the club makes contact with the ball as it comes down; with the ball forward, it makes contact as it rises slightly, with less spin.

He classifies the clubs into three groups. The precision clubs (8-iron, 9-iron, pitch wedge, sand wedge) should stop the ball: move the ball back—all the way to the back heel for the sand wedge. The developmental clubs (driver, woods, long irons) are meant to drive the ball forward: you hit it forward, all the way to the front foot with the driver. In between, the middle club (the 7-iron) is played with the ball in the center. When in doubt, aim for the center: in his opinion, that’s the least bad of all mistakes.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Identify the category of the club you're playing for: precision, intermediate, or progression.
  2. With the 7-iron, place the ball in the center of your stance.
  3. Using the 8-iron, the 9-iron, and then the pitch wedge, position the ball a little further back with each club.
  4. With the sand wedge, position the ball toward the heel of your back foot.
  5. Using irons 6 through 3, the hybrid, and the woods, gradually move the ball forward between the 7-iron and the driver.
  6. With the driver, place the ball on your front foot and take your swing by lifting the club slightly as you bring it back.

Key Takeaways

Backspin makes the ball fly and causes it to stop quickly.
The lower the clubhead comes down, the more backspin the ball gains.
Precision clubs: swing the club back, all the way to the back foot for the sand wedge.
Progression clubs: swing the club forward, all the way to the front foot when using the driver.
The 7-iron, a mid-range club, is played with the ball in the center.
When in doubt, go for the middle: it's the least bad of all the mistakes.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Hit the ball forward with a sand wedge and lose the spin that stops the ball.
  • Hitting the ball too far back with the driver: too much backspin causes the ball to “slow down” upon landing.
  • Place the ball randomly on the green, without any specific trajectory in mind.
  • Forgetting that a minimum amount of backspin is necessary for the ball to fly.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Line up the clubs in the bag and place a ball for each one, from the sand wedge to the driver
  2. Compare the ball's roll with a sand wedge and with a long iron
  3. Quick Guide: Center to Center
  4. If there is any doubt on the course: ball in the center

Your Questions

What is the relationship between ball position and backspin?

If the ball is behind him, the player hits it on the way down, giving it more backspin; if the ball is in front of him, he hits it on the way up slightly, giving it less backspin. Quentin Rachinel considers this the key to ball position.

Why do you place the ball farther back when using wedges?

These are precision clubs: the ball should stop quickly on the green. Moving the ball back toward the heel of the clubface with a sand wedge increases backspin.

Where should I place the ball if I'm not sure?

In the middle of the stanza. Quentin Rachinel calls it “the least bad of mistakes” when one hesitates.

Learn More

All videos on “Ball Position by Club” →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Spin” videos →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 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. Spin on Approaches: Slide the Sole of the WedgeTo counter a steep angle of attack: spin is generated by the sole sliding along the ground, guided by the clubhead toward the inside of the front thigh. Quentin RachinelAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Quentin Rachinel). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros