Ball Position

[wildcatden]

Where does your junior position the ball for the different clubs?  It seems the dominant spot for driver is forward off the heel/big toe.  What about other clubs as you go through the bag?  I think I read Tiger likes to play the ball middle, but will move the ball one ball forward or backward depending on what he is trying to do with the shot.

 

I only ask this because my junior (9.5 year old) has been struggling. So for fun today,  I showed him the ball position up front (and the different feet positions) from  the "Hogan 5 Fundamentals" book pictured below.  I told him, let's just change things up from what you have been taught with the ball position in the middle of the stance for the shorter clubs (PW, 9i, 8i) for a "normal" shot on a flat, good lie.

 

 

So, after reviewing the setups here, I took him to the range and hit some PW, 9i, 8i's and driver.  Immediately, he had much higher trajectory, better accuracy, better ball striking and gained 5 yards per club.  After the range session, I took him out on the course for practice and played every hole from 80 yards out (9-iron for him with this setup).  He went 9/9 GIR with 7 out of 9 within 15 feet.  We also hit a driver off each tee on the course, but those still stink (155 yards max...140-145 yards typical). 

 

I'm not knocking it. I'm just not understanding it.  Is it just that everyone's body/swing is different (arms longer/shorter in relation to torso and in relation to legs, etc, etc, etc...).

[leezer99]

First of all, everyone should watch this from start to finish.  Secondly, if you watch, Tiger has a pretty tight ball position width of about 3 balls.  AK on the other hand... 

 

 

[hangontight]

LW,SW,GW - a hair back of middle

PW,9,8 - Middle

7,6,5 - ball forward

Driver - Tends to be in front of foot, probably 

 

Those are the preferred ball positions, but like a lot of juniors he will sometimes completely skip checking and there is no telling, haha.  For a 9 year old its simple to basically have 3 ball positions to worry about rather than trying to get it exactly right in minimal increments.  He has a tendency, especially with short irons, to let ball position creep forward.   This causes him to slide too much in downswing, which causes all sorts of issues. 

Edited August 31, 2020 by hangontight

[darter79]

Mine plays most things center from wedge - 7i, 6i  to 4H a hair in front of center. Fairway woods and drivers she plays that inside her left heal. That being said she knows if she moves the ball forward she can hit it higher or move it back to hit it lower. Not something we speed any time really talking about. 

[tiger1873]

Don't over think this you are just going to make things worse.   This sort of thing is best left up to an instructor if you have one.  This is the sort of thing you should be able to bring up them.

 

You about to see a lot changes in the next 2 or 3 years since he is only 9 just having them make solid contact is all that important and focus on long term development.

 

 

[kekoa]

I'd be floored if a kid can consistently get the correct ball position on their own without using sticks or having a parent around.   It has some importance, but not sure it should be a huge priority unless the positions are way off.  Except for wedges, I think my son plays everything just forward of center.  Driver is off the left  but honestly I just don't pay much attention to hit.  Proper Allignement is much more important. 

[Medson]

1 hour ago, kekoa said:

I'd be floored if a kid can consistently get the correct ball position on their own without using sticks or having a parent around.   It has some importance, but not sure it should be a huge priority unless the positions are way off.  Except for wedges, I think my son plays everything just forward of center.  Driver is off the left  but honestly I just don't pay much attention to hit.  Proper Allignement is much more important. 

 

This is kinda what we do too. Keep things simple. 

[hangontight]

13 hours ago, kekoa said:

I'd be floored if a kid can consistently get the correct ball position on their own without using sticks or having a parent around.   It has some importance, but not sure it should be a huge priority unless the positions are way off.  Except for wedges, I think my son plays everything just forward of center.  Driver is off the left  but honestly I just don't pay much attention to hit.  Proper Allignement is much more important. 

I agree for the most part, but there have been a few times that things have been all jacked up and moving the ball position to correct spot helped big time immediately (after having racked my brain and his frustration searching for other "fixes" - yes, still looking for the right instructor, i know).   Probably should do a weekly setup check with sticks for alignment & ball position to keep an even baseline.  There is a reason Justin Rose and these other pro's spend so much time on simple alignment.

[darter79]

32 minutes ago, hangontight said:

I agree for the most part, but there have been a few times that things have been all jacked up and moving the ball position to correct spot helped big time immediately (after having racked my brain and his frustration searching for other "fixes" - yes, still looking for the right instructor, i know).   Probably should do a weekly setup check with sticks for alignment & ball position to keep an even baseline.  There is a reason Justin Rose and these other pro's spend so much time on simple alignment.

 

 I had a golf teacher once says 80% of the golf swing is setup and alignment if you do that right you have a good chance to make a good swing.  Most people, especially kids don't do that right at all. 

[leezer99]

2 minutes ago, darter79 said:

 

 I had a golf teacher once says 80% of the golf swing is setup and alignment if you do that right you have a good chance to make a good swing.  Most people, especially kids don't do that right at all. 

 

PGA - Posture, Grip and Alignment.

[wildcatden]

17 hours ago, kekoa said:

I'd be floored if a kid can consistently get the correct ball position on their own without using sticks or having a parent around.   It has some importance, but not sure it should be a huge priority unless the positions are way off.  Except for wedges, I think my son plays everything just forward of center.  Driver is off the left  but honestly I just don't pay much attention to hit.  Proper Allignement is much more important. 

 

3 hours ago, hangontight said:

I agree for the most part, but there have been a few times that things have been all jacked up and moving the ball position to correct spot helped big time immediately (after having racked my brain and his frustration searching for other "fixes" - yes, still looking for the right instructor, i know).   Probably should do a weekly setup check with sticks for alignment & ball position to keep an even baseline.  There is a reason Justin Rose and these other pro's spend so much time on simple alignment.

 

2 hours ago, darter79 said:

 

 I had a golf teacher once says 80% of the golf swing is setup and alignment if you do that right you have a good chance to make a good swing.  Most people, especially kids don't do that right at all. 

 

2 hours ago, leezer99 said:

 

PGA - Posture, Grip and Alignment.

 

Thanks to all for some great info in this thread.  Ironically, we have been using an acronym for him called B.G.A.P. S.  (Ball (position), Grip, Alignment, Posture, Swing).  For whatever reason (body type, how he swings, mobility, etc...) moving the ball up forward/front off the left heel for all clubs with a flared left foot has helped him tremendously.  We hit the range and played again yesterday from 80 yards out on every hole with 7/9 GIR, 3 birdies and 1 bogey.  Also, perhaps with a boost in confidence from his irons and better alignment, the drivers off the tees were immediately better in the 160-170 range.  

 

I plan to incorporate a weekly check on those BGAP sections with some sticks just to make sure it stays consistent.