Ball Position

Question
PLeas explain to me the proper ball placement for the long, mid and short irons.  IU have so many different things from the "Experts" PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Answer
Hello Mark:

Good question, simple answer.  I am the PGA Pro who will tell you to get more consistent in what you are doing with your ball position.  I do not recommend moving the ball all around depending on what club you are hitting.  Way to confusing and it takes a lot of practice.  Here is what I have found after teaching the past 24 years.  If I give a total beginner a pitching wedge, a 5 iron and a driver and I start them with a wedge and ask them to just start making swings.  Make a backswing and a forward swing without stopping or thinking.  Just do it.   But I tell them that when the club passes in front of you, make sure you let the club touch the grass.  Don't be afraid to hit the ground or take out some turf.  So they begin with a wedge, backwards and forwards, hitting the turf, just swinging away.  I let them make about 10-15 swings, then give them a 5 iron and tell them to just keep on going.  They make 10-15 more swings making sure they touch the grass or take out turf, non stop.  Then I give the a driver and tell them to keep going.  So after about 30-40 swings nonstop, do you know they contact the ground in about the same place everytime?  It wasn't perfect, but when they hit the ground, they contacted the ground in about the same place all the time.  Where was that place?  Just forward of center.  SO, MY ADVICE TO YOU is to become more consistent with your ball position.  I would play just about everything just barely forward of center.  Why, because it's consistent and just forward of center is the bottoming out point of the swing.  For a wedge, the ball might be in the center.  For a driver, the ball might be more up off the inside of your left heel, but that is because the head of the club is so big.  I wouldn't get too involved with trying to move the ball all around your stance just because you have a different club in your hand.  It's way to inconsistent.  Play the ball just barely forward of center.  Matter of fact Mark, when I teach ball position to a brand new person, I lay down 3 balls touching each other.  The back ball (furthest to the right) is in the center of your stance, the middle ball is just barely forward of center, and the forward ball (one on the left) is for the driver.  Stay more consistent with what you do and you'll start to see results.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member