Move ball to fix your swing

Hit a bad golf shot and the explanation usually involves your swing motion, e.g., you were too handsy or you didn't shift your weight properly. But there's another common cause of bad shots, one that is easier to fix than a swing fault. It's your ball position.

When you set up to the ball, you're arranging a collision with the clubhead, and if the ball is misplaced, a mis-hit results. Position the ball too far forward and your shoulders open, encouraging an out-to-in swing path characteristic of a slicer. Position the ball too far back, and your shoulders close, promoting an in-to-out path that can produce a hook. Here's how to position your ball.

For a driver, position the ball off your lead heel. Because the ball is on a tee, it should be forward in your stance to promote a collision just after the clubhead has reached the bottom of the swing arc and is on the upswing. This is the collision point that will optimize both launch angle and driving distance. Note how the player's hands in photo 1 are slightly behind the ball, prefacing the shaft angle he wants at impact.

For an 8-iron (in the right-hand photo), I have placed the ball off my left cheek to make sure I hit the ball with a descending blow. This will optimize the launch angle and help ensure the proper distance control. This is the same position I use for any iron from the 5 through the sand wedge.

For fairway woods hit off the ground, or for a long iron such as a 3 or 4, the ball should be positioned in between these two extremes ― opposite the logo on your shirt.

Tomasi writes for Universal UClick.