There are plenty of details that you need to get right in your golf swing in order to hit good shots. Most golfers who are successful on the course are detail-oriented people, as taking a 'lazy' or 'casual' approach to the game is rarely effective. Golf is a game that is all about precision, and you have to nail the details within your game in order to be precise. One of the reasons that golf is so difficult for beginners is the simple fact that there are so many various elements of the swing that you need to learn when first getting started. Between the grip, stance, posture, takeaway, transition, downswing, and more, it is easy to get overwhelmed.

You can add ball position to that previous list. Putting the ball in the correct position time after time is a critical element when it comes to good ball striking, yet most players take this part of the swing for granted. Since you get to establish your ball position before you ever even put the club in motion, there is really no excuse for getting this part wrong. Take your time, put the ball in the perfect spot relative to your feet, and make a great swing. Good ball position won't guarantee that you are going to hit a good shot, but it will at least eliminate one variable from the equation.

Unfortunately, ball position is not something that is consistent from golfer to golfer, so you won't be able to just copy the positioning of another player in order to set up for your own shots. Sure, you can use other players as a general guide, but you will have to do some practice and some fine tuning before you can settle on a position that is going to serve you well throughout the course.

Adding to the difficulty of this seemingly simple part of the game is the fact that you will need to establish a go-to ball position for all of the clubs in your bag. Found the right ball position for your driver? Great – but that position isn't going to work for your iron shots. Likewise, you will need to have a unique position for your fairway woods, hybrid clubs, wedges, etc. Each club in your bag has a unique combination of shaft length, lie, and loft, meaning you will need to customize your setup for every club if you are going to be successful.

The only way to master your ball position with each club is to spend plenty of time on the practice range working on this fundamental part of the game. It probably won't be terribly exciting to stand on the range working on your ball position, but this detail must be worked out before you can become a quality player. Be patient with your practice and commit yourself to learning how to place the ball in the right spot for each and every shot, round after round.

All of the instruction contained below is based on a right handed golfer. If you happen to play left handed, please take a moment to reverse the directions as necessary.