Why this guide to perfect ball position was our most read tip of 2025

If there was one lesson that golfers kept coming back for in 2025, it was this: ball position is more important than you think. It affects contact, consistency and even trajectory, and it can be the difference between shooting for the flag and competing for a bogey.

That’s probably why our simple ball position guide became the most read golf instruction tip of the year. It gave golfers quick results without overcomplicating the swing. So let’s revisit that tip and show you how a small setup change can lead to immediate improvement.

Perfect your ball position with wedges and short irons

To nail your ball position with shorter scoring clubs, GOLF Top 100 teacher Debbie Doniger recommends starting with your feet together and the ball centered in your stance. From here, Doniger says to follow her two-step process – no pun intended:

1. Take a small step toward the target with your lead foot

2. Take an equal step backwards with your trailing foot

“Then the ball ends up in the middle almost every time,” says Doniger.

This quick installation method works well for wedges and short irons. It also works great for medium to long irons, but you only need to remember one important adjustment.

With long irons, take a larger step back

When setting up a longer iron, Doniger says you want to have the same starting position: feet together, ball centered. The key here, she explains, is your second step:

1. Take a small step toward the target with your lead foot

2. Take a slightly larger step backwards with your trailing foot – this will move the ball forward

“Now the ball is a little more forward,” says Doniger, “because we are shifting, the low point is often in front of the golf ball. This allows us to shift forward.”

As the clubs lengthen, the ball should continue to gradually shift forward. Each time you start from the same position and only change the size of that footstep.

‘You do the same [process] Every time,” says Doniger. “If you do that every time, you’ll probably hit the ball a little bit better.”