What’s the proper stance width and ball position for irons?

Proper Stance Width and Ball Position for Irons: Rotary Swing Fundamentals

As Riley "The Rotator," I specialize in unlocking explosive power through body rotation, and your iron setup is the stable foundation for that aggressive hip drive and shoulder turn. Getting stance width and ball position right ensures efficient sequencing, solid contact on the sweet spot, and control over the rotary swing's typical left-side tendencies. Here's the precise blueprint for irons, tailored to maximize rotational speed while maintaining balance.

Stance Width for Irons

For irons, adopt a stance that's slightly narrower than shoulder width—about the width of your stance with a 7-iron as your benchmark. This creates a compact, athletic base that supports the short-to-medium backswing and explosive downswing rotation without excess lateral slide.

• Mid-irons (5-7 iron): Feet just inside shoulder width for balanced rotation and ground force reaction.
• Long irons (3-4 iron): Slightly wider to handle the lower trajectory and promote stability during hip drive.
• Short irons (8-PW): Narrower stance to encourage steeper angle of attack and precise control.
• Rotary Tip: Set feet slightly wider than shoulder width overall if you're aggressively rotating— this builds a rock-solid platform, as seen in the alignment stick drill where you feel shoulder turn across your chest.

Start with 50-50 weight distribution at address to enable dynamic shifting through the swing, prioritizing balance for consistent iron play.

Ball Position for Irons

Ball position progresses rearward with shorter clubs to match the rotary swing's descending blow and promote compression. Position relative to your sternum or lead armpit for optimal contact.

1. Long irons (3-5 iron): Just forward of center—inside your lead heel's midpoint—to encourage a shallow attack angle and launch the ball higher.
2. Mid-irons (6-7 iron): Center of stance, aligned with the middle of your sternum for pure compression through rotation.
3. Short irons (8-PW): Slightly back of center, toward your trail foot's instep, for a steeper descent and spin control.
4. Alignment Check: Use your lead arm as a reference; the ball should sit on a good lie, promoting sweet-spot strikes every time.

In the rotary method, avoid pushing the ball too far forward—this kills rotation power. Pair with a closed stance for draws if needed, pulling your lead foot closer to the target line.

Key Setup Drills and Adjustments

• Alignment Stick Drill: Place a stick across your chest at address, rotate to 90 degrees, and check feet width for proper shoulder turn without swaying.
• Balance Focus: Maintain 50-50 weight, heels slightly raised on toes during practice swings to feel ground reaction for power.
• Grip and Posture Tie-In: Neutral grip pressure with feet planted ensures the clubface squares through impact. Game-improvement irons with perimeter weighting forgive slight mis-hits here.

Common Rotary Misses and Fixes

Too wide a stance leads to blocks; too narrow causes hooks. Test on-course: if pulls dominate, widen slightly and focus on hip drive sequencing like the step drill (feet together, step toward target on downswing).

Key Takeaway: Master shoulder-width stance (slightly wider for rotary power) and center-biased ball position for irons to unleash rotational speed, compress the ball solidly, and drop shots closer to the pin. Consistent setup equals distance control and scoring gains—drill it relentlessly for game-changing iron play.