What Is The Right Ball Position For Hybrids?

What is the right ball position for hybrids? Top 50 Coach Andrew Jones tells you everything you need to know

What Is The Right Ball Position For Hybrids?
(Image credit: Tom Miles)

Working on the perfect ball position with every club is something often neglected by recreational golfers, but it can be at the root of all their problems. In the following video and article, Top 50 coach Andrew Jones answers the question - what is the right ball position for hybrids? His simple tips will help you find better strikes more consistently.

The best golf hybrid clubs are extremely versatile and provide an ideal alternative for people who struggle with how to hit long irons and don't have the confidence to hit a fairway wood off the ground.

However, they are not just designed for high handicappers or those who need some help getting the ball in the air. Some of the best players in the world - such as Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson - often rotate a hybrid into their bags depending on the specific course demands.

One of the key things to understand here is about the shaft length. Hybrids sit somewhere between fairway woods and long irons, so finding the best ball position isn't as easy as you might think. If you can get this part right, along with how far to stand from the golf ball, you should see significant improvements.

What Is The Right Ball Position For Hybrids?

Rory McIlroy hitting a hybrid at the 2021 CJ Cup

If a hybrid is good enough for Rory McIlroy, it's good enough for everyone

(Image credit: Getty Images)

First and foremost, it depends on the lie and the shot you're trying to play. If you're in the middle of the fairway looking to land the ball softly to a tight pin, you want it forward in your stance so you can sweep it off the turf.

And if the ball is sitting down somewhat or you need to lower the trajectory into a wind, then you'd play it more like an iron and shift it back slightly.

To play the high shot, set up like you would to a fairway wood. The ball should almost be in line with your left heel (right for left-handers) and the weight distribution should remain fairly central. A slight tilt back with your upper body at address will also help promote a cleaner strike for optimal height.

Tinker around with this slightly until you find the set-up that works for you. But don't stop there. Your hybrid is designed to be used from a range of lies and if the ball is sitting down, you need to switch to iron mode.

hybrid from the rough

If the ball is sitting down in the rough, switch to iron mode 

(Image credit: Future)

Move it into the centre of your stance so that your hands are a fraction ahead of the ball - this will help you create more of a downward angle of attack for greater compression at impact. You can even move your weight slightly forward at address to further encourage this feeling. Basically, imagine you're hitting an iron and don't be afraid to take a divot. It's how some of the world's best play shots like this.

Hybrid ball position - good lie

If the lie is good, as shown here, you can swing the club like a wood

(Image credit: Future)

Do You Swing A Hybrid Like An Iron?

It is a question many golfers ask and the answer depends on the lie. One of the best things about hybrids is their versatility and you can think of them either way depending on how well the ball is sitting. If the lie is good - a forward ball position will add flight and a little carry distance. If the lie is poor, moving the ball back at address will steepen your angle of attack, reduce the loft and deliver more of a running shot. 

Andrew Jones
Top 50 Coach

Location: Walmer & Kingsdown Golf Club 


After turning professional in 1991, Andrew served as Assistant Pro at Royal Cinque Ports from 1993 until 1998, before spending three years as Head Pro at Lydd Golf Club. He remains in Kent and, after a spell as the Director of Coaching at Sene Valley, is now the Club Professional at Walmer & Kingsdown Golf Club.


Students learn best when...

They have bought into your vision, passion and enthusiasm as a coach and are prepared to go on the journey with you sharing experiences and opinions with an open mind to what is necessary to improve their game. Both the pupil and the coach need to be entering this relationship with eyes, ears and senses wide open and a willingness give it a go!


Greatest teaching influence:

Fellow Top 50 coach, former boss and mentor, Andrew Reynolds. In my early years as a trainee PGA assistant at Royal Cinque Ports, he instilled in me the importance of the analysis of ball flight and also identifying cause and effect within the swing. Other notable (Tour) coaches I have studied carefully during my development have been David Leadbetter and Butch Harmon.


Most common problem:

The grip. For me, it has to be the poor connection to the club itself that can have a fundamental and sometimes catastrophic influence on how we stand to, move and deliver the club to the ball.