Here's a question most golfers never ask: how consistent is your ball position from shot to shot? Not club to club — shot to shot, same club. The honest answer for most golfers is "I'm not sure." They walk up, eyeball it, and swing. Sometimes it's an inch forward, sometimes an inch back. Then when the contact is inconsistent, they adjust the swing.
The swing wasn't the problem. Chris Foley builds the physical station that removes that variable permanently.
The drill
Chris Foley — PGA Master Professional Teaching & Coaching (one of only 330 in the world to earn that designation), USA Junior National Team Coach, Golf Digest Best in State Minnesota ranked #1 in the state (2019–20) and currently listed for 2026–27, 2002 Minnesota PGA Teacher of the Year, 2020 Minnesota PGA Player Development Award winner, 2019 Youth Development Award winner, 2004 Callaway National Club Fitter of the Year, and former Director of Instruction at Madden's on Gull Lake and Legacy Courses at Cragun's — uses both pathpal alignment rods to build a two-boundary ball position slot for a 7-iron.
Setup
- First rod placed off the lead heel — the forward boundary of correct ball position for a 7-iron
- Second rod placed a couple of inches behind the first — the rear boundary
- Ball placed in the slot between the two rods on every shot
- When stepping away between shots, return the ball to the identical slot position every time
No estimation. No eyeballing. The ball is in the same place on every single swing, and practice feedback becomes reliable for the first time.
Watch the drill
View the full guided drill on pathpal →
Why it works
Ball position is one of the most high-leverage setup variables in golf — and one of the least monitored during practice. A ball one inch too far forward can produce a pull, a thin shot, or a face-open miss depending on the swing. A ball one inch too far back can produce a steep impact, a delofted contact, or a push.
When a golfer practices with inconsistent ball position, swing adjustments made in response to position-caused misses actively make the swing worse rather than better.
Chris's two-rod slot works by converting ball position from a visual estimate into a physical placement. The rods define the zone the ball belongs in, and the golfer places the ball in that zone identically on every rep. Over a full practice session, the proprioceptive feel of the correct position — foot relationship to the ball, distance from the body, posture angle — builds from repeated identical setups. The physical slot can eventually be removed because the nervous system has encoded the position from consistent repetition.
For golfers who practice in simulators — where mat lines and visual reference points can create false alignment — the two-rod slot is particularly valuable. The rods are position-independent: they work on any surface, in any bay, and provide the same physical reference regardless of what the surrounding environment looks like.
Inconsistent ball position means inconsistent contact — even with a repeatable swing. Fixing ball position first removes the most common confounding variable from practice, so feedback becomes reliable and improvements transfer to the course.
Who this is for
- ✓Golfers whose ball-striking is inconsistent despite repeatable swing mechanics — because the variable is in the setup, not the swing
- ✓Players who practice frequently but don't feel like their range work transfers to the course — because inconsistent ball position means inconsistent practice feedback
- ✓Anyone building or rebuilding their pre-shot routine who wants a physical reference rather than a visual estimate as the foundation
- ✓Junior golfers and high school players developing setup habits who need a consistent physical reference from the earliest stage of their development
Try it
Set the two-rod slot for your 7-iron using the lead-heel forward boundary and a couple-of-inches-back rear boundary. Hit 30 shots placing the ball in the slot identically each time. Pay attention to how much more uniform the contact feels across the session compared to eyeballed practice.
Then remove the rods and hit 10 shots reproducing the slot feel from proprioception alone. The contact quality maintained without the rods is the confirmation that the position has been encoded — and that your practice feedback is now reliable.
This drill uses both rods from a single pathpal unit. The 7-iron is the benchmark starting point — once the slot feel is built for a mid-iron, apply the same two-boundary principle to other clubs by adjusting the rod positions for each club's correct ball position.
Related drills
Ball position is one piece of a complete setup. These three drills address the other variables in the same pre-swing chain — and together they define a full, repeatable address station.
The Setup Consistency Drill
Taught by Janean Murphy (2024 LPGA Global Teacher of the Year). Uses two pathpal rods to lock in lead foot position alongside ball position simultaneously — the direct complement to Chris's drill. Together the two setups define a complete physical address template with no free-floating variables. View drill →
The Kneecap Setup Drill
Also taught by Brad Pluth (PGA Master Professional). Addresses the third pillar of setup — posture and spine angle — using a simple kneecap touch and the pathpal as a shaft plane reference. Pair it with the two-rod ball position slot for a complete pre-swing station. View drill →
The Swing Path Redirector
Also taught by Chris Foley. Once setup is dialed in and practice feedback is reliable, path becomes the next variable to train. Chris's staggered gate setup corrects both slice and hook patterns with the same two-rod configuration — a natural next session after the ball position slot is grooved. View drill →
About the instructor
Chris Foley is a PGA Master Professional Teaching & Coaching — one of only 330 in the world — and Golf Digest Best in State (Minnesota), ranked #1 in the state. He is a USA Junior National Team Coach, 2002 Minnesota PGA Teacher of the Year, 2004 Callaway National Club Fitter of the Year, and former Director of Instruction at Madden's on Gull Lake and Legacy Courses at Cragun's.
chrisfoleygolf.com · @chrisfoleygolf · @ChrisFoleyGolf on X · Follow pathpal on Instagram
Frequently asked questions
Why does inconsistent ball position ruin practice feedback?
When ball position changes between shots — even by an inch — the effective low point of the swing relative to the ball changes. A ball too far forward produces thin contact, fat contact, or a pull. A ball too far back produces a steep, descending blow that delofts the club and tends to push. When a golfer practices with variable ball position, every shot produces different feedback — and the swing gets blamed for problems that are actually setup problems. Fixing ball position first makes practice feedback reliable.
How do I set up the two-rod ball position slot?
For a 7-iron, place the first rod off your lead heel — this is the forward boundary. Place the second rod a couple of inches behind the first — this is the rear boundary. The ball sits in the slot between them on every shot. When you step away and return, place the ball back in the identical slot position. No eyeballing, no estimation — the physical slot does the work.
Does this drill work for clubs other than the 7-iron?
Yes. The 7-iron is the benchmark starting point because it sits in the middle of the bag and is the most commonly practiced club. For other clubs, the slot position shifts — driver moves further forward, wedges move slightly more toward center. The two-rod boundary principle applies identically to every club. Once the 7-iron slot feel is built, apply the same approach to the rest of the bag by adjusting the rod positions for each club.
Is this drill useful for simulator practice?
Especially so. In simulators, mat lines and visual reference points can create false alignment cues or vary between bays. The pathpal's two-rod slot is position-independent — it works on any flat surface and provides the same physical reference regardless of the surrounding environment. Golfers who split their practice between the range and a simulator benefit from having a setup reference that travels with them.
How do I know when I can practice without the rods?
After 30 reps with the slot in place, remove the rods and hit 10 shots reproducing the position from feel alone. If contact quality stays consistent across those 10 shots, the position has been encoded and you can practice without the physical reference. If contact deteriorates, reintroduce the rods and build another set of consistent reps before testing again.
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