Head position in the golf swing varies by shot and affects contact quality. 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus once claimed head position is "the most important thing" to hit better golf shots.

There are tons of elements that go into hitting a golf ball — many of which can be difficult to control — but one of the most important things you need to master is building a consistent golf setup.

Martin Laird reacts after sinking a birdie putt on the 18th green to win the 2007 Athens Regional Foundation Classic Sunday, April 22, 2007, at the Jennings Mill Country Club in Bogart, Georgia.

Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer. So, you want to become a more consistent golfer? It all starts with the ...

If there was one lesson golfers kept coming back for in 2025, it was this: ball position matters more than you realize. It influences contact, consistency and even trajectory, and it can be the ...