Standing too close can result in a shank or a slice, depending on the posture of the player. Standing much too close to the golf ball is one of the most common mistakes that golf players make. This posture can cause multiple problems, the worst of which is inconsistency.
Are you standing too far away from the golf ball?
As Bova illustrates: Set up to the golf ball and once you’re comfortable, let go of the club with your trail hand. If your hand swings closer to your body, that’s an indication that you’re standing too far away from the ball. 2. Too close The opposite will happen if you’re standing too close to the golf ball.
How can I avoid hitting a shank on the golf ball?
Standing too close to the golf ball at address is one of the most common reasons for a shank, and using correct posture when hitting the ball is one of the best ways to avoid hitting a shank. Hitting a shank is a serious problem, but it is easily resolved by simply using the correct stance and posture when addressing the ball.
What does it mean to Shank a golf chip?
Here is a classic example of a shanked chip shot: When you hit the golf ball off the hosel, the ball travels super low and far to the right, assuming you’re right-handed. If you’re left-handed, the ball veers to the left. To put it another way, a golf shank is the quickest way to turn one of the most popular sports into a frustrating pastime.
How do you know if you are too far away from the ball?
Too Far As Bova illustrates: Set up to the golf ball and once you’re comfortable, let go of the club with your trail hand. If your hand swings closer to your body, that’s an indication that you’re standing too far away from the ball.
How do you know if you're too close to the golf ball?
1. Too Far. As Bova illustrates: Set up to the golf ball and once you're comfortable, let go of the club with your trail hand. If your hand swings closer to your body, that's an indication that you're standing too far away from the ball.
Can standing too close to the ball cause a hook?
Standing too close to the ball causes a loss of posture, reduction in arm extension, loss of balance, loss of speed, toe hits, slices, low hooks and a change in swing path. Always check you setup first when you start hitting errant shots. It is much easier to change your setup from day to day than your golf swing.
What are you doing wrong when you shank a golf ball?
A golf shank occurs when the ball hits the hosel of the golf club instead of the clubface. The golf ball striking the hosel causes the ball to violently shoot directly to the right (assuming you are a right-handed player). The ball will not travel very far forward but may go a great distance offline.
Should I stand further away from the golf ball?
Standing just slightly farther away from the ball gives you the room to rotate properly during your swing. If you get your distance right, you will rotate using your spine and you won't sway in the process. This leads to transferring your weight better during the swing and making a better swing in the end.
What happens when you stand too far from the golf ball?
For the most part, history's greatest golfers have surmised that the higher-handicap golfer reaches for and stands too far away from the ball. Standing too far away and reaching too much for the ball can move too much weight toward your toes and cause you to lose balance on the downswing, resulting in off-center shots.
What happens if ball is too far forward in stance?
Ball position; it's one of the oldest fundamentals in golf. If it's too far forward, it may be causing you to hit thin or fat shots and miss shots to the left. If it's too far back, you could be hitting tops, chunks, and missing the ball to the right.
What swing flaw causes a shank?
Because the ball darts right, most golfers think an open clubface causes the shank. But shanks usually come from an excessively closed face. The player swings out to in with the face closing hard -- both actions push the hosel closer to the ball (top). If the hosel catches the ball, it's shank city.
How do I stop hitting the shanks?
3:567:27Golf Instruction: How to prevent a shank | School of Golf | Golf ChannelYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSaid get the heavy. End get the head end over the grip end so the club feels light if it's way backMoreSaid get the heavy. End get the head end over the grip end so the club feels light if it's way back here it'll feel heavy you want the club to feel light in your hand they still like backswing.
How do I stop shanking the ball?
Raise the golf club about 2 feet above the ball, and take your normal back-swing and note its plane. Then on your downswing, keep your plane below it all the way through to the finish. By doing this, you will be less likely to shank the ball.
Why am I shanking the ball?
More often than not, a shank occurs when a player's weight gets too far onto the toes, causing a lean forward. Instead of the center of the clubface striking the ball—as you intended at address—the hosel makes contact with your Titleist, and—cover your ears and guard your soul—a shank occurs.
How close should your hands be to your body in a golf swing?
The hands-to-body distance varies depending on the club you are hitting. A good rule of thumb is to have the hands a palm's width from the body for short and middle irons (4 to 6 inches) and a palm's length—from the bottom of the wrist to the tip of your middle finger—for long irons and woods.
How far away should I stand with my driver?
0:471:47How Close Should You Stand to the Golf Ball? (Golf Driver Drills)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLine step number two is you're going to get your stance width. And then step number three is you'reMoreLine step number two is you're going to get your stance width. And then step number three is you're going to tilt at the hip. And go ahead and lower the club.
How far should you stand from the ball when putting?
The optimum ball position is typically around 8 to 9 inches from your toe-line, the same distance from the hollow in your neck to your eye-line. As the head of most putters are about 4 to 4½ inches long, the distance is about two putter heads.
What causes a hook in golf?
Hooking in golf comes from a closed clubface relative to your path at impact which can be caused by a strong grip, lack of body rotation or poor connection/timing between the arms and body. The most common hook comes from the challenge of getting the face square at impact.
Why am I shanking the ball?
More often than not, a shank occurs when a player's weight gets too far onto the toes, causing a lean forward. Instead of the center of the clubface striking the ball—as you intended at address—the hosel makes contact with your Titleist, and—cover your ears and guard your soul—a shank occurs.
Where should the ball be in your stance?
The simple rule – the longer the club, the further forward (towards your left foot) the ball should be in your stance. For example, when hitting a 3-iron or hybrid, the golf ball should be near your left foot. In contrast, an 8-iron shot would be closer to the middle of your stance.
What Happens If You Stand Too Close To The Golf Ball?
Where to stand in relation to the golf ball at address is one of the most vital aspects of playing good golf. This posture determines how well you will hit the ball, but what happens if you stand too close to the golf ball?
Can Standing Too Close To A Golf Ball Cause A Slice?
Standing too close to the ball is a common golfer’s problem, and it causes many issues in a players’ game. One question golfers ask about standing too close to the ball is, can standing too close to a golf ball cause a slice?
Can Standing Too Close To A Golf Ball Cause A Shank?
A shank is one of the worst hits possible in golf, and there is no way to tell where the ball will go when a player hits a shank. Can standing too close to a golf ball cause a shank?
What Can Happen If You Stand Too Far From The Golf Ball?
Standing too close to the ball is a common problem for beginner golfers, but so is standing too far from the ball. What happens if you stand too far from the golf ball?
How Close To Stand To The Golf Ball
Standing too far from the ball and standing too close to the ball are serious problems, but how do you find the perfect place in the middle? How close should you stand to the ball?
What Are The Benefits Of Standing Closer To The Golf Ball?
The perfect golf swing and the best possible hit begin with good posture. Every player is different, and some prefer to stand closer to the ball than others. What are the benefits of standing closer to the golf ball?
What Are The Benefits Of Standing Further From The Golf Ball?
Standing too close to the golf ball can be a problem, and some players should move further back to hit well. What are the benefits of standing further from the golf ball?
What Happens When You Stand Too Close to the Ball?
The ball must be at the correct distance from your body when taking a stance; otherwise, your swing will be significantly affected. According to pro golfers, a golfer with higher handicaps stands too close or far away from the ball.
How to Achieve the Right Distance from the Golf Ball?
Performing a good swing arc and getting good contact with the ball depends on the distance you stand from the ball before you swing. But do you determine the right distance? Getting the right distance neither requires you to measure using a tape, nor is it a matter of guesswork.
Factors That Determine the Right Distance from the Ball
Following the above steps help you achieve the correct distance from the ball. However, there are some factors that help you determine the right distance you should take from the ball before swinging. The player’s height largely determines at what distance they should be standing from the ball.
Can You Stand Too Close To The Golf Ball Final Thoughts!
The problem of standing too close to a golf ball is common among beginner, or amateur golfers, which can result in inaccuracy, slow swing speed, inconsistency, and worst hits. The solution is simple: stand at the perfect distance. We hope that the steps we shared will help you achieve the right distance and stand like a pro.
How to tell if you shanked or sliced a golf ball?
Fortunately, you can tell whether you’ve sliced it or shanked it just by observing your ball flight. A golf shank travels low and directly to the right. A slice gets up in the air and curves to the right. For now, I’m going to share golf swing tips for overcoming the golf shank only. But don’t worry.
What is a shank in golf?
A shank occurs when you hit the ball off the hosel. The hosel is the socket connecting the shaft of your golf club to the clubhead. Here is a classic example of a shanked chip shot: When you hit the golf ball off the hosel, the ball travels super low and far to the right, assuming you’re right-handed. If you’re left-handed, the ball veers ...
How to get a lead shoulder in golf?
Take your regular golf stance. Open your stance by shifting your lead foot farther back than your trail foot. Take your backswing. As you swing forward, be mindful of your lead shoulder and the wall behind you. (If there is no wall, imagine one.) You want the lead shoulder to stay low and work back towards the wall.
What is the most dreaded shot in golf?
The golf shank may be the most dreaded shot in the game. You think you’ve got a good shot lined up, then the ball flies low and to the right. Now you’re off course, you’re irritated, and you just wasted stroke.
What happens if you stand too close to the ball?
If you are standing too close to the ball then you will have to keep your weight on your heels too much. Having your weight on heels results in you not being able to fire your lower body efficiently, think about trying to jump from your heels, you can’t get very high.
What happens if you stand too far away from a tennis ball?
When you stand too far away from the ball, one of the major effects is that your arms have to swing at the ball more. You need to reach out to the ball to make contact and so you can’t use your body to generate power properly. This will result in a significant loss of distance.
What are the disadvantages of standing too far from the ball?
The main disadvantages that standing too far from the ball will cause are reduced swing efficiency and poor balance. This will all lead to inconsistencies in your swing and that will make playing more difficult. Put simply, golf is about consistency, the more you can replicate something the better you become.
What is the difference between golf swing and other sports?
The golf swing is a highly dynamic and athletic movement but one of the main differences between golf and other sports is that you play from a standing start. It’s not like playing football where you kick a ball that is rolling, it is a stationary start.
What is position at address in golf?
Put simply, golf is about consistency, the more you can replicate something the better you become. As I’ve already said in this article, your position at address is something that you can have control of. This is the point in your swing that acts as your launchpad, use it to your advantage and get it right.
How does a golf club go around your body?
The further you stand from the ball, the more flat your swing will become. This is logical as you will have started your swing with your hands will be reaching or your body will be overly bent over. This means that the club can only go around your body in a flatter way.
How does standing too close affect your swing?
You Allow Your Body To Be A Greater Part Of Your Swing. Much as standing too far away from the ball will reduce your body’s ability to be a part of your swing, standing too close can have a similar effect. When you are too close, your body can get in the way of your swing and your hands have to “dig out” the shot.
Tip 1 – Club Face
First, take the club and put it out in front of you, hands just above the belt line. This will help you ensure the club face is nice and square.
Tip 2 – Stance Width
Next, make sure that you have the proper stance width in your golf setup. To do this, put your feet close together, straight out from the ball.
Tip 3 – Body Tilt at the Hips
Finally, tilt your body at the hip and simply lower the club down to the ground. Now, the key here is that you are now allowing your body to dictate how close should I stand to the golf ball. Typically, most golfers just set up the club first behind the ball, then take their address position.
RECAP – How Close Should I Stand to the Golf Ball?
If you ever wondered “how close should I stand to the golf ball,” now you have your answer. Simply hold the club in front of you, getting the club face square. Separate the feet, bend at the hips, and see where the golf club lands. If it is behind the ball, you are the right distance.
rainkingjr
Been battling the dreaded hoselrocket for some time now. Finally broke down and saw a pro last week. Video was a real eye opener. Real horror flick. Developed a huge over the top move. I couldn't believe my eyes. Anyway, pro recommends I start doing the old take it straight back and loop it under drill to ingrain the inside appraoch feeling again.
rainkingjr
Ah. Jobo, my video and hosel would disagree. There are multiple things that can lead to a shank. Hitting it off the hosel is hitting off the hosel no matter how you get there. Don, No one is ever out of the woods with the shanks. I am happy I figured out what was going on this time.
mshills
If I stand up to square the clubhead, instant shank. Well, at least I know what causes it. Now I just need to eradicate it.
FairwayGolfUSA.com
Great Thread, I recently saw a friend of mine which is a teaching professional and he explained to me the same exact thing. I was standing really far away from the ball thinking that should avoid the shanks.
parmark
Feeling your pain. Here's a terrific video I've come across that addresses this. plus it's not too hard on the eyes at the 5:20 mark. This is what fixed it for me.
shanx
Timely, this thread. I shanked my way around the course yesterday, it's just the worst affliction.
FairwayGolfUSA.com
Does standing really close to the ball make it harder to hyper extend/lose posture since it would be nearly impossible to hit a ball if you did? -Ryan
Feedback
speaking from very recent experience, standing too close can also cause you to lift up too early in your follow through since you're trying to create space (thanks again for that tip, monte!).
Feedback
I notice that when I stand too close, my hands get too high at address and my spine angle is way too vertical which leads to a turn that is way too flat. On a short note................it is all very bad !!
Feedback
Interesting comments. My fault is getting too far from the ball, and this leads me to lose my spine angle and early extend, and has caused hosel rockets in the past.....
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