
The club should touch your left leg about two inches above the kneecap. (A little higher if you tend to grip down more than an inch.) If it's considerably higher than two inches, you're probably standing too close to the ball. Lower than two inches and you're too far away.
How close should you stand from the golf ball?
It Starts with Great Posture
- Back Straight. You want to keep your back as straight as possible from your waist on up into your neck. ...
- Knees Flexed. Along with a straight back position, you should also have your knees flexed at least slightly. ...
- Tilt Forward from the Hips. Many golfers go wrong here. ...
How far you should stand from the golf ball?
However, you can ensure that you are at the correct distance from the ball using the following tips:
- Let your arms hang down when hitting an iron.
- Once installed in front of the ball, release your grip to see if your arm is relaxed. ...
- If the distance allows your arms to be dangling at address, it is the right distance!
How to find correct distance from the golf ball?
- Address a golf ball in your normal position. Any club will work, driver through lob wedge.
- Carefully place the butt of the grip on your left leg while retaining your address posture. ...
- The club should touch your left leg about two inches above the kneecap. ...
- If it's considerably higher than two inches, you're probably standing too close to the ball. ...
How close to stand to the golf ball?
The 6 Worst Things Caused By Standing Too Close To The Ball:
- Slices – Standing too close causes slices, which is one of the most common problems with standing too close to the golf ball.
- Shanks – Standing too close causes shanks, which is one of the worst and most unpredictable shots possible in golf.
- Inaccuracy – Standing too close causes inaccuracy. ...

Should I stand further away from the golf ball?
Standing further from the golf ball may help to prevent shanks and slices and will provide more accuracy and consistency in a players' hits. Be careful not to stand too far, but if you are too close, move further back for a better hit.
How do I know if I'm standing too close to the golf ball?
When you are standing too close to the ball, you will swing with a plane that is too upright. This can tend to cause more of a slice or even shanks. Getting the club on a good plane will help you start striking the ball much more nicely. You will hit the ball straighter and further with less effort.
Is it better to stand too close or too far from the golf ball?
One of the most common faults is standing too close to too far from the ball. Standing too far from the golf ball will result in poor posture, which could result in inconsistent shots and no control over the ball. Standing too far can result in less distance, heel shots, and can cause you to lose balance easily.
What happens if golf ball is too far forward in stance?
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.
Stickney: The only 2 ways to hit a golf ball farther
If I had a dollar for every time someone walked into my Academy (myself included!) and asked how to hit it farther I’d own a bank by now. Golf course agronomy has evolved and the rock-hard fairways of yesterday are gone and have been replaced by soft conditions that require more and more carry off the tee.
Stickney: The evolution of necessary technology in golf instruction
Over time technology has improved so that we (as teachers) can see and understand motion and forces in action during the swing.
The Wedge Guy: You can change your stripes
Over my 40-plus years in the golf industry and a lifetime in the game, I have had the opportunity to observe thousands of recreational golfers of all skill levels. I believe the common thread between all of us – from scratch player to high-handicapper – is that we all would like to get better.
How to know how close to stand to the ball?
Guideline. "Golf Digest" offers a simple solution for determining how close to stand to the ball. It all begins with taking a good stance at address. Place your feet shoulder-width apart with your knees slightly flexed and a natural bend at your hips. This places you in a balanced, athletic position.
Where to put a golf club on the ground?
Place the butt of the club on the tip of your thumb. That space -- from the top of your thumb to your belt buckle -- represents how far your body should be from the end of the club. From that position you can simply place the club on the ground behind the ball to achieve the proper stance.
How does standing from the ball affect your swing?
How far you stand from the golf ball at address will affect your swing. Standing too far away can force you to reach out with the club, with your arms completely straight and your elbows locked -- ruining any chance of a nice, easy swing.
Who said he rarely sees anyone stand too close to the ball?
Tom Watson, one of golf's all-time greats, told "Golf Digest" that he rarely sees anyone stand too close to the ball. Two other golf legends, Byron Nelson and Johnny Miller, have made similar statements, according to Watson.
Where should your hands be when setting up a golf ball?
Anotomically speaking, your hands should be directly underneath your chin when setting up to the golf ball using the RST setup foundation. Too close to your body and you could produce a cramped swing that loses power and promotes shanks. Too far away and you ruin your swing plane and proper rotation. Watch our simple golf distance technique that ...
What side of the golf swing is dominant?
Well, again, the golf swing is lead side dominant, so what you've got to do is let your lead arm, your left arm if you're a right-handed golfer, hand down nice and free. Now you're going to see that neutral, just where I'm completely relaxed, that has my left hand right about at my chin line. That would put the right hand outside of it.
Which arm is better for hitting full shots?
The right arm when it gets back on the club will pull it back in and that will pull the ball closer to you when you're hitting full shots with both hands on the club. So left arm only this is perfectly okay, but now we put the right arm on there we've got to find the healthy compromise. And that's simple.
Is it normal to shank your left arm?
If you're doing a lot of left arm only drills or lead arm only drills, and you find yourself shanking some, that's okay. That's totally normal. You're just standing a little too close to the ball. The centrifugal force from the club when you're going left arm only is going to pull the left arm out further away from you.
What happens when you place your body too close to the ball?
When you place your body too close to the ball at address, you will feel crowded, or ‘stuck.’ Your hands will be in close to your body before the swing begins, and you may feel that you are standing too upright.
How to fade a ball?
Or, you will need to stand a little farther away when the ball is above your feet. You can also use the distance between your feet and the ball as a way to manipulate your ball flight. Standing a little closer usually promotes a fade, while standing a little farther away will encourage a draw. The matter of how far to stand from ...
Is standing the right distance from the ball important?
It’s actually easy to overlook this one while you are thinking about the various other things you need to manage before hitting a shot. However, standing the right distance from the ball is important, so you’d be wise to pay some attention to this point during an upcoming practice session.
Can you stand too far away from the ball before swinging?
On the other end of the spectrum, some golfers find that they are standing too far away from the ball before the swing begins. While this generally isn’t as much of a problem as standing too close, it still does present challenges.
How far should a golf club touch your left leg?
The club should touch your left leg about two inches above the kneecap. (A little higher if you tend to grip down more than an inch.) If it's considerably higher than two inches, you're probably standing too close to the ball. Lower than two inches and you're too far away.
How to address a golf ball?
Any club will work, driver through lob wedge. Carefully place the butt of the grip on your left leg while retaining your address posture. Make sure not to change the position of the clubhead or lock your knees. The club should touch your left leg about two inches above the kneecap.
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.
2. Too close
The opposite will happen if you’re standing too close to the golf ball. Let go with your trail hand, and it’ll swing out in front of the club.
3. Just Right
And if you’re perfect? You’ll know if you drop your trail hand off the golf club and your hand swings even with the grip, parallel to your body.
