
To know how close you should stand from the golf ball, you should place your club behind the ball and position your feet with a slight knee flex. Then take the club’s grip and lower it onto your leading leg (left leg for a right-handed golfer) so it rests a couple of inches above your knee cap.
Full Answer
What happens when you stand too close to the golf ball?
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.
How far should you stand 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.
Which golfers have said they stand close to the ball?
Two other golf legends, Byron Nelson and Johnny Miller, have made similar statements, according to Watson. "Golf Digest" offers a simple solution for determining how close to stand to the ball.
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 I know if I'm standing too close to a 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.
What happens if I stand too close to ball?
Standing too close to the golf ball will result in incorrect posture, which in turn results in inconsistent hits and inaccurate hits. Standing too close can result in a shank or a slice, depending on the posture of the player.
How close should you stand to the golf ball?
The ideal distance you stand from the ball is best measured by taking your bottom hand off the club at address and seeing if the butt end of the club is a hand span from your front leg. Checking the separation between the end of the club and your leg will help you swing the club on the proper plane.
What happens if you stand too upright in golf?
Similar to the hunched-over position, an upright posture causes a poor takeaway either too inside or too outside. This can result in flying right elbows which cause over the top golf shots as well as killer slices, topped, thinned, fat, pushes, and pulls.
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.
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.
Can a strong grip cause fat shots?
Fat shots. One of the other signs of an overly strong grip is the tendency to hit the ball fat, especially on short iron shots. As mentioned above, a strong grip makes it easy to release the club on the way down, and an early release could cause you to stick the club in the ground behind the ball.
How far should you hit a 7 iron?
Average 7 Iron Distances are following: Beginning golfers- 100 yards (men) or 60 yards (women) Intermediate golfers- 135 yards (men) and 75 yards (women) Advanced golfers- 165 yards (men) or 140 yards (women) PGA Tour Players- 185 yards (men) or 160 yards (women)
Does standing too close cause early extension?
Early extension, Phillips explains is often an effect caused by an unbalanced setup. Specifically, standing too far from the golf ball. “If you're close to the golf ball, that actually puts you in position where you need to move [your trail hip] out of the way and work the club out in front of you.” he says.
How upright should my golf stance be?
3:525:40How Your Golf Posture Can Affect Swing Path - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYeah all we want to do from a good posture. He's a hip hinge. So we're gonna hit hinge forward fromMoreYeah all we want to do from a good posture. He's a hip hinge. So we're gonna hit hinge forward from the hips keeping the leg straight. And then we're going to soften the legs.
Does standing too close cause early extension?
Early extension, Phillips explains is often an effect caused by an unbalanced setup. Specifically, standing too far from the golf ball. “If you're close to the golf ball, that actually puts you in position where you need to move [your trail hip] out of the way and work the club out in front of you.” he says.
How far should you stand from a driver?
The right pinky touches the left thigh while the right thumb sticks out to the butt end of the driver. A fist and a stretched out thumb works well too. For a golfer who is 6′ and up, this distance usually ends up around 7 inches from thigh to the butt of the club. For golfers around 5'4″-5'10”, it is around 6 inches.
How long should you stand over a golf ball?
Tour pros, for instance, tend to spend more time deciding about escape shots or unpracticed shots around the green. But once the decision is made, rehearsal and execution should take no more than 20 seconds and must be consistent.
Why do I hit the ball off the toe?
Hitting the ball off the toe of the club is one of the most common ball-striking problems. It usually occurs when the arms lose their extension as the club moves into the impact zone -- often the swing path is pulling in because the golfer is trying to lift the ball off the ground.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
