Golf-FAQ.com

how far back should you stand from the golf ball

by Anthony Hahn Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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For golfers around 5’4″-5’10”, it is around 6 inches. And golfers who are 5’2″ and under end up standing around 5 inches away, from thigh to club. Let’s take a look at how some of the best in the world have done it: Dustin Johnson, current world #1 is 6’3″ and stands around 8 inches away.

The ideal distance you should stand from the golf ball is one where the butt of the club is pointing at your belt buckle and is about 6 inches away from your thighs. This should be the same for all clubs in the bag.

Full Answer

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.

How to stand over the ball in a golf swing?

Standing over the ball with a straight back is going to make it easier to rotate both back and through during the golf swing. Along with a straight back position, you should also have your knees flexed at least slightly. With flex in your knees, you will be ready for the dynamic action required to make a golf swing.

What happens when you adjust the distance on a golf club?

However, while adjusting the distance, if a golfer ends up standing further away from the ball then he may end up hitting the ball with the toe of the club rather than the centre, leading to a messed up ball flight. 5. Hand – Right Span

How to determine your distance from the golf ball?

The length of the golf club is also an important factor to determine your distance from the golf ball. The longer the club, the further you will be away from the golf ball. Of all the clubs, the driver has the longest shaft which helps the golfer in his flexibility.

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How far back should golf backswing be?

The Normal Backswing A club in the “normal” position has reached about parallel to the ground and you can see that the shoulders have turned around 90 degrees. As the upper body turns, you must make sure that your foundation is solid or “receiving” the turn.

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 far should you stand back with 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 do I know if I'm standing 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.

What happens if you stand too far away from the golf ball?

Standing too far away from the ball can also force the club too far inside the ideal swing plane on the backswing. An under-plane backswing can cause you to lift and deliver the club over the top of the swing plane on the downswing, creating a path that is outside to inside and resulting in the dreaded slice.

Is it better to stand tall in golf swing?

Standing tall makes it easy to turn through the shots and easy to turn in the backswing – it suits a lot of golfers. Jason Day and Rory McIlroy have very athletic postures because they work out a lot and this helps them really stand over the ball, but this type of posture might not be for everyone.

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.

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.

How far down should you grip a golf club?

How far down the golf club should your hands be? There should be around an inch from the top of the grip to the end of the club. By holding the club right at the top of the grip, it will result in a loss of control and increases the likelihood of shots to come out of the heel of the club.

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.

Should hands be in front of ball with driver?

The ball should be positioned forward in the stance therefore you DO NOT start with your hands ahead of the ball at set up. Because the ball is on a tee, the driver will hit the ball on the upswing and your hands will be in the middle of your body at impact. Your hands will not be forward at impact with the driver!

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.

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.

Why is distance important in golf?

Many golfers think that the distance between you and the golf ball is equally important as the distance between you and the golf club. This distance helps you with enough ‘swing space’ while maintaining the correct balance during the swing. The length of the golf club is also an important factor to determine your distance from the golf ball.

What is the hand span of a golfer?

5. Hand – Right Span. A golfer needs to check if he can pass his hand between his body and the end of his club to ensure that he has got a good balance. The approximate distance between his golf club and his left thigh will be a hand-span.

What is the best posture for golf?

The best posture is to keep the spine at a neutral posture and hinge your hips out slightly. 4. Spine – Right Angle. Some golfers recommend that it is enough for a golfer to change the angle of his spine to the pelvis to accommodate the length of the golf club.

How to know if a golfer is using a 6 iron?

For e.g., if a golfer is using a 6 iron in hand, he has to first make sure that he can lift his heel and wiggle his toes in the shoes at the same time. If he cannot lift his heels, then he is probably too far away from the ball.

How to get a golf club to fall down?

Stand erect with the knees flexed. With the spine at the right angle, relax your elbows keeping them close to your chest. Ensure that the tail of the club points above the buckle of your belt. Bend your body at the hips and ensure the club falls down towards the ball at the normal position.

What is the biggest challenge in golf?

The biggest challenge, however, while maintaining the posture is that the golfer doesn’t encounter the same conditions for each successive shot. Every shot presents a different contest on a different ground surface. A successful golfer is the one who adapts to these challenges. Once he is able to adapt his distance from ...

How to balance golf swing?

For great balance, the knees of the golfer should be flexed or slightly bent in a way that the golfer feels the weight shift from his heels to the balls of his feet. The back knee should be bent inwards to eliminate the chances of the body swaying during the swing. 3.

How Far Should I Stand From the Golf Ball?

Getting the ball the right distance from your body is fundamental to performing a good swing arc and getting good contact on the ball to avoid poor shots, like the dreaded shank. It is neither a matter of guesswork nor can it be measured using tape.

What Happens if You Stand Too Far Away from the Ball?

Posture and balance are compromised as you have to go get the ball without falling forward. With the ball too far away, your arm will be pulled back and come closer to you as you let go of the club with your right hand.

What Happens if You Stand Too Close to the Ball?

If you’re too close to the ball, you will not create space to pass the club on impact. Your right arm moves forward when you let go of the club.

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 ...

Should you have your knees flexed?

Along with a straight back position, you should also have your knees flexed at least slightly. With flex in your knees, you will be ready for the dynamic action required to make a golf swing.

Can you repeat the same shot over and over again?

One of the great challenges in the game of golf is the fact that you can’t just repeat the same swing and shot over and over again. You are going to encounter countless different situations on the course, and successful golfers are able to adapt to those changes.

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.

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.

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