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how wide should your stance be for a golf swing

by Jordi Kassulke Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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For your starting position, your legs should be shoulder width apart. If you are using a middle iron, this is your stance. Widen your stance for longer clubs such as drivers or woods. For short irons or wedges, bring your stance in by an inch or two.

Full Answer

How to create width in your golf swing?

Factors that contribute to more swing width:

  • Flat swing plane.
  • Lateral body motion off the ball (swaying).
  • Arm extension (late wrist set).
  • An early release on the downswing.

How wide should your golf stance be?

“Consequently, the most efficient width of stance should be no wider than shoulder width for most full swing shots, including your driver. With this width you will more likely maintain a dominant rotary force.

What is the best golf stance?

Top 10 Golf Stance Tips Ever!

  1. Your Legs Set the Stage. If you hope to make a great golf swing, you are going to have to start by using your legs to build a ...
  2. Open the Right Foot for a Better Turn. One of the amazing things about the stance in golf is how much influence it has over the rest of ...
  3. Build Around a Target. ...
  4. Make Yourself Comfortable While Putting. ...

More items...

How to set up and align the golf stance?

Getting the right golf-club grip has three steps:

  • Place your left thumb and left index finger on the shaft. Include a gap of about 3/4 inch between your thumb and index finger. ...
  • Make sure the grip crosses the base of your last three fingers and the middle of your index finger. ...
  • Complete your grip by placing your right hand on the club. ...

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What happens if my golf stance is too wide?

A stance too wide will restrict lower body motion and inhibit weight transfer. This can cause the upper body to become overly active resulting in a slice or pulled shots, like you can see in the image above.

Is a wider stance better in golf?

A wide golf stance is typically categorized as a stance where your feet are wider than shoulder width apart. With feet this wide, you can get a lot more stability in your swing, which usually results in faster swing speeds.

How wide should your stance be when hitting irons?

Most golf instructors say the width of your stance will depend on the club you are hitting. For driver, your feet should be slightly wider than shoulder width. For irons and wedges, they should be shoulder width apart. For pitching and chipping, your stance should be slightly narrower than shoulder width.

Is it better to have a wide or narrow stance in golf?

The widest stance should be taken with your driver, while the narrowest stance should be for putting and chipping. Because not all golfers look the same or have the same height and shoulder width, the stance may be different for each of us.

What is the best stance in golf?

5:549:43Guide to a Proper Golf Stance (Golf Setup Position) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd this is what we see with the best players. They start with a little bit more weight on theirMoreAnd this is what we see with the best players. They start with a little bit more weight on their lead foot. So when they're set in here. They've got a little bit more what we call weight pressure

Can standing too far from the ball cause a slice?

Can Standing Too Far From The Ball Cause A Slice? Standing too far from the ball can cause you to slice the ball, but it's more common when you stand too close to the ball. Slices normally come from a swing path that's out-to-in or more commonly called coming “over the top.”

How far apart should your feet be when hitting a golf ball?

shoulder width apartYour feet need to be shoulder width apart, with the weight on the balls of the feet. This will help provide good stability. Stand too narrow and you'll fall over - or subconsciously swing less to stay balanced. Stand too wide, and your body won't be as free to strike the ball powerfully.

Why do I hit the golf ball better with a narrow stance?

Narrowing your stance will allow for a better rotation in the back swing, which in turn will allow you to get your arms more around your body at the top, this will give you more chance of approaching the ball with a path to the right.

What is the best golf swing for seniors?

2:157:08The Best Swing For Senior Golfers | Simple & Repeatable - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI want to feel like my right shoulder is under promoting more of a draw. And i'm going to feel likeMoreI want to feel like my right shoulder is under promoting more of a draw. And i'm going to feel like the palm of my right hand is more under the grip there too again getting under this club.

What does swaying in the golf swing cause?

Swaying in the backswing also leads to balance issues. So, for people who sway a lot in their backswing, they also often struggle to maintain the correct balance all the way through their swing.

Why is a wide stance more stable?

Wider stances permit larger excursions of the body's center of mass (CoM) before reaching the limits of the base of support. Also, changing stance width impacts the physics governing LB motion. For example, a unit of LB torque applied about a hip joint is more effective in accelerating the LB in wide vs.

What does wide stance mean?

homosexualityNoun. wide stance (plural wide stances) (slang, euphemistic, sometimes humorous) homosexuality (as an attribute of a person)

Why do I hit the golf ball better with my feet together?

Swinging with your feet together forces your weight into a more stable spot, similar to the one-footed putting drill we wrote about recently, improves the bottom of their arc, and only results in a slight loss of distance. “90 percent of players would be better playing with their feet together.

Do any pro golfers swing out to in?

Craig Stadler, Craig Parry and many other champion golfers swing this way. Bruce Lietzke made a wonderful career on the PGA Tour with an “in-and-over” move.

What happens if your stance is too narrow?

Conversely, if your stance is too narrow, your lower body becomes way too active — good for the dance floor but not when you’re looking to catch shots solid on the course. An overactive lower body throws off your timing and balance.

What happens if you set up too wide?

Here’s what happens: If you set up too wide at address, you’re going to have a doozy of a time opening your hips through impact and transferring your weight to your lead side , especially if you’re not as flexible or athletic as you used to be.

Should you put your feet in the correct position before starting the club back?

It should never happen in the first place, because let’s be honest: Setting your feet in the correct position before you start the club back is probably the easiest thing you can do in this game. After 30 years of teaching, I’m still amazed how most recreational golfers choose to ignore fundamentals such as stance width.

How does width of stance affect your golf swing?

On the other hand, a stance that is too wide can cause restriction of the hips, which may cause unwanted inefficiencies in your swing.

What happens if my golf stance is too wide?

A stance that is too wide will likely have a negative impact on your golf swing as it will restrict your hip turn, both in the backswing and downswing. This will create a myriad of inefficiencies that may cost you distance; cause a sliding of the pelvis, leading to early extension; and possibly make it difficult to control the low-point of your swing arc.

Is it better to have a wide or narrow stance in golf?

Having a stance that is the correct width for each club will provide optimal results than a stance that is too wide, or too narrow. For this reason, wider is not necessarily ‘better’. A stance that is too wide may restrict rotation, just as a too narrow stance may leave you unbalanced.

Why is my stance width important in golf?

Your stance width needs to allow you to get on your left side at impact to rotate freely and avoid injuries. You don’t see a lot of injuries happening during the golf backswing because there’s not as much force and speed happening. But the downswing can cause issues such as back problems, hip problems, and knee problems.

Which side of the golf swing is the most important?

The most important part of the golf swing is getting perfectly stacked on the left side at impact so that you can rotate freely. This is where some of the highest forces in the golf swing occur on your body, on this left side coming in the downswing and into impact. And so this is where a lot of injuries occur.

How to determine proper stance width?

Determining the proper golf stance width is one of those things in golf instruction that there’s a lot of conflicting information on. You've certainly heard all of these before from various golf instructors: Stand really wide so you can be really stable. Stand really narrow so you can rotate better. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart like ...

What should the setup width be based on?

The setup width should be based on the fundamentals of your anatomy and the fundamentals of what you’re trying to achieve in the golf swing.

Why is proper stance width important?

Having the proper stance width is imperative for reducing injury. So, let’s figure out what the proper stance width is from an anatomical perspective and how you determine that.

What swing method do tour pro use?

More TOUR PROS Use RST Fundamentals Than Any Other Swing Method!

How to be more stable in sports?

Stand really wide so you can be really stable. Stand really narrow so you can rotate better. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart like you do in other sports. All these recommendations are misinformation even though the intentions may be good.

What does a wide stance look like?

Specifically, a good wide stance sees the outside of your shoulders line up with the inside of your feet.

How does lowering your center of gravity affect your swing?

Another effect of lowering your center of gravity is that it tends to lower the bottom of the swing arc. This in turn can lead to greater odds of hitting fat shots – where the club penetrates the ground before making impact with the ball.

What is a very narrow stance?

Very Narrow Stance. Certain types of shots require a narrower stance still. In order to adopt a very narrow stance you will need to position your feet so that the width of your shoulder dwarfs the distance between them.

Why should shoulders line up with feet?

Because this is the default athletic position in golf in can be used for most ‘normal’ shots. Erring away from that position is done in order to achieve specific objectives or ...

What is the best way to use a chip in golf?

As such, it is best used with very delicate shots that require the smallest of swing amplitudes. For example, small chips from tight lies can be best performed with such a stance while a long drive will almost see you losing your footing in the process of executing your swing.

How are your feet positioned relative to each other?

In addition to how they are positioned relative to the ball, your feet can also vary in how they are positioned relative to each other and specifically the distance between them. Indeed, they can be placed very near one another in a narrow stance or they can be placed far from each other in a wide stance.

Why is stability important in golf?

This gain in stability is particularly helpful in very windy days, allowing you to confidently go about your swing without fear of falling off balance. It is also helpful whenever your feet are on a sidehill, again helping you maintain balance.

Why is a wide stance important in golf?

The biggest benefit of the wide golf stance is the stability . When you have a wide base, your lower body is going to be well planted into the ground, and you will have a stable base of support to get the speed that you need.

Who Should Use A Narrow Golf Stance?

Golfers that are struggling to turn through the golf ball are going to benefit from the narrow stance. The narrow stance allows players to quickly rotate their hips and get their arms and body to a complete and full finish.

How Will The Width Of Your Stance Going To Affect Your Game?

The golf stance can affect a few parts of your game. It can affect the speed of the club, your ability to turn and swing through the ball, and your balance as well .

Is Narrow Vs. Wide Stance Better?

Both a narrow and wide stance is going to have their benefits. It is really difficult to say that one is better than the other. The definite decision of narrow or wide stance being better cannot be made for all golfers. The decision instead has to be based on individual player abilities.

Does Swing Speed Affect How Wide Your Stance Should Be?

When you have a faster swing speed, you can stand with a slightly wider golf stance. The speed will help you transfer your weight through the ball and get the desired results that you are looking golf.

What does it mean when your golf stance is narrow?

Something you will notice about golfers with a narrow stance is that they tend to stand a bit more upright when they address the golf ball. Something about the feet being closer together can sometimes bring players a bit closer to the ball and increase their spine angle.

What is a narrow stance in golf?

A narrow golf stance is typically one that is slightly more narrow than shoulder width. The standard golf stance is about shoulder width apart with your feet; narrow stance golfers will have their feet even closer than this.

What is the shoulder width rule?

Being short, tall, stout, thin, or average will have a direct impact on the width of your stance. The shoulder width rule (your feet shoulder width apart) is an okay guideline, but flexibility will definitely impact your foot position. The more flexible, the wider your stance.

Is shoulder width a good rule?

The shoulder width rule (your feet shoulder width apart) is an okay guideline, but flexibility will definitely impact your foot position. The more flexible, the wider your stance.

How to get a good stance on a golf ball?

For a right-handed golfer, we are going to suggest using a method of putting your left foot into position first, then placing your right foot for every single shot. When done correctly, this technique makes it easy to get into a good stance over the ball, and you’ll be able to adjust the width of your stance based on the club in your hands.

Why is stance width important?

Using the proper stance width allows you to maintain balance throughout the swing

Where to drop your right foot in golf?

Now that the club and your left foot are set, the last step is to drop your right foot out to the right at the appropriate spot. This is the part that takes practice. Most likely, you’ll want to set that right foot just outside of your right shoulder to create a solid base. However, you can experiment with this on the range to find where the right stance width is for you. With enough repetitions, you should get a feel for that stance, and it will become easy to repeat.

How far apart should you stand when driving a car?

For anything longer than a wedge, you will likely want to stand with your feet a little farther apart than shoulder width, especially for a driver which requires a stance that can accommodate the powerful turn.

What is the game of golf made of?

The game of golf is made up of countless little pieces. The results you get on the course are really the sum of how well you are able to bring those little pieces together.

How to move your left foot in soccer?

As you approach the ball, place your driver head on the ground behind the ball and move your left foot into position for the stance. The ball should roughly be lined up with the inside of your left foot, although that is somewhat flexible from player to player.

How to get comfortable with your feet?

Spend enough time practicing your stances, either at home or at the range, and you’ll become comfortable finding the right position for your feet depending on which club you are holding.

How to work on golf stance?

There are lots of ways to work on the golf stance, but the best possible way is to see what you look like. You can use a mirror on a driving range, or you can have a friend take some pictures or a video of your swing.

How to get into proper golf posture?

The best way to get yourself into the proper posture is to stand tall, holding the golf club out in front of you.

What is the stance of a wedge shot?

The stance for a wedge shot is much more narrow, and the ball may appear closer to the back foot, but it should still be close to the middle of the stance. 4. Balance and Weight Distribution. An essential part of a proper golf stance is making sure that your body weight is distributed correctly.

Why is posture important in golf?

The most important thing about posture is to ensure you have the proper spine angle and that your arms can hang freely.

Why do you put weight in the center of your golf ball?

Having the weight in the center will help your stance to stay more in control, and it will cause a lot less leaning forwards and backward as you get into the impact position. When you set up to hit a golf ball, it is ok to have just a little more weight on the right leg (for right-handers).

What happens when you hit a golf shot with an iron?

When you hit a golf shot with an iron or a wedge, you need for there to be a descending blow. This is what causes the ball to launch correctly on the short irons and to spin as it should.

What happens when your feet are shoulder width apart?

When your feet are shoulder-width apart, your body will have the proper mix of rotational ability and balance. These two factors are most significantly affected by how wide your golf stance is. When your feet are more than shoulder width apart, you will have a lot more balance, but it is difficult to rotate and transfer weight properly.

How wide should your golf stance be with a driver?

There is no definitive answer to how wide your golf stance should be with a driver. As with most things in golf, the correct stance will depend on your swing tendencies and body flexibility/limitations.

How does a wide stance help in golf?

Wide stance can reduce lateral movement. A wide stance can reduce swaying, or lateral movement, by keeping the golfer more centred. This can help to achieve better rotation during the golf swing. Too much lateral movement during the swing tends to make proper rotation and hip motion very difficult.

Why is a wide stance important?

A wide stance can benefit golfers who have problems with balance and particularly those with a large amount of lateral movement during the swing. If you are someone that struggles with balance, be sure to check the width of your stance and feel free to experiment with a wider stance.

What is the correct stance in golf?

As with most things in golf, the correct stance will depend on your swing tendencies and body flexibility/limitations. Don’t be afraid to experiment with stance width to find out what works for you. You may find a narrow stance helps you turn better. But you may find a wide stance helps your balance.

Why is a wider stance better for golf clubs?

As a rule, it makes sense to have a slightly wider stance for longer clubs and swings. A longer swing demands more balance, so it will likely benefit from a wider stance.

How to improve ball striking with all clubs?

Narrow stance can improve ball striking with all clubs. Unless you are a very skilled golfer, you could probably improve your body rotation. All the best ball strikers have excellent rotation through impact. This prevents the clubhead from passing the hands and leads to consistent contact.

What is Bubba Watson's stance?

Look at the image below where his stance is less than shoulder width wide, even with a mid iron. Bubba Watson’s narrow iron stance.

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