Standing closer to the ball can help golfers that tend to get their swing plane too flat. With flatter swings, you will not get the ball flight you need. Standing close to the ball helps players have a slightly Upright swing path and can help with being able to get the ball to stop on the green.
Full Answer
Is standing too far away from the ball killing your swings?
However, many golfers out there do stand too far away and it is killing their swings 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.
Why are there rules for spectators at golf tournaments?
The most important rules are there to ensure that spectators do not distract the players. As you will know, if you play golf, it is a game that requires a lot of concentration before you play a shot. This is as true of tournament players, whether professional or amateur, as it is of you.
What causes an out-of-control slice in golf?
An “out-of -control” slice is created by a combination of a left swing path AND a face that is too open (to the right of) that path. Not many people know this, and it’s only really an issue with bigger headed clubs (almost negligible with irons) but…… You could be slicing it because of a strike issue.
Why do golfers slice the target line so often?
So little of the time does the club head spend on the target line and golfers who seek to do this will often result in a power-robbing slice. Going back to the concept that a golf swing is circular. When you make your backswing and your upper body rotates so that your shoulders are turned away from the target.
Is it better to stand closer to golf ball?
Stand closer to the ball and allow the hands and butt end of the club to be no further than three inches from the body. The closer the better. Standing too far away from the ball and reaching out will cause a low trajectory, cause a golfer to cast the club, come over the top and hit the ball on the toe of the club.
Is it better to stand too close or too far from the golf ball?
Standing too far from the ball tends to cause the golf ball to hook. Standing further away from the ball tends to promote a more in-to-out swing plane and also makes it easier to hit the toe of the club.
What happens if you stand too close to golf 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.
Has anyone ever been killed by a golf ball at a PGA event?
Some internet sleuthing led me to this article from 2010 wherein the author has listed cases where being struck by a golf ball led to a fatality. The author's research has provided 8 instances of death by a golf ball over a roughly 17 year period.
Why do pros stand so close to golf ball?
Standing close to the ball helps players have a slightly Upright swing path and can help with being able to get the ball to stop on the green. In addition, a higher ball flight helps ensure that you get the ideal distance with each of your 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.
Should you stand tall in the 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.
How far should you stand from the golf ball 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 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.
What happens if a spectator kicks a golf ball?
If your ball is moved by an outside influence, such as an animal or a spectator, there is no penalty to anyone and the ball must be replaced. If your ball is moved by a natural force, such as wind, water, or gravity, you will usually play the ball from its new location without penalty.
Has anyone fallen off at Topgolf?
An Essex man who 'fell from height' at a golf driving range has died from his injuries. A police investigation has been launched into the death of Conner Groom, a 22-year-old man from Clacton, following the incident at Topgolf in Chigwell back in December.
What happens if you hit a car with a golf ball?
Most likely, you will need to file a claim on your car insurance policy under comprehensive coverage if your vehicle is damaged at a baseball stadium or golf course. You probably will not know who caused the damage, and the stadium or course will not accept liability.
How far should you stand away from a 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.
Can standing too far away from golf ball cause slice?
Does Standing Too Far Away Cause A Slice. It certainly can. As you come in to impact your hands will have to be reaching for the ball this can lead to an inconsistent swing path to impact. This can result in the chances of both slices and hooks depending on the path of 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.
How close is 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.
More Involvement of The Entire Body in the Golf Swing
A major issue that recreational golfers make in their golf swing is that the body movements use too much of their upper body including the hands, wrists, and arms more than they should.
Higher Ball Flight
Standing closer to the ball can help golfers that tend to get their swing plane too flat. With flatter swings, you will not get the ball flight you need. Standing close to the ball helps players have a slightly Upright swing path and can help with being able to get the ball to stop on the green.
Lower Chance Of Coming Over The Top
Many golfers struggle with the golf club coming over the top. Essentially, this means that your golf club gets on a plane that is a bit outside, and you come down and across yourself as you make contact with the ball.
Are There Negatives To Standing Too Close To A Golf Ball?
Even though we have given you these important benefits of standing a bit closer to the ball, there are, of course, negatives if you take this concept to the extreme. Standing too close in your golf setup will sometimes feel as though you are handcuffing yourself.
Why Do Pro Golfers Stand Close To The Ball?
Professional golfers like Adam Scott and Tiger Woods stand close to the golf ball because they know this is the position they can get the most consistency in their golf shots. Professional golfers need to worry about their consistency and ball striking, and therefore they need to stand as close as possible to ensure the most golf ball benefits.
What Is The Correct Distance To Stand From A Golf Ball?
The correct distance to stand from a golf ball is where your hands can hang naturally, and you can swing freely without feeling your body blocking your turn or rotation. For each player, the proper golf posture and position is going to vary slightly.
Should I Stand Further Away With A Driver?
A golf driver is considerably longer than a Golf iron. You will need to stand further from the ball when hitting a driver. If you stand too close to the ball with longer clubs, you may find that your golf shots are too upright or slice to the right. As clubs get longer, they start to move further away from the ball.
Rorys7iron
I'm talking irons mainly, I hold a a 7iron using the 1 inch above your knee routine where theres a hand with of room between the club and my legs, but I see most pros with the same club practically up against there leg, I understand with wedges but should we stand this close or am I missing something?
eagle1997
Interesting. Care to elaborate? I would've thought the exact opposite.
SunkTheBirdie
I think height comes into play also. There are some pretty good sized pros that have an upright swing because of their height.
Z1ggy16
I believe it's mostly the hip turn mentioned above. My coach had me first standing further away with my 7i because of not getting my hips out of the way fast enough. Once I got better at that, I moved closer again.
pinhigh27
They are not early extending and it will lead to a more upright path/plane which will make the ball go straighter more often.
Golfbeat
They are not early extending and it will lead to a more upright path/plane which will make the ball go straighter more often.
BenHoganSlam1953
You cannot trust camera/video, or even your own eyes - both are easily fooled by line of sight angles. A club that appears right on top of a players knees could be 2-3 inches away.
What is the difference between golf and spectating?
One significant difference to many sports is that you are not going to be sitting down. You will walk a lot, possibly right around an 18-hole golf course, and that is a long way.
Why are rules important in golf?
The most important rules are there to ensure that spectators do not distract the players. As you will know, if you play golf, it is a game that requires a lot of concentration before you play a shot. This is as true of tournament players, whether professional or amateur, as it is of you.
What are the rules of golf?
The rules are about basic politeness to the players, like keeping quiet and keeping off the fairways while play is in progress. We’ll go through these in a moment, but the important thing is to remember that they are strictly enforced. Obey them.
How far behind the golfers should you stay?
To ensure you do not distract them stay at least 25 yards behind the golfers and keep to the rough and cart paths (that is, away from the fairways, greens and tee boxes). If you are new to spectating, follow the crowd, and you will not go far wrong.
Do you have to touch a ball during a basketball game?
Applaud politely when a player makes a good shot, but never applaud, ridicule or laugh if a player makes a bad shot. Spectators must never touch a ball during play. If a player misses a shot and the ball goes outside the ropes and lands by your feet, leave it there. Please. Do not take pictures.
Can you wear spikes in golf?
It’s a serious no to wearing golf spikes as a spectator. They are for the players only. The reason is obvious, hundreds of spectators in spiked shoes are going to tear up the course. This is another reason for avoiding high heels, although they are also uncomfortable and inappropriate for the golf environment.
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.
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.
Why do golfers fall off their shots?
They very rarely “fall off” a shot because they have swung it too hard or because they have a set-up flaw.
What is a swing plane?
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.
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.
What is a golf slice?
The dreaded golf slice – a ball that can start any direction, but curves dramatically to the right (for a right-hander) – often into the trees or out of bounds. Amateurs try all sorts of things to fix their slice;
What is swing path?
Swing path refers to the direction the club is moving through impact (more right or left). All else being equal, a swing path that is more left will send the ball more right – a game of opposites.
Can you draw a slice with a left swing path?
Sure – you can’t draw the ball with a left swing path (barring some wild gear effect – see later), but you can manage it and turn a slice into a fade (like Hogan, Nicklaus etc) by having the face LESS OPEN to the path. An “out-of -control” slice is created by a combination of a left swing path AND a face that is too open (to the right of) that path.
Why do I keep slicing the golf ball?
There may be no greater power loss than a slice. The ball sometimes starts out ok and then makes this depressing curve, robbing you of all of your potential distance and power.
Why do I slice my golf club?
1. Open club face. The most common cause of a slice is an open club face. This open club face will give you contact that isn’t square and often feels like a “side swipe.”. The most common cause of an open club face is an incorrect grip as your hand position will directly reflect in the face. You can make this adjustment by turning one of both ...
What are the challenges of golf?
One of the great challenges when studying golf is knowing when information is correct for you. The foot positions that are great for the the tour players, might not be appropriate for anyone with flexibility limitations. A square back foot and a flared forward foot will affect the swing path and produce a slice for many golfers who have limitations.
What is the purpose of a square face golf club?
One of the great stabilizers of a square club face is to keep your underarms relatively close to your body throughout your golf swing. If on your backswing or your downswing your underarms move away from your body, it is very easy to open the face.
How to rotate back on a golf swing?
If you slice the ball try the opposite. Flare your back foot and square your forward foot. This will help increase your ability to rotate back and also slow your body rotation down on your forward swing, both helping with path and sequencing of body and arms. 1. Open club face 2. Thumbs too on-top of the grip 3.
What happens if you move your ball too far back?
Ball position that is too far back can cause a slice and/or a pop up. As your move your ball more forward it is also important that you allow your shoulders to tilt back and away from the target. Your lead shoulder should get higher and your back shoulder lower.
How does width affect golf swing?
If the lead arm stays too stiff for too long on your forward swing, this will not only hold the club face open and making the ball s lice, but also delays the release of the club face and the speed associated.