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How do I stop reaching the golf ball?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 10, 2026

The three things you need to do to correct the issue of topping the golf ball is:

  1. Keep your head still throughout the backswing. ...
  2. Next, you need to make sure you take a divot at impact. ...
  3. Finally, in order to create that divot, you'll need to shift your weight forward to your front side throughout the downswing.

How do I stop my driver from reaching?

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 stop thinking about hitting the golf ball?

Repetition is the mother of all skills.

If you can create a repeatable swing then you can stop thinking and start playing when you're on the course. This is why it's so important to train the right things on the range instead of endlessly hitting shots that ingrain bad habits. Remember, less is more on the range.

How do I stop lifting the golf ball?

Then we'll provide some tips on how to stop lifting up in a golf downswing.
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Here are a few extra tips to help prevent a bad downswing:

  1. Always keep your knees slightly bent – don't lock them during the swing.
  2. Try to bend from the hips instead of the waist – this will help you to keep a straighter back.

Why am I topping my golf ball?

Lateral motion in the backswing moves the swing arc backward. If it isn't then moved forward in the downswing, the low point of the arc is behind the ball, often causing a thin or topped shot.

27 related questions found

Why am I topping my irons?

Typically, a ball is topped because the club has not gone far enough down towards the ball or you catch the ball on the way up, instead of at the bottom point. A lot of things can cause this to happen: A club that's too short. An awkward stance.

Where should your eyes focus when hitting a golf ball?

If you're continually hitting the ground before the ball, focus your eyes on the front edge (target side) of the ball during the swing. It may not seem like much—the diameter of the golf ball is just 1.68 inches—but shifting your sight line forward even this small amount nudges your center of gravity toward the target.

How do you stay focused on a golf course?

How to Stay Focused During Golf Play

  1. Begin every hole as though it's the first hole in the round. ...
  2. Block out all distractions when you step up to make your shot. ...
  3. Set small goals for each round of golf that are achievable and realistic.

How do you gain confidence in golf?

Ten Tips to Build Confidence For Golf

  1. Don't be Self Critical. ...
  2. Don't Give Yourself Technical Feedback on the Golf Course. ...
  3. Visualize and Feel. ...
  4. Develop a Strong Shot Routine. ...
  5. React Indifferently to Bad Shots. ...
  6. Take Yourself Out of Your Comfort Zone. ...
  7. Change Your Goals. ...
  8. Focus On What You Did Well.

What happens if ball is too far forward in stance?

With the driver, most golfers play the ball too far forward and stand too far away from it. This might feel powerful, but it sets some bad things in motion. The forward ball position shifts the shoulders open to the target, which leads to an out-to-in swing and usually a slice.

Why do I keep hitting my driver low and left?

Look down at your left hand; you should see only two knuckles. Place more weight on your right foot. Hitting the ball too low can be caused by shifting your weight to your left side. By consciously planting your right foot and keeping your weight on it, you will prevent shifting your weight to the right.

Why do I keep hitting the top of my driver?

What Causes a Driver Pop-Up? The base cause is always this: The golf club gets under the ball at impact. In other words, the golfer swings the club into impact in such a way that the clubhead slides under the ball, rather than contacting the ball around the center of the clubface as is desired.

How far should you hit a 7 iron?

A standard amateur golfer can hit a 7 iron from 128 yards to 158 yards. The lower range will be for women and senior golfers. To hit the ball over 150 yards in total distance with a 7 iron club, an amateur golfer will have to have a good swing and be physically fit.

What percent of golf is mental?

“The game of golf is 90% mental and 10% physical.” This quote has been used by Jack Nicklaus many times to help describe how tough the game really is.

What do you do when you lose confidence in your golf swing?

Keep your self-talk encouraging.

Stay focused and confident by repeating positive affirmations to yourself constantly on the golf course. Affirm that you believe in yourself and in your ability to play well. Affirm that you are going to really enjoy hitting each shot.

What are the 3 main things to focus on when golfing?

Top 3 Ways to Focus on the Golf Course

  • Develop a strict pre-shot routine. The best way to block out unwanted thoughts is to give yourself something specific to focus on. ...
  • Analyze bad shots, then let them go. Dwelling on mistakes is a sure way to lose concentration and derail a round. ...
  • Keep your body well-nourished.

How do you stay focused on 18 holes of golf?

Visualizing is an important step to staying focused for 18 holes of golf. Hit the range and putting green for at least 20 minutes before teeing off on the first hole. Warming up your body before you 'grip it and rip it' is a great idea because it allows you to focus on non-swing related aspects of playing golf.

Should you look in front of golf ball?

Many a tour player has stated that they actually look a few inches in front of the ball. That's not bad advice actually as it assists the player in taking a good divot after the ball and gets their focus forward so that they move down and through at impact.

Should hands be in front of ball with irons?

The grip and hands must be in front of the clubhead and ball. Many amateur golfers believe that the grip and clubhead come back to the position they are in during the setup. The hands and grip must move forward before the clubhead in order to properly compress and control the ball.

Do you look at the front or back of the golf ball?

THINK AHEAD: KEEP YOUR FOCUS IN FRONT OF THE BALL

Telling golfers to keep their heads down and watch the ball has been a staple of bad advice since the game was played with wooden clubs and goose-feather balls. Trying to keep your eye on the ball pretty much ensures that your club will bottom out too soon.

How do I stop hitting my iron shots?

This move leads to your shoulders rising which lifts the arc of the swing and the clubface catches the ball on the equator. So, to rid yourself of this, set a strong, athletic posture at address and then aim to keep the angle of your pelvis through impact - this is an essential element in how to swing a golf club.

How do you stop topping the ball with fairway woods?

This movement can have its benefits with a driver. But with a fairway wood it causes the bottom of the swing to go back and ultimately can lead to you topping your golf shots. The solution to this is to get your weight moving more towards the front of your stance.

Why do I hit my 3 wood as far as my driver?

Players who hit their 3- or 5-wood as far or longer than their driver are typically using too little loft with the driver for their clubhead speed. You know, it's a funny thing with the driver and its loft compared to the other clubs in the bag.

How far should a 65 year old man hit a golf ball?

The ranges are very wide, as you'd expect, with 25-year-old scratch players averaging 271 yards and 65-year-old 30 handicappers averaging 180. Check out the fascinating data in this video and below...