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How far from the golf ball should I stand?

Author

Mia Kelly

Published Jan 19, 2026

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. It doesn't matter what club you're using, your arm position should be the same.

What happens when you stand too close to golf ball?

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. Getting the club on a good plane will help you start striking the ball much more nicely. You will hit the ball straighter and further with less effort.

How far should I stand from my golf net?

It clearly depends on the space you have however manufacturers often recommend hitting from about 10ft. You will probably be ok from 7ft up to that distance if space is at a premium but it's worth leaving 1-2ft behind the net also to allow the impact of the ball to be fully absorbed.

Are golf practice nets worth it?

They give you the opportunity to take a 15 or 20 minute window of spare time, and turn it into a useful hitting session. According to Golf Digest, a golf net is one of the top ways to invest in your game, and when you consider the amount of extra time you can spend on your game if you buy one, it's easy to see why.

Does hitting foam golf balls help?

Are foam golf balls good for practice? Absolutely, they are. If you want to hone your swing in the comfort of your own home or backyard, but are worried about the damage you might cause by using regular golf balls, then foam practice balls are the perfect solution.

29 related questions found

How do you know if you're standing too close to the ball?

When you stand too close to the ball, your swing is immediately forced to be more upright. When this happens, keeping your swing path in check as you come into impact becomes very difficult. Your ability to swing the club with lag and attack the ball from the inside also disappears.

Should I stand closer to the golf ball?

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.

Does tee height affect driving distance?

Does Tee Height Effect Driver Distance? The height of your tee effects your swing path into impact, especially with the driver. This, in turn, will have an influence on the spin that the ball will have on it. Teeing the ball up can help vastly reduce the spin on your drives and so increase distance.

What is the ideal tee height for a driver?

From a poll of GOLF's Top 100 Teachers, the ideal tee height is about 1.5 inches for driver. A good checkpoint is that half the ball “peeks” above the crown after you sole the club at address. For a 3-wood, peg it about half an inch and just a quarter inch with an iron.

Should I choke up on golf club?

As you can tell, choking up on the golf club is a secret weapon that a lot of golfers don't take advantage of enough. Sure, you will lose some distance by choking up but in general, it's almost always worth it. This is a great way to add new shots in your bag and save yourself when you're hitting it poorly.

Should hands be in front of golf ball?

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.

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.

Can standing too close to the golf ball cause a slice?

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.

Where should the ball be when putting?

Your ball should be positioned just forward of the middle of your stance. Determining how close the ball should be to your body is a bit more complicated. It is generally agreed that you should set your putting posture so that your eyes are positioned directly above or just slightly inside of the ball.

Where should golf ball be in your stance?

The ball position with the driver should be farthest forward, just inside your left heel, then move progressively farther back until you get to your wedges, which should reside squarely in the middle of your stance.

Should arms be close to body in golf swing?

PGA Tour player Jonathan Byrd always keeps his upper arms close to his body, which keeps his swing more compact.

What is the secret to the golf swing?

Here's the secret: Gravity creates constant acceleration. If you swing the club downward, it automatically accelerates. The problem is that most people stop the club when it hits the ball. Don't hit at the ball; swing through it.

How much do you bend over in golf swing?

Spine Bend

If a number must be assigned to the amount of forward bend, I'd use 25 degrees from vertical. This will vary between taller and shorter players but, nevertheless, it's a decent average. When you're bent forward correctly (left), your shoulders, knees and feet should line up vertically.

How low should my hands be at address?

At impact, your hands should return to the same place they were at address—no lower (as in closer to your body) and no higher (as in farther away from your body).

How far should my hands be from my body in a golf swing?

The hands-to-body distance varies depending on the club you are hitting. A good rule of thumb is to have the hands a palm's width from the body for short and middle irons (4 to 6 inches) and a palm's length—from the bottom of the wrist to the tip of your middle finger—for long irons and woods.

Should you break your wrists in golf?

There is no 'proper' wrist hinge in golf. Many coaches suggest to start breaking your wrists once you pass parallel in the takeaway, while others advocate a one-piece takeaway and only allowing your wrists to hinge at the top of the backswing. Both methods can produce repeatable, powerful golf swings.

How far down the club should you grip?

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.

Should I grip down on my irons?

Having better control of the club makes it more likely you'll hit the sweet spot, which could lead to greater distance and accuracy, and you'll possibly hit more greens in regulation; at least lower your scores. If you're plagued with a hook or slice, try choking down an inch or two. It may help. Happy Golfing!

How far should I choke down on my driver?

To hit a more conservative tee ball, I always choke down on the grip a full two inches (No. 1) and narrow my stance so my feet are only slightly wider than my shoulders (No. 2). I tee the ball lower and farther back, maybe three inches inside my left instep.

Is it okay to grip down on driver?

Choking down on your driver is also a good method when you need to play a tee shot into the wind. The speed of your swing will be reduced when you choke down, which means your spin rate should be reduced as well.