How wide should my feet be in golf?
Emily Ross
Published Jan 09, 2026
Your 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.
How wide should feet be in golf swing?
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.
What happens if my golf stance is too wide?
The wider your golf stance, the bigger the shift, and the more time it takes. When the golf stance is too wide, you'll typically be pushing off the right side, which will drive your hip into the ball and cause you to lose your spine angle in the downswing.
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.
How wide should your feet be with driver?
Your feet should be shoulder-width apart. Your feet should be straight and aligned parallel to the ball's intended flight. The placement of your feet and the ball will help you get lift and power. Iron and pitching wedge stances require that your feet be closer together.
35 related questions foundIs 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.
What happens if your golf stance is too narrow?
Encourages your hips to stay level throughout the swing; the left hip is likely to drop when your stance is too narrow, causing mis-hit shots. Lowers your center of gravity so playing in the wind is easier— are less likely to get blown off balance.
What is the perfect golf stance?
Your rear foot should be at right angles to the target line. Your front foot can be angled outwards but only slightly. Knees should be lightly flexed but not bent. Your body weight should be spread 50/50 between your toes and heels as well as 50/50 between your left and right foot for most shots.
Why do I hit the ball better with my feet together?
Practicing with your feet together can lead to more distance. This drill helps you achieve extra distance by not swaying to the right as you turn and also helps with your inside-out attack on the downswing. Put the ball either in the middle of your feet or slightly behind that.
Is a wider stance better for a driver?
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. This will lead to greater club head speed and better dynamic stability.
Does a wide stance cause a slice?
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.
Can you play golf with your feet together?
“Hitting balls with your feet together is a simple and effective drill that helps you to harmonise the swinging of the arms with the rotation of your body. The key is to focus on these balance points and keep them all working together for the good of the swing.
Where should an 8 iron be in your stance?
Ball Position
Play your short irons (wedges, 9-iron, and 8-iron) in the center portion of your stance. These clubs have the most upright lie angles. They must be swung at the steepest angle, and you should take a divot in front of the ball.
Should you be on the balls of your feet in the golf swing?
Your weight should be 50-50 on your left and right legs and between the balls of your feet (those cushioned pads just below your toes) and your heels.
How do you end a golf stance?
Closed Vs Open Vs Square Golf Stance Overview
Your left toes and right toes are resting on the same line. The open stance is where the body and feet are pointing towards the target. The close stance has the right foot dropped back and the toes sort of blocking the target out.
How far should my feet be from the golf ball?
How Far Should You Stand From A Golf Ball? 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.
Where do you stand when teeing off?
To position the ball correctly off the tee, specifically with your driver, you should align the ball with the inside of your left foot. Whilst this may seem quite far forward, it allows you to strike the ball on the up which adds loft, reduces spin and creates more distance.
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.
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.
Where should the ball be in your golf 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.
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.
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.
Should hands be in front of golf ball at address?
At address, your hands should be slightly in front of the ball – exactly where you want them to return when you make contact. Also, make sure your left wrist (for a right-handed golfer) is in a relatively flat, firm position.
How do fat people swing golf clubs?
For big guys, the less movement in the swing, the better. Try to stay more centered over the golf ball and make an efficient turn. Moving away from the ball means that you will have to move back towards the ball, and this is where inconsistency issues will show up.