How wide should your stance be for irons?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 11, 2026
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.
How wide should your putting stance be?
Find the Proper Stance Width
In order to maximize balance and stability, spread your feet out slightly wider than your shoulders during your set-up. The best way to do this is to stand with your feet at shoulder-width apart, then move each foot one to two inches away from each other.
What happens if my stance is too wide in golf?
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.
Does a wider stance help in golf?
A stance just wider than your shoulders: Gives you a stable platform over which you can turn your upper body. 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.
23 related questions foundWhat 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.
How far should a 7 iron go?
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.
How does width of stance affect golf swing?
Adopting a wider stance lowers your center of gravity slightly, allowing you to become more stable on your feet as you address the club on the ground and as you execute your swing.
How far should your feet be apart in golf?
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. Stand too wide, and your body won't be as free to strike the ball powerfully.
How wide should your feet be for golf?
4. Width of stance: Your feet should be shoulder-width apart. 5. Weight distribution: You want 50 percent of your weight on your front foot and 50 percent of your weight on your back foot.
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.
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.
Should I forward press when putting?
Dave Stockton (and many other teachers) advocate the use of a forward press because it delofts the putter. There is a theory out there that since most putters actually have 3-4 degrees of loft, you have to counteract that with leaning your hands forward a little bit.
Where should the ball be when hitting irons?
The ball should be in the middle of the tracks and you should be standing on the outside of them. The third alignment stick should be laid perpendicular to the other two and placed right around in the center pointing straight at the golf ball. This stick represents where the ball is placed in your stance.
Should hands be forward when putting?
It is a good idea to set your hands in front of the ball because such a position will usually lead to a clean roll. If your hands are farther back, you can actually hit a mini-chip shot which bounces along the green before it starts to roll.
How wide is your stance in golf?
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.
Where should your weight be in a golf stance?
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.
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.
What is a 8-iron used for?
The 8 and 9 irons are commonly called the "short irons". They have the highest-mass clubheads and the shortest shafts of the numbered irons, and are used for shots requiring high loft or moderate to short distance (typically between 130 and 150 yards with a full swing).
What percentage of golfers can break 100?
Certainly, golfers who struggle to break 100 — it has been estimated that fewer than 25 percent of all golfers ever make it — hold little sympathy for the break-90 golfer who whines about shooting 81.
How much does 1 degree of loft affect distance?
Given that you're at your maximum clubhead speed, just 1-degree change in the loft angle of a golf driver can affect your driving distance by 2-4 yards. As for irons, the difference in distance between 8-iron (37-39 degrees) and 9-iron (41-43 degrees) is usually 10-15 yards.
How far does the average golfer hit a 5 iron?
The average golfer hits their 5 iron 164 yards, but the range tends to vary between 146 and 179 yards. The distance you hit the ball will depend on your swing speed and how well you can compress the golf ball.
How close should your hands be in golf?
When your arms hang freely, the butt of your club should point at your belt buckle. The distance between your thigh and the butt of the club should be about a hand's length (close to 6 inches). If it doesn't, your clubs could be the wrong length.
Where do you line the ball up for each club?
For each of the longer clubs, place the ball about a half an inch toward your front foot. Place the ball slightly inside the front foot using a driver.