Is a narrow golf stance better?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 08, 2026
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.
Is it better to have a wide or narrow golf stance?
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.
What happens if your golf stance is too narrow?
What Happens If Your Stance Is Too Narrow? If your stance is too narrow, you may tend to hit the ball to the left. This is because with your feet being closer together, you will have an easier time wrapping the club around your body. For a golfer that slices the ball, the narrow stance is a great fix.
Is a wider stance better 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.
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.
32 related questions foundHow wide should my stance be in golf?
The Proper Width Of Your Stance
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.
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.
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.
How does width of stance affect golf swing?
How does width of stance affect your golf swing? Typically, a golf stance that is too narrow may lead to an unbalanced or unstable swing – especially when playing a full shot. On the other hand, a stance that is too wide can cause restriction of the hips, which may cause unwanted inefficiencies in your swing.
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.
Can you play golf with a closed stance?
The closed stance can help golfers that struggle to release the ball actually turn it over as they come through impact. In addition, the closed stance can also lower the ball flight. If the ball flight is a bit lower, you will also sometimes get some extra spin.
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.
Where should a 7 iron be in your stance?
As a general rule of thumb to base your ball placement off of your 7 iron should always be placed in the center of your stance. Then, shorter clubs (everything from an 8 iron to pitching wedge) you want to play toward your back foot.
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.
How wide should my feet be driver?
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.
What is the Flamingo drill in golf?
The flamingo drill is simple, and I bet you've seen it before. Simply put, your weight is centered over one foot while the other is pulled back from your regular square stance. The foot you pull back is used only for stability -- to help you keep your balance -- and only the toe is touching the ground.
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.
Why do golfers shuffle their feet?
Swinging with your feet together forces your weight into a more stable spot, similar to the one-footed putting drill we wrote about recently, improves the bottom of their arc, and only results in a slight loss of distance.
What pro golfers use a closed stance?
Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead both set up with a closed stance, and a golfer electing to play this way would be in good company! They are two of the most winning golfers in PGA history! The point is, no one stance is the right stance in golf, and golfers should test them all to find the best one suited to their swing.
Should shoulders be square at address?
GO: For most shots your body, including your shoulders, arms, hips and knees, should be square to your target line. NO GO: Your shoulders should not be open or closed relative to your target line. This causes an inside or outside takeaway path.
Should I flare both feet golf swing?
A good immediate solution that GOLF Top 100 Teacher Nick Clearwater suggests is flaring both of your feet. “Turning your toes out about 20 degrees — maybe even more — effectively makes you more flexible,” Clearwater says.
What should my swing thoughts be?
"A good swing thought is to keep your height. Feel tall. Like your chest stays nice and high when you hit shots. This will help you maintain the width of your arms and prevent you from getting scoopy."
What do all good golf swings have in common?
Ultimately, shoulder tilt and shoulder turn in the backswing, and the backward bending of the upper body in the follow-through, are three common elements pretty much all good golfers have in common — no matter how different their swings may appear.