Should my hands be in front of the golf ball?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 24, 2026
#1 Setup position
Should your hands be in front of the golf ball at impact?
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 your hands be in front of the ball on iron shots?
With the irons and with the wedges, you definitely want to see the shaft leaning slightly towards the target at the point of impact. The hip should be rotating and turning, the body weight should be moving over to your front foot, and the hands should be just ahead of the ball like this.
Where should my hands be in a golf swing?
Try this: put your hands together like you're praying. Have your hands neutral and not tilted to the left or right. Now, turn your hands to the left so that the right hand is on top of the left hand. That is the proper rotation of the hands during the golf swing.
Should hands be high or low at address?
The idea of low hands through impact is trying to return your hands to where they started at address, even though this is nearly impossible. This idea and feeling encourages the shaft to shallow out on the downswing, thus, preventing a steep or vertical attack.
20 related questions foundShould 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.
What part of the golf ball should you look at?
At address, try looking at the very back edge of the ball and hold your eyes there throughout the swing. If you are trying to hit a specific kind of ball flight, such as a fade or a draw, you may want to look slightly to the inside or outside of the back of the ball as your ideal contact point.
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 get a consistent ball position?
In summary, do as the pro's do: for all of the iron shots, play the ball a clubhead inside your left heel and simply move your right foot to adjust the width as required. Move the ball to a position directly opposite the inside of the left heel for the 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.
Where should my hands be at impact?
Make it your goal to get your right hand at least over top of the golf ball at impact, because the right hand will be trailing the left slightly as you swing through the shot. If your right hand gets into position, you will know for sure that your left hand has made it past the ball as well.
How far should hands be from body in 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.
How should my club face look at address?
The face of the club should be positioned directly behind the ball at address. The line formed by the clubface should be perpendicular to the target line for normal, straight shots.
How do you address a ball with irons?
Ball Position
The ball position is mostly going to be in the center of your feet, but this can change based on the club you are hitting. If you are hitting a longer iron, the ball will be slightly forward of center, and with a shorter iron, you will put the ball back behind the center line.
Should I keep my eye on the golf ball?
It is a perfect chant for the golf player at every turn. If you cannot see the ball clearly, your chances of hitting it are slim to none! When you look at the ball, you want to keep your eyes on one spot. Do not look at your club to see if it is squared to the ball.
How do you clear your mind before a golf shot?
Instead of thinking “don't have swing thoughts”, work on staying relaxed through the round. Incorporate a deep breath in your pre-shot routine, take deep breaths walking between shots, and read up on meditation or hypnosis.
Why do I hit the ground before the golf ball?
When a player hits the ground before the ball it is generally because their club is attacking the ball from too shallow an angle. Golf coaches refer to this as the "Angle of Approach".
Which hand leads in putting?
For a right-handed golfer, the right hand provides the power and the feel in the putting stroke, the left hand merely 'goes along for the ride'. But the left hand must do that in order to keep the putter-head low through impact and not pull 'up and out' of the shot.
How do I aim better when putting?
Always aim your club face at your target, with the sole of the putter head aligned behind the golf ball. With your eyes positioned over the ball, peering down the target line, shift focus on your putting posture. Your shoulders, knees, hips, and feet must all parallel the intended target line.
Should your arms be straight at address?
your arms should hang straight down from your shoulder sockets at address, and. all golf clubs are built on an angle.
What does high hands mean in golf?
High hands allow more time for the clubhead to accelerate in the downswing creating more speed and likely more success with longer irons and clubs, and. High hands can create a steeper an angle of attack making it easier to play out of the rough and bad lies.