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Should you stay behind the ball on all golf shots?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 16, 2026

It is critical that your head position in the golf swing stay behind the ball throughout the entire swing and especially at impact. This is because we need our head behind the ball for maximum release at impact. If your head is in front of the golf ball at impact, you'll always be robbing yourself of power.

Should you hit behind the golf ball?

During the downswing, players sometimes have the tendency to slide their head forward. This causes the upper body to slide forward, impeding a proper recoil. It also prevents the player from concentrating on watching the club strike the ball. The head must stay behind the ball on every shot.

How do you stay behind the ball when hitting?

Sliding your upper body laterally past the spot it held at address robs you of power and accuracy. Stay back through impact, then let your arms and club release fully, carrying your weight onto your front leg. Get behind the ball and stay behind it, and you'll hit longer drives a lot more often.

Should your hands be behind the ball in golf?

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 ahead of the 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.

42 related questions found

Should hands be ahead of ball at impact?

The ball should be positioned forward in the stance therefore you DO NOT start with your hands ahead of the ball at set up. Because the ball is on a tee, the driver will hit the ball on the upswing and your hands will be in the middle of your body at impact.

How do you stay on the top of the golf ball?

You might have heard the terms "covering the ball" or "staying on top of it." They mean feeling like your chest is pointing at the ball through impact. A great drill to reinforce that feel is to hit shots off a downhill lie.

How do I stop coming up and out of a golf shot?

A good way to stop standing up at impact is to focus on your head. Indeed, if the head is not allowed to rise or move at all vertically the upper body will be forced to move while keeping it in place. And in doing so, the spine angle should remain constant throughout the swing, which is one the things being sought.

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.

Why do I always 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".

Should your head be behind the golf ball at address?

You should always set up with the left side of your head either on this line, or behind it, on all your golf shots. Now, as the ball moves farther up in the stance with the driver, you'll see in a minute that you can set up farther behind this, but your head should never, ever, ever be in front of that line.

Do you tilt shoulders for irons?

The best golfers have their shoulders the most tilted

That combination helps the club swing from in-to-out, and allows you to hit up on the golf ball. “The more you're tilted away from the target, the faster the club can go up,” he said.

Should shoulders be level at address?

Most amateurs at address position have their shoulders too level. This creates a poor set up position. When the shoulders are too level at address position the center of your body is in front of the ball causing the majority of you weight on the left foot.

What part of golf ball should you hit?

There is a short and simple answer to the question of what part of the golf ball you should hit. It is the rear, center portion of the ball. That's what will bring you the best result with the most swings.

Where should I aim my golf ball?

The most common advice given on this subject is to look at the back inside quarter of the golf ball. This is to facilitate an inside/out swing. For every ball and stick sport we play be it baseball, tennis or golf, the goal is to strike the inside back quarter of the ball for ultimate power and control.

Why is it important to keep your eye on the ball?

In order to be successful at something, it is important to not only start working for your goals, but also to continue working hard as you go and grow.

How do you stay down on a golf shot?

Your right arm motion, close to your body, will carry your right shoulder under your chin and down the target line. Your right shoulder will come around and through the shot as you complete your swing. It also helps you "stay down" (keep your head down) and reduce the tendency to "spin out of the shot" (turn too much).

How do I get better at golf ball?

Here are a few things you can do to keep track of your golf ball:

  1. Watch your ball land and find a marker.
  2. Don't have tunnel vision looking for your ball.
  3. Get your partner to watch your ball and confirm the landing spot.
  4. Wear the right sunglasses.

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.

What should my driver lie angle be?

Most standard golf drivers are going to have between 56 and 60 degrees for their lie angle. The lie angle is the number of degrees between the center of the hosel and the ground line. This angle needs to be measured while the club is on the ground.

How far should my hands be from golf?

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.