Should your head be behind the ball when putting?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 11, 2026
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.
Where should my head be when putting?
Putting Posture – Video Summary
- Your eyes should be positioned directly over the golf ball. ...
- With a full swing set up, your head would be held in a position that runs in line with the angle of your spine (i.e. you feel as though you're are looking down your nose at the ball).
Should you keep your head down when putting?
“Everyone says you should keep your head still on short putts,” Wagner says, “but I've found that if you try to lock in your eyes or your head, your stroke can become restricted. One of the best tips I ever got was to forget about my head and instead try to keep my rear end still.
Where should your head be when you hit a golf ball?
The ideal head position in the golf swing from start to impact position should look like the image at the top in the right corner. For the right-handed golfer, this means tilting the head slightly to the right away from the golf ball.
Should I keep my head down in golf swing?
The club head strikes the golf ball first, then continues to drive into the grass where eventually the club bottoms out. When golfers are told to “keep their head down”, it robs them of their ability to shift their weight into their left side, and rotate the hips and chest toward the target.
32 related questions foundWhy do I hit behind the golf ball with my irons?
Improper Weight Transfer
During the backswing, the player's weight is on the back foot. Failure to naturally transfer the weight through the ball and onto the left commonly causes the club to drop behind the ball. The body and the club must work together in a proper weight transfer.
How do you stay behind the ball?
The correct ball position—opposite the left armpit—plays a pivotal role in generating more distance off the tee. Setting up this way helps you “stay behind” the ball longer through impact, encouraging a slightly ascending blow and a higher initial launch—and more carry.
Should your head move when putting?
There is no reason for the head to be moving at any point during a putting stroke. It can only cause bad things. It can only cause bad pace control, bad alignment and bad striking. So the head should stay absolutely perfectly still during the putting stroke.
How do you master a put?
Every golfer understands the importance of putting.
...
Get the Putt Out of Here: 10 Ways to Master Putting
- It's All About Speed. As you practice, be sure to focus on your speed control. ...
- Relaxed Hands. ...
- Learn from Others. ...
- Head Perfectly Still. ...
- Find the Center. ...
- Hands Stay Out of It. ...
- Try One-Ball Practice. ...
- Never Miss a Chance.
How close should you stand to the ball when putting?
MEASURE YOUR DISTANCE
Too far away, and the stroke path will be in to out. Most tour pros stand 2¼ to 2¾ putterheads from the inside edge of the ball to the toe line (left). Putterheads range from 4¼ to 4½ inches long.
Which eye should be over the ball when putting?
Ideally, you would like your dominate eye over the top of the ball. If you are right eye dominate, then your left eye would be slightly in front of the ball and out of the mirror. Conversely, if you are left eye dominate you would see both eyes.
Why am I hitting the ground first with my irons?
Generally speaking, a thin or fat shot is caused by having your swing center too far behind the ball at impact. This error causes your club to bottom out too far behind the ball and will cause you to hit the ground first (a fat shot) or hit the top of the ball (a thin shot).
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.
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 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.
How much should head move in golf?
A little head shift toward your backside is okay and actually encouraged for a full shoulder rotation. This allows you to get your turn to 90 degrees and complete your backswing. But if it's moving more than an inch, it's likely going to cause inconsistent strikes, especially with irons.
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.
Why do I keep lifting my head in golf?
Balance. If you are lifting up during the downswing, it means that your body is performing some unnecessary movements. Whether it's shoulders lifting, back-arching, knees or waist extending, or head raising, the result is almost always going to be a slight loss of balance.