Distance From the Ball at Address
Also known as: how far to stand from the ball, stand from the ball, stand from the golf ball, how close to stand to the ball, standing too close to the ball, standing too far from the ball, reaching for the ball
Stand far enough from the ball that your arms hang naturally from your shoulders after you bend from the hips. Your hands should sit roughly below your shoulders, not reaching out or jammed in. Many coaches use about a hand's width between the grip end and your thighs as a quick check.
The right distance comes from good posture, not from a measurement on the ground. Stand tall, bend forward from the hips with a straight back and a little knee flex, and let your arms hang. Where your hands fall is where the grip should be. Then sole the club and move your feet so the clubhead sits behind the ball. Longer clubs naturally put you farther away, so the driver stands you farther back than a wedge.
Standing too close cramps the arms and leaves no room to swing through. It often leads to a steep swing, heel strikes and shanks. Standing too far makes you reach, pulls your weight toward your toes and flattens the swing. That often brings toe strikes and loss of balance. Both errors change the lie of the club at impact and how the ball starts.
Many coaches use a gap of about a hand's width between the end of the grip and your thighs with an iron, a little more with a driver. Treat it as a rough check rather than a rule, because height and arm length vary. Your weight should feel balanced over the middle of your feet. If you finish swings falling toward the ball or back on your heels, check your distance first.
Tips by skill level
Set your posture first without a club, let your arms hang, then put the club in your hands where they fall and step in to the ball.
Check your setup from down the line on video. Your arms should hang roughly straight down from your shoulders, and your weight should sit over the middle of your feet.
Example
A golfer keeps hitting heel shots and the odd shank. A friend notices his arms are bent and tucked against his body at address. He hinges from the hips, lets his arms hang, steps back a few inches and starts finding the center.
Why it matters
Distance from the ball sets your posture, swing plane and strike point before the club moves. Getting it right removes a common cause of heel and toe strikes.
Common mistakes
- Measuring distance with the feet before setting good posture
- Reaching for the ball with straight, stiff arms
- Standing so close that the arms are pinned against the body
- Using the same distance for a wedge and a driver
Frequently asked questions
How far should I stand from the golf ball?
Far enough that your arms hang naturally from your shoulders after you bend from the hips. Many coaches check for about a hand's width between the end of the grip and your thighs with an iron, a little more with a driver.
Am I standing too close to the ball?
Signs include cramped, bent arms at address, heel strikes, shanks and no room to swing through. Bend from the hips, let your arms hang and step back until your hands sit roughly below your shoulders.
Do I stand farther from the ball with a driver?
Yes. The longer shaft naturally puts you farther away. Keep the same posture and arm hang, and let the club length set the distance.
Related terms
- Address PositionAddress position is a golfer's complete setup just before the swing starts: grip, stance, alignment, ball position, posture, and weight distribution.
- PostureGolf posture is the spine angle at address, bending forward from the hips with a straight back. It lets the arms hang freely and the body rotate athletically.
- Hip HingeThe hip hinge is bending forward from the hip joints, not the waist, to set the correct spine angle at address. It is the foundation of athletic posture in golf.
- Heel StrikeA heel strike is contact made closer to the shaft than the center of the clubface. It produces horizontal gear effect that pushes the ball right and reduces ball speed.
- Toe StrikeA toe strike is contact made closer to the outer edge of the clubface than the center. It produces horizontal gear effect that curves the ball left and significantly reduces ball speed.
- ShankA shank is when the ball hits the hosel, where the shaft meets the clubhead, instead of the face. It flies violently right (for a right-hander) at roughly 45°.
Related guides & benchmarks
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