How Far to Stand from a Golf Ball

How Far to Stand from a Golf Ball is a question every beginner eventually faces. Golf seems easy from the outside, but when you pick up a club and take a swing, you quickly realize there’s more to it. A very common mistake beginners make is standing either too close to the ball or too far away. They can both mess up your swing and throw your accuracy out of whack.

We’ll break it down here in simple terms so you understand how to take control of your stance and how you can chip away at your shots. 

Why You Need Distance from the Golf Ball

How you address the golf ball is as important as how you swing it. Even if you are face to face with the golfer, you won’t get anything out of it if you are standing too close because you will feel cramped and your swing will be constrained. If you’re too far away, you won’t have the control you need and you’ll be awkwardly reaching to make contact.

The perfect distance is what lets you:

• Keep your balance during your swing.
• Get it in the middle of the clubface.
• Gain more power and accuracy.
• Reduce the chances of injury.

Also Read: How to Replace Golf Club Grips

The Basic Rule: Arm’s Length

So, how close and far away should you stand from the golf ball?

A rule of thumb: you should be an arm’s length away. Hold the club, and then bend forward a little, at the waist: Your arms should hang freely from your torso, not too taut, and not too slack.

Think of it this way:

• If the club feels hung up inside you → You’re too far away.
• If you feel like you’re stretching for the ball → You’re too far.

How To Circle The Ideal Distance: A Step-by-Step Approach

Here’s an easy way to find out quickly:

Take Your Stance

• Stand the golf ball on the ground.
• From standing shoulder-width apart.

Grip the Club

• Take your grip in the usual manner on your club.

Bend at the Hips

• Lean slightly forward from the hips, not the back.
• Keep your spine straight.

Let Your Arms Hang Naturally

• Your arms should be relaxed and not too long or twisted in any awkward way.

Check the Club Position

• The clubhead must lie flat on the ground, with the trailing edge right behind the ball.

If all of this feels comfortable, you’re standing at the right distance.

Also Read: Do different golf clubs make a difference?

Adjusting Based on Club Type

Not all clubs are the same length, so your stance is going to differ a little bit.

• Driver → A lunch, so you’ll stand further away from the ball.
• Shorter clubs → Shorter clubs, and therefore you’ll stand a little closer.
• Wedges → Very, very short, so you will be even closer to the balls than the irons.

The thing is to always keep the balance and feel comfortable.

Signs You Are Too Close to the Golf Ball

• You feel cramped when swinging.
• Your arms bend too much.
• The club feels glued to your body.
• The majority of shots are hit left (for right-handed golfers).

How to Know If You’re Too Far From the Golf Ball

• You feel like you’re reaching.
• Your weight shifts forward awkwardly.
• You lose balance easily.
• The vast majority of shots go right (for right-handed golfers).

Drill to Do It Right

Here’s a quick drill:

• Have the club in a position to ball.
• Rest the butt end of the club lightly on the inside of your left thigh (for right-handed players).
• If the spacing seems natural and isn’t balancing the two sides out, you’re in the right place.
• Do this again and again until it’s second nature.

Final Tips for Beginners

• Don’t overthink it. Comfort is key.
• Stretched out tall, bent at the hips, let your arms hang.
• Always be aware of where the ball is in conjunction with distance (it’ll affect your swing, too).
• Use a bunch of different clubs and swing away to get a feel for the natural distance.

Also Read: When should a new golfer buy his first set of golf clubs?

So, how much room should I stand from the golf ball? The answer is simple: about an arm’s length, with your arms fully relaxed and your clubhead sitting flat behind the ball. When you are at the right distance, your swing opens up, your shots are more accurate, and your golf game becomes more enjoyable.