Benefits of Standing Closer to The Golf Ball

There are so many benefits to standing closer to the golf ball!  So, let’s answered the question that has been running around in your head as you set up to take your next shot.  I’m sure you’ve thought about this a million times, and wondered about what is the perfect distance that you should stand from the ball in order to make more consistent with contact. Does it make a difference in my swing, will it eliminate my slice, will it give me more distance?  Or, will my distance suffer because I can’t extend my arms?  Because golf is such a mental game, overthinking your swing while swinging is a recipe for a bad round, so we took the time to put some benefits of standing closer to the ball for you to review, and then try the next time you are out on the range.

So, let’s start at the very beginning of your approach.  How can you tell?  Well, the best way to figure out your distance is to dangle your arms directly below the shoulders.  Your end goal is to stand about 3 inches from the club, and by daggling your hands, you should get a sense if you are 3 inches or not.  Why dangle your arms?  Well, by dangling your arms you ensure that your hands are at their lowest point.  This will create the ideal distance for a better strike of the golf ball with the least amount of effort.

Your Game Will Improve

You will start to see an improvement in your game when you stand close to the golf ball. When you swing the club, you will hit the ball with its face, and your body will provide the force with which to drive the ball to the required distance. If you stand too far from the ball, your swing will be flat, which will lead the ball off target. This means that the club can only go around your body in a flatter way, and one thing that a flat swing can cause is a lot of misses to the left as your impact position will favor a hook spin.

It’s Great for Balance

Standing close to the ball will maximize your balance. Balance is essential when hitting the ball because it increases the odds of a better hit. Standing far away from the ball means that you have to reach further when hitting it, and if you watch the top golfers in the world, one thing to look for is their balance during the swing. They never “fall off” a shot because they have swung it too hard or because they have a set-up flaw. If you ever get the chance to watch a pro tournament in person you will see that they let the club do the work.  Every swing looks the same. 

If you are standing too far away from the ball then this probably isn’t something you can say you have.

If you are standing too far away means that we have to reach for the ball but it also means that your weight is probably on your toes. Why is that a problem?  Well, if your weight is on your toes, then you will lose your balance, especially if too much weight is placed on your toe. The result is that you either miss the ball, or hit the ball to the wrong destination. When taking a swing, you should stand in a where you feel the best balance.

You Allow Your Body to Be a Greater Part of Your Swing

When you stand too far away from the ball, you will notice that you will use your arms more to swing at the ball.  In order to create a more optimal swig path you need to generate power from your whole body, including your lower half.  You need to reach out to the ball to make contact and so you can’t use your body to generate power properly. This will result in a significant loss of distance.

Most people tend to swing harder to make up for the lack of distance.  This is a slippery slope, and as you swing harder you will see that your consistency will probably be the next thing to go. Beginner golfers ruin your swing before it has even started by swinging too hard!

The Perfect Swing

Is there such thing as a perfect swing?  Well, when you stand close to the ball you are in the best position for throwing a perfect swing. When you are in this position, your hands are lowered to the best height when you clasp the golf club, and you will see that the ball is placed at the face of the club when you hit, which generates more power, distance, and consistency.

When you are a short distance from the green, such as a mere 30 yards away.  You will be able to shoot the ball with the required amount of restraint to make sure that you hit that perfect shot. The ball will roll to its destination smoothly rather than fly into the air, and having you slamming your club with frustration.

Over the Top

When I say Over the Top, I’m talking those crazy slices or hooks.  I should know because for years I would hit the ball 300 yards out, and 200 yards right, which is not ideal for cutting strokes off your game.  This is the main reason people get frustrated at the game of golf and quit.  They can’t seem to hit the ball straight, and more importantly, consistently straight.

When you stand too far away from the golf ball this can cause you to be too flat on the backswing, and then cause you to cast over the top on the downswing to try and fix this. It results in a very inconsistent presentation of the club to the ball which gives the horribly inconsistent shots.

Perfect Amount of Rhythm

The right distance from the golf ball gives you the ideal amount of rhythm when you strike the ball. When you are too far from the golf ball, or if you have too wide a stance. This is risky because you will have a hard time shifting your body when you want to take a swing.

Ultimately, this will hinder the power, timing, and ball striking. Even if you actually in hit the golf ball, you will have more sway than is necessary. This is not optimal because the odds of the ball hitting the target are extremely low, and the chances of flying the target go up.

Hit With the Solid Part of Your Club

Basically, you should hit the ball with the face of the club, and this only happens when you stand the correct distance from the ball. This sounds ridiculous, but when you hit the ball in the middle it will increase the odds of hitting your target.  It sounds simpler that it is, but when you are too far from the ball, you will hit the grass beneath the ball, the air, or even yourself. You might also find yourself losing the club as it flies out of your hands. You must protect yourself from harm when playing golf; otherwise, you will not be able to enjoy it for long.

Good for Your Limbs

You must be thinking, “Really, good for your limbs?”  Actually, yes, you can permanently affect your feet by positioning yourself too far from the ball, which can develop a flat-footed appearance as a result of a failure of the lower part of the body to participate in the golf swing, leaving it up to the arms and hands to make the swing. The results…you will tire faster if you hit the ball from a longer distance, and you will exert a lot of extra effort, which will result in your accuracy being off target.

Hunching to reach the ball badly affects your posture, and this is bad because it hurts your spine, hips, and shoulders.   It may not seem like a big deal, but it also means that other body parts have to compensate and they are not necessarily made to take on that extra burden. It can also get in the way of your future as a golfer. By the time you realize you have been playing golf the wrong way, it might be too late to correct your mistakes, especially of this the profession you choose.

Good for Your Health

It’s better for your back and general physical well-being if you achieve the perfect stance for your golf hit. When you are off balance, which happens when you stand too far from the ball, the body seeks to compensate in different ways.

Instead of delivering the perfect golf swing and making strides in golf, you will spend most of the game trying to compensate for the stress you are putting on the wrong parts of the body by standing in the wrong position. For instance, your weight should not be carried exclusively by your toes or your heels. By standing closer to the ball, you can keep your body correctly aligned without any stress.