Stance Distance From Ball

How does varying stance distance from ball affect club path?

If one has a tendency to swing back too low and inside can standing closer help a little to encourage a steeper take away?

Or is this a distraction and best to focus on turning shoulder down toward ball and stick to a set distance from ball that feels

comfortable with club flat on ground or very slightly toe up?

8 comments

8 Comments

buddyvance20

Aug 28, 2022

I am 6’7” tall and believe that I need to bend over more and increase the distance that I set up for the ball. Do you have suggestions on how to get the right bend and distance from the ball,

Tom Saguto

Aug 29, 2022

Replying to

Welcome to this great forum community, @buddyvance20!!

Please have a look at the Foundations section. If your golf clubs are properly fitted to you, then height should not really be a factor with regard to your setup posture.

Did you ever watch my YT episode featuring Ben Hogan, Harold, Varner, and me side-by-side-by-side? Hogan and Varner are 5'9", and I am 6'1". Have a look at the screen shot below. Not much of a difference in address posture, right? (Hogan's hands were a little closer to his body, so he was slightly more upright.)

Russell Hogue, PhD

Jun 08, 2022

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@info ah, the distance from the ball question. I fixed this by changing to single length irons. With standard clubs if you setup just as @Tom Saguto said, place the sole on the ground with the toe slightly up, then move your stance the proper distance from the ball to match the lie of the club. With different length shafts, the swing plane changes slightly from club to club and the natural swing path of the club is set by the shaft angle at address. Have you had clubs fitted or are you using a standard set of clubs?

ehudpower

May 19, 2023

Replying to

Is it possible get updated links to these videos you commented? I have the same problem being 6’3” always worry if I’m to far or to close to the ball

Tom Saguto

May 19, 2023

Replying to

I'll be working on indexing the KFC Club videos at my earliest opportunity. That should make it easier to find your desired content in the new platform.

Russell Hogue, PhD

May 21, 2023

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Replying to

@ehudpower I am 6'4 so I get what you are saying. I honestly haven't thought about it for years since my clubs are all the same length, my setup never changes. With standard clubs, your distance from ball changes with every club in the bag.

My test would be to stand on the side of the ball. Pick a blade of grass to cut. Swing. If you can cut the grass by swinging through the grass, that's the right distance for that club. If you miss the blade of grass or if you feel the need to change your posture, distance is wrong.

The only question is, where do you need to stand so that you can cut through the grass on the desired swing path.

Tom Saguto

May 04, 2022

@info - I would first suggest that the clubs be fitted so that they are the proper shaft length and lie angle for you. A well-fit iron should rest on the ground with the toe slightly up at address. Beyond that, the arms and hands should hang down naturally from the shoulders for all clubs except the driver, where we will push the hands out away from us an inch so as to encourage more of an around the body swing path in accommodation for the longer driver shaft. This will preset your correct distance from the ball. If we sense a need to stand closer to or further from the ball than recommended we may perhaps then be masking a swing or equipment issue.