Mark Wood is a highly sought-after golf coach with a wealth of experience coaching players at all levels, from European Tour professionals to dedicated amateurs. With a deep passion for the game and a proven track record of success, Mark combines technical expertise with a personalized approach to help golfers reach their full potential. He offers coaching both in person and online, making world-class instruction accessible to players worldwide.
One of the most common issues I see, even with experienced players, is poor setup — and in particular, standing the wrong distance from the golf ball. It might seem like a small detail, but trust me, this one fundamental can make or break your entire swing.
In today’s video tip, I’m showing you exactly how to find your ideal distance from the ball — and more importantly, why it’s such a big deal when it comes to hitting solid golf shots.
Why Distance from the Ball Can Make or Break Your Swing
If you’re standing too close, your arms get jammed up and the club struggles to travel on the correct path — often leading to heel strikes or the dreaded shank. On the flip side, if you’re too far away, you’ll tend to reach for the ball, which puts you off balance and often causes toe hits or inconsistent contact.
Getting your distance right allows you to:
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Create natural, athletic posture
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Let the arms hang freely under the shoulders
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Deliver the club on the correct swing plane
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Strike the middle of the clubface more often
And if you’re looking for consistency and power — which let’s be honest, we all are — this is non-negotiable.
Here’s How I Teach It
Over the years, I’ve developed a simple system to help players groove the right distance every single time:
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Start With the Club Behind the Ball
Don’t build your stance and then reach for the ball. Set the clubhead behind the ball first with a square face to your target line. -
Set Your Posture and Let the Arms Hang
Once you’re holding the club in position, bend from the hips and let your arms hang naturally down from your shoulders. No tension. No stretching. No collapsing. -
Check the Hang
If your hands are hanging just under your chin and directly below your shoulders, you’re in the sweet spot. That’s your ideal distance. -
Stay Balanced
You want your weight centered over the balls of your feet — not your heels, not your toes. You should feel grounded and ready to move.
The Mistakes I See All the Time
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Too Close: The most common mistake. This restricts your swing and forces compensations through impact.
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Too Far: Usually causes overreaching, leading to poor rotation and loss of control.
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Setup Adjustments Mid-Swing: If you feel like you’re fixing things during your takeaway, chances are you’re not set up properly in the first place.
Let me be clear: if you want to stop guessing and start hitting consistently good shots, this is the checkpoint that brings everything together.
Try This Drill
One of my go-to drills with players on the lesson tee is the arm hang check:
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Set up as if you’re about to hit a shot.
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Let go of your trail hand from off the club and let it hang freely.
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If it goes back onto the grip in the right spot then you’re perfect distance to the ball.
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If it’s too far out or tucked in, adjust your distance and try again.
Simple. Effective. Repeatable.
Final Thoughts from Mark
Look — everyone wants to improve their swing, hit it longer, strike it better. But the truth is, none of that matters if you’re not starting from a solid, repeatable setup. Getting your distance from the ball right is one of the easiest things you can fix — and it pays dividends instantly.
So before you make another swing change, double-check your setup. This is where consistency begins.
Until next time, keep it simple and keep it solid.
Mark Wood
Elite Golf Coach
Purchase Books by Mark Wood
52 Golf Challenges to shoot lower scores >> https://mybook.to/wJfl
Never Shank Again >> https://mybook.to/vJ58
How to Crush the Ball 20 Yards Further >> https://mybook.to/yBLlmSt
For More Great Swing Advice From Mark Wood visit his personal golf community at https://www.markwood.golf/share/I0JXd_NM3t1dnpk-?utm_source=manual
For Online Lessons with Mark visit https://skillest.com/@MarkWoodGolf
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