Stance Fundamentals

Your Stance Is the Foundation

Before you ever move the club, your stance sets the tone for the entire swing. A stable, balanced setup lets you turn freely and return the club to the ball the same way every time. Get these basics right and a lot of swing problems solve themselves.

1. Start With the Right Width

For a middle iron, your feet should be about shoulder-width apart, measured from the inside of your heels. Go a touch wider for the driver to support a bigger turn, and a touch narrower for wedges and short shots. Too wide and you cannot rotate; too narrow and you lose balance.

2. Balance Your Weight

Set your weight evenly between both feet, roughly 50/50, and centered over the balls of your feet rather than your heels or toes. You should feel athletic and ready to move, the same way you would guarding someone in basketball. Good balance at address makes good balance through the swing far easier.

3. Ball Position Matters

Where the ball sits in your stance changes your contact. Play short irons roughly in the center, move the ball slightly forward as the clubs get longer, and position it off your lead heel for the driver. Consistent ball position is one of the quickest fixes for thin and fat shots.

4. Flex the Knees, Hinge From the Hips

Add a slight, athletic bend in your knees, then tilt forward from your hips so your arms can hang freely. Avoid slouching from your shoulders or bending from the waist. This posture gives your body room to rotate and keeps the club on a natural path.

5. Aim the Whole Body

Your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders should all line up parallel to your target line, like train tracks running toward the target. Most amateurs aim their feet at the target and end up aligned well right of it. Pick an intermediate spot a foot or two in front of the ball and set up to that.