If you’ve ever wondered whether your hands should be in front of the ball, level with it, or somewhere in between, you’re not alone. Hand position at address affects the entire swing. While hand position may feel different from one club to another, there is a universal control point that works for every club.
Point the handle at your lead hip
No matter what club you’re swinging, the end of the swingarm should point toward the inside of your lead hip. Imagine the belt loop just to the left of your chain (for a right-handed golfer).
A single point of control is carried with each club in the bag.
- Stops you from setting up with a lead wrist
- Makes it easier to return the club with a flat hand at impact
- Improves low point control with rails
- Keeps the food intake clean
- Helps eliminate rolling, sliding or over-manipulation of the clubface
The confusion for most golfers lies in the fact that hands don’t always cut forward.
How hand position changes with each club
Use this chart as your quick reference guide for how far your hands should be with each golf club you use.
| Type of club | Ball position | Location of the handle (relative to the ball) | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| wedges | Mid-stay | Straight ahead of the ball | More shaft tilt → encourages a downstroke and cleaner contact |
| Short and medium shackles (8–6 bars) | Just before the center | A little ahead of the ball | Adequate compression without excessive ligature |
| Long irons and hybrids | A little further | Almost level with the ball | Keeps the launch playable and prevents digging |
| Driver | Bullet heel | Level or slightly behind BALL | Promotes upswing, increases launch, reduces spin |
What happens if the hand position at address is not correct?
Small changes in hand position create big changes in wrist angles, clubface orientation and grip patterns. Here are some things you may notice if your hand position is not correct.
Hands far back
- The lead hand becomes cupped immediately
- Clubface opens early
- Takeaway breaks down and inside
- Results: high right errors (slices), poor contact, early release
Hands pressed far forward
- The lead wrist becomes excessively bent at address
- Shoulders tilt too much
- The club locks behind you
- Results: lean landings, low left shots, digs, arm-only swings
Final thoughts
Hand position at address may seem like a minimal change or adjustment, but it has a huge impact. If you point the grip at your lead hip and let the ball position dictate the look, you’ll automatically decide on the swing shape each club is looking for.
Post How far should your hands be at address? Why it looks different for every club appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
