Address Posture / Stance at Address Irons Beginner ⏱ 6 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Too Close or Too Far from the Ball: The Arm Test

Name: Too Close or Too Far from the Ball: The Arm Test
Uploaded: 2024-02-06T12:00:00+00:00
Duration: 5 min 43 s
Channel: Simon Camirand
Description: Too close, too far? Simon Camirand suggests a simple test to find the right distance from the ball: let your arms hang down. They should fall below your shoulders, not onto your thighs.

Too close, too far? Simon Camirand suggests a simple test to find the right distance from the ball: let your arms hang down. They should fall below your shoulders, not onto your thighs.

▶

Simon Camirand · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

Schedule · Step 1 of 7Hit Your Irons Pure in 7 StepsCorrect at address: In this position, your arms hang down at your sides without being straight or bent.

Step 2 →

To be continued

3 minSame problemBall Position Relative to the Club Sole: Two TestsPaul Lambersens · Beginner 9 minSame problemDriver Ball Position: The Sternum CheckpointLewis Wallace · Beginner / Intermediate 5 minFrom the same proSeated Torso Rotation: Simon Camirand's StretchSimon Camirand · Beginner / Intermediate / Seniors

What the lesson shows

To Simon Camirand, at the following address, Your arms should never feel as though they are in front of you: They hang naturally, slightly below the shoulders. The most common mistake is keeping the back too straight while bending the knees too much. In this posture, if you let your arms relax, they’ll fall onto your thighs; you’ll then have to push them forward to reach the ball. Conversely, if your upper body is leaning too far forward and your hands are very far from your body, it means you’re standing too far away: when you relax, your arms will move closer to your body.

The correction consists of a single sequence: a slight bend in the knees, just to feel grounded, with your back straight and your arms relaxed. Then you push your hips back Let your upper body lean forward until your arms hang below your shoulders. That's the right distance.

The Exercise, Step by Step

Bend your knees slightly, just enough to feel grounded.
Keep your back straight and let your arms hang completely loose; they should fall onto your thighs.
Push your hips back to let your upper body lean forward.
Continue until your arms hang naturally below your shoulders.
Hold the club without moving your arms, and position it behind the ball.
Position your feet relative to the ball rather than extending or bending your arms.

Key Takeaways

At address, the arms hang below the shoulders, not in front of the body.

Arms that fall onto the thighs: back too straight, knees bent too much.

Hands very far apart and arms coming together as you relax: you're too far away.

Keep your knees slightly bent, just enough to keep your feet planted on the ground.

It's the backward tilt of the hips that causes the upper body to lower.

The right distance comes from your posture, not the other way around.

Mistakes to Avoid

A back that is too straight with too much bend in the knees.
Reach forward with your arms to hit the ball.
Lean forward too far and extend your hands away from your body.
Adjust your stance using your arms instead of shifting your hips.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

Without a club: back straight, arms relaxed, hips tilting all the way up to the arms beneath the shoulders
With an iron, use the same swing sequence before each shot
Relax your shoulders at the address to make sure your arms don't move
Film from the side to check the position of the arms

Your Questions

Where should my arms be positioned at the address?

Below the shoulders. Simon Camirand checks this by letting his arms hang down: if they fall onto his thighs, you’re standing too straight and you’ll need to push your arms forward.

How can I tell if I'm too far from the ball?

If your hands are very far from your body and, when you relax your shoulders, your arms move closer to you, you are standing too far away or leaning too far forward.

Do you have to bend your knees a lot?

No. In the video, the bend is only used to feel grounded. It’s the backward tilt of the hips that positions the upper body.

Learn More

All videos on “Stance / Address Posture” →Find the lesson that's right for you Ball Position Relative to the Club Sole: Two TestsLet the club dictate the ball position (sole flat, grip toward your left eye) and check the distance by releasing your right hand. Driver Ball Position: The Sternum CheckpointBall too far toward the left foot: sternum in front of the ball, shoulders open; reposition it inside the left heel, with the sternum at 12 o’clock or even 1 o’clock. Bending Your Knees at the Address: Use the Shoelaces as a GuideBending your knees too much restricts rotation: two guidelines—the club held at the tip of your knee should fall in line with your shoelaces, and the grip should point toward your navel. Simon CamirandAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Simon Camirand). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.