If the length remains, then Link himself needs to move forward. Look at A Link to the Past for example.
See how he takes a step forward and is getting the maximum range his body allows? That's what needs to happen here, so enemies don't need to be all up in his face in order to be hit, like Zelda 2.
See how he takes a step forward and is getting the maximum range his body allows? That's what needs to happen here, so enemies don't need to be all up in his face in order to be hit, like Zelda 2.