Let Your Shoulders Set the Angle

Good posture will improve rotation and your score

By Kelli A. Kostick

One of the quickest ways to consistent ball striking comes through good posture. If you take a look at today’s great players, you will find that correct posture — specifically, spine angle — allows for full rotation in the back swing as well as the correct tilting of the shoulders throughout the golf swing.

Shoulder angle in the back swing greatly affects the angle of the golf club in the down swing. For solid contact with the ball, the shoulders must maintain correct position.

If the shoulder angle is off even just a little bit, you will lose solid contact with the golf ball. Both fat and thin golf shots will result because the club can swing down to the ball on either a steep or shallow approach.

Tip:

To check your shoulder posture, try this exercise:

Sit comfortably on the edge of your bed or couch. Round your shoulders inward and cross your arms to your chest. Place your hands on your shoulders.

Turn your shoulders as if you are making a backswing. Take notice of how far you can rotate in this position.

Now, repeat the exercise again making this slight change: Sit comfortably on the edge of your bed or couch. Push your shoulder blades back and down. Cross your arms to your chest, hands resting on your shoulders.

Keep your head and chin up as you turn your shoulders to a back swing position. You should see an increase in your ability to rotate.

Good rotation through your shoulders on the correct angle will allow the club to approach the ball on the proper angle.

Applying the club to the ball on the correct angle will give you a solid strike with the club on the golf ball.