Setting up for success

The correct stance, posture and position is vital to your swing

I cannot stress enough the importance of a correct set-up position. Whether I’m looking at a professional or a bogey golfer’s swing, the first thing I look at is the set-up. Many problems result from a poor set-up, and incredibly, few players ever look to this as a possible source of error.

The proper set-up is the foundation of the golf swing. If you have problems getting into an athletic position, your swing mechanics will immediately break down and create inconsistency. Once you can develop an understanding of the proper set-up, you can practice and visualize it in front of a mirror. Without continual practice, it is extremely easy to move out of a good position and quickly develop bad habits.

Throughout my years of teaching. I have seen this key element frequently overlooked and forgotten. Many students have been corrected on their set-up at one time or another, but have a difficult time adhering to the appropriate position. The reason for this is partly because the position can sometimes be uncomfortable and add strain on the muscles of the lower back. In reality, through proper practice, this position is the healthiest for your back and can help prevent back problems in the future.

Here are five steps to achieving the perfect set up:

(Note: Practice this exercise without a club until you feel comfortable.)

Step 1: Stand tall with your chest out. Your feet should be shoulder width apart. Based on a right-handed golfer, your left foot should be flared roughly 25 to 30 degrees toward the target and your right foot should be straight (square).

Step 2: Learn to tilt your body from the hip sockets feeling your backside protrude up and out. This means keeping the back straight, not hunched over when you tilt. I stress that you must tilt from the hip sockets, as if you were to bow to someone.

Step 3: From the correct tilt forward position, allow the arms to hang relaxed under your shoulders, not resting on your chest or reaching out. The arms should hang clear of the body so they can swing freely, independent of the body.

Step 4: Allow your knees to flex and bend slightly. Feel a slight bounce to achieve a solid balanced position.

Step 5: Lastly, pinch your right knee in toward the target feeling the weight on the inside of the right foot. This will help quiet and stabilize the lower body during the backswing.

Now that you’re in the correct set-up position, here are two drills to help perfect the proper tilt of the spine:

Drill 1: Tilt forward from the hips, take a club, and with one hand at each end, place the club horizontally across the top of your legs. Now tilt forward, exerting backward pressure on the club so that your seat is pushed back and out.

Drill 2: A different way of achieving the proper tilt is to take a club and hold it vertically down the middle of your back with one hand at each end of the club. Tilt forward from your hip joints keeping the shaft against the back of your head and your seat as you tilt.

In closing, the proper set-up and posture position are vital. My beliefs are as follows:

• The posture position sets up the backswing.

• The backswing sets up the downswing.

• The downswing sets up the follow-through.

• Without achieving the first step, steps 2 and 3 are irrelevant.