Proper Golf Setup - The Stance

A square setup will encourage a square impact. A square stance means the feet are parallel to the target line. Imagine railroad tracks. Your feet are touching one rail and the ball is on the other rail.

A closed stance will encourage an inside-to-outside swing path, causing a draw. An open stance may encourage an outside-to-inside swing path by giving your arms and shoulders more freedom.

Position the ball a couple of inches inside the left heel for most shots. A consistent position helps develop a repeatable swing. Playing the ball too far forward in your stance tends to open the shoulders encouraging an outside-to-inside swing, often causing a slice.

Purpose

1. To reduce the problems caused by a poor setup. Many swing faults occur from an improper setup. This can cause unnecessary adjustments during the swing. Taking care to position the ball, feet, hips and shoulders properly ensures building a good swing foundation. Testing has shown golfers with open stances show no more tendency to slice than golfers with closed stances. The open stance may give the golfers a little more opportunity to slice, because it allows a little more freedom in the downswing and follow-though. The square stance is used by most successful golfers. Beginners should start with a square stance. As you advance, you can experiment with the advantages of other stances. Avoid extreme stances. Experiment to find the stance that works best for you. Take care to set up consistently on all normal shots.
2. To start with a proven ball position. Moving a golf ball even two inches forward or back in your stance can make a great deal of difference in shot consistency. Start with the ball a couple of inches inside the left heel. After you master this consistent ball position, you can experiment with other ball positions. However, a ball too far to the front of your stance will increase the chances of a slice by encouraging an outside-to-inside swing. A ball too far back in the stance will make it difficult to get the clubface closed by impact and may cause a push or a push slice.
3. To achieve the goal of hitting the ball at the bottom of the swing arc. Your drives should be hit slightly on the upswing, iron shots are struck slightly on the downswing. Fairway woods are hit at the bottom of the swing arc.

Proper Alignment for Your Golf Swing

Use your clubs as alignment aids when you practice. Lay one club on the ground parallel to the target line. Lay another from toe to toe to indicate the direction of your stance. Now, lay another club perpendicular to the target line . extending from the ball back toward your feet. This will indicate the ball position. Examine your alignment and ball position.

Hold a club across your shoulders and check alignment toward the target. Repeat for the hips and thighs. In a square stance the shoulders, hips and thighs should be aligned parallel to the target!

Purpose

1. 
   To develop a way to spot check alignment problems. Make sure your shoulders are properly aligned. Your shoulders are the most important element because your swing path will follow the alignment of your shoulders at impact. Subtle compensations can creep into your swing if you are not properly aligned. Without help even the best golfers can have trouble recognizing this. You must constantly check your alignment to be consistent. Poor alignment is a major problem for golfers who slice. Align the clubface squarely then align your body. Check the position of the ball by using alignment clubs also. Most golfers think they play the ball further back than they really do.



2. 
   To start your practice sessions properly aligned. Don.t assume you are lined up correctly. Remember practice makes permanent, so make sure you are starting off positioned correctly. Learn the square stance first. Later, as the need arises, you can experiment with other stances.



3. 
   To double check your target line. If you don.t accurately know your target line, you cannot easily tell if you are making swing path errors. Before each shot approach the ball from behind and pick your target line. Then when taking your stance align yourself toward your target. Better players align themselves much more consistently than poor players. Hitting balls without aiming at a target is an invitation for swing problems. Tape, clubs on the ground, or and "practice partners" are all good ways to check alignment. Learn to identify the different between a poor shot and an error in alignment.

Golf Setup - The Proper Swing Path

Inside to squareswingpath
An inside to square swingpath will generally result in a straight shot. An inside to outside swingpath encoureages a hook. And, an outside to inside swing path produces a slice.

The target line is an imaginary line extending through the ball to the target. Your goal is a swingpath that starts on the inside striking the ball while moving slightly to the outside.

Clubface to the ball Clubface open to ball encourages a slice or fade
Clubface closed to ball encourages a hook

Purpose

1. 
   To learn the effects of different swingpaths. An outside to inside swingpath will cause a slice (or a shot pulled left if the clubface is closed). An inside to square swingpath is desirable for straight shots and consistency. An inside to outside swingpath will encourage a hook.





2. 
   To recognize the type of swingpath you currently have. Knowing the type of swingpath you currently have is the key to understanding your shots. You need to recognize the type of shots that each swingpath produces to effectively analyze your swing. Watch the shape of your shots (the way the shots curve). Examine the depth and direction of your divots to further help you understand your swingpath. Identify whether you swing from the inside to outside or the outside to the inside.





3. 
   To understand how clubface position and swingpath work together. Your swingpath dictates the starting direction of the ball. The clubface position (open, square, or closed to the target line) is the major influence on the flight of the ball. Clubface position can make the ball slice (curve to the right), go straight or hook (curve to the left.) Swingpath and clubface are closely interrelated. Try some slow motion swings to see how the clubface position can be affected by your grip and/or your swingpath.

The Fundamental Golf Pre-Shot Routine

Planning the shot ahead, approach from behind the ball. Pick an intermediate target. Aiming at something new a few feet away is easier and more accurate than aiming at 200 yards away.

Approach the ball and take a stance about a foot back where you will make your next shot. Take a smooth practice swing. Focus all your attention on your upcoming shot.

Take your final stance and start your backswing with your personal swing key. This is an example of a typical pre-shot routine. Yours may differ. It is important to develop your own routine.

Purpose

1. 
   To develop your own standard pre-shot routine. Your routine doesn't have to be exactly like the one shown but it should be consistent. It is designed to make sure you have picked your intermediate target, decided on your landing area, visualized the ball's flight, and you are fully concentrating on your shot.


2. 
   To increase your concentration. Your pre-shot routine should turn on your own concentration. Up until that point you can be a laughing and joking, but when you start your routine you shift into your concentration mode. If someone or something disrupts your routine - Stop - back off and start your routine.


3. 
   To start your swing smoothly. The pre-shot routine concludes with you activating your swing keys (thoughts) used to begin your swing. For example, if the key your use to start the backswing is "low and slow", this will actually be the final component of your routine. The more you practice this on the range, the more it will become part of your routine.

Do's and Don'ts

Practice your pre-shot routine on the range. It is difficult to learn on the course, even during the practice rounds.

A Fundamental Golf Pre-Round Warmup Routine

A brisk walk to the practice range is a great way to begin your warm-up. It will raise your body temperature and loosen your joints and muscles. Finish with stretching and swing warm-ups.

Hit some practice balls (not a bucketful) if you can. Start with your shot irons and then skip every other club. Finish by hitting with some short irons again, this time to build swing confidence.

This is a warm-up not practice. Do not try new things, just hit some regular chip shots. Then try a few long putts, finish up by holding 5-10 short putts for confidence building.

Purpose

1. 
   To prevent injury and improve performance. Warming up raises the body temperature, increases flexibility and lubricates joints. A brisk walk is a great way to start your warm up. Before a round you need to warm up, because at that point it is too late to practice.
2. 
   To learn socially acceptable warm-ups. Some golfers do not portray themselves as athletes so it is not cool to do athletic warm-ups in front of other golfers. The same guys that ritualize warm ups before a basketball or softball game do not condone the social acceptance of golf warm ups. Taking a few extra practice swings on the first tee is only the warming up 99 percent of golfers usually do. A good warm up session will warm up your body so you can start playing better.
3. 
   To groove the way you play. If you fade the ball during warm up, you will probably fade the ball all day. It is too late to try to change your swing, so plan on playing your fade. Warm up time is not the time to try to learn new skills or improve techniques. A good warm up session will warm up your body and you will start off playing better.

Do's and Don'ts

Use the practice range to warm up if you can. Start with your wedge, hit 4-5 balls with every other club through the driver. Finish with a few solid short iron confidence buildiers. The purpose of a warm up is to allow you to play at your maximum efficiency without injury.