Correct golf setup
The Correct Golf Setup
Address
Promote a consistent swing with the Correct Golf Set - Up. It's as simple as this, if you start with the correct set up, you will make a correct and repeatable golf swing. Starting with a poor set up will lead to inconsistent results and potential back problems.
Start with the proper grip. This is the only connection you have with the club. Take the left hand and position the grip through the palm and under the heel pad. The left thumb will wrap over the grip in a 1 'o clock position. Gripping with the left thumb in a 12'o clock position is too weak and will often lead to slices due to the inability to square the club face at impact. Gripping the club with the thumb in a 2 o'clock position is too strong, which will potentially lead to scooping or releasing the club early. The right hand will grip the club diagonally just below the fingers. It is imperative that the hands work cohesively hinging and releasing throughout the swing.
Stance
The proper stance will make it easier to achieve the proper sequence of movements throughout the golf swing. Start with a stance where the feet are slightly wider than the hips. The toes should be turned out, which will enable more turn throughout the swing. The knees will be bent slightly and pointing in the same direction as the toes. Again, this promotes the necessary turning throughout the swing. Allowing the toes or knees to point in or straight restricts the natural turning of the body throughout the golf swing.
Bend at the waist (stick your butt out) to create your spine angle. The spine angle should be flat and helps creates good posture in your set up. The arms should hang down comfortably under the chin while gripping the club. Think of an imaginary line that runs straight down through the middle of the body. The hands should be positioned slightly left of center.
Picture of set up - target line, maybe common faults, poor spine angle, standing too far, close, etc.
To create the magic move in the Correct Golf Set-Up shift the left hip forward to the left while moving the head and upper body back to the right. This should tilt your hips with the left hip higher than the right hip. Allow the right shoulder to drop down and create what is known as shoulder tilt. You should have a tilt in your hips and shoulder where the left side is higher than the right side.
Backswing
The Correct Set - Up position is critical to the proper sequence in the backswing. The body will maintain the initial spine angle throughout the swing. The back swing is initiated by turning the left shoulder under the chin and behind the golf ball. The left shoulder will also be turned behind the left hip.
The club head will be slightly closed when it reaches waist high in the backswing. The clubface appears closed, however, the clubface remains square throughout the entire swing plane. The hands continue going up and behind the right shoulder at the top of the backswing.
Avoid a bowed or cupped left wrist at the top of the back swing. The ideal position should be a flat left wrist at the top of the back swing. At the top of the backswing, the hands and clubface are square. The club should be short of parallel at the top of the back swing.
In addition, the slight tilt in the hips now levels out at the top of the back swing. When the hips start in a tilted position and level at the top of the back swing, you have produced the correct weight shift to the right foot. Be careful not to drop the left hip after it levels at the top of the back swing. If the left hip begins to point down this often leads to an over the top move or an incorrect weight shift.
The Correct Golf Set-Up properly positions the head, hips and shoulders in the correct positions. Over rotating and extra movements in the backswing cause the club to go past parallel. At the top of the backswing the head will be back, hips are level, full left shoulder turn under the chin and the weight is on right side. This is a perfect position to hold at the top of the backswing.
Forward Swing
The forward swing will be the opposite of the backswing. You swing the golf club in one circular motion around your fixed spine angle. This means you swing on the same swing plane in your backswing and forward swing.
The forward swing is the uncoiling of the body down towards impact. While the hips leveled out in the backswing, they will again go towards a tilt position. The right hip will lower back down towards the original tilt position while the left hip will go back to the original left hip high position.
The body will uncoil around your fixed spine angle. Both knees will start moving together. When both knees move correctly the head will stay behind the golf ball producing the proper weight shift. The right knee will start moving towards and below the left knee. In addition, the right heel will start to lift up. This is the proper weight shift of the weight transferring from the right side to the left side.
While the body is uncoiling the hands return down in a hinge position. The arms and club swings down in front of the body and down towards impact. Just before impact the shaft will flex as you hit down and through the golf ball.
Many amateurs throw the club down at the ball and release the club early, thus losing swing speed and power. This pushes the body forward and the head forward, producing a poor impact position as well as inconsistent golf swing.
Looking down the target line (behind the golfer and ball) you will notice a window between the arms and hands and between knees down towards impact.
The correct sequence will have the knee will be in front of the knee and the right hip will clear the left hip out of way to allow the inside out swing path.
Impact
Every move throughout the golf swing has an influence on what happens at impact. If you can achieve a fundamentally sound backswing you will have a much better chance of a consistent forward swing and impact position. If the clubface is square at impact, the ball will go straight. If the clubface is open the result will be a fade or slice. If the clubface is closed the result is a draw or hook. The swing path will also determine what direction the ball will start initially.
The perfect position is almost identical to the Correct Golf Set-Up. At address, the right shoulder is low, right hip is low, the head is back toward the right foot and the hands are slightly in front of center. If you consistently get back to this impact position the result will be solid golf shots.
Allow the club to naturally swing down and through to your finish position. The hands will lead the club down and through impact. The right elbow will appear tucked in towards the right hip at impact. The hands will lead while the shaft will lag and release through the golf ball.
The right side will transfer weight to the left side. The right foot will roll in towards the toe while the heel starts coming up off the ground. Maintain the flex in the left knee through impact. One of the more common swing faults is straightening the left leg at impact. This is often the result of an over the top move.
Finish
Finish what you start. Many amateurs that do not swing to a full finish often decelerate into impact. Accelerate to a solid finish position. Allow momentum to continue swinging the club down through impact and around the body. Depending on your flexibility the club should finish around the back of your neck. The right shoulder will finish closer to the target than the right shoulder. In addition, the hips will face the target.
After impact you want to continue the forward swing to a balanced finish position. The body will turn towards the target. The body and legs will straighten up in the correct finish position. You will finally stand up after maintaining your initial spine angle through your entire swing. Also, the left leg will now straighten. Remember, the left leg remains flexed at impact but straightens at the completion of the swing.
Many amateurs create extra movements and incorrect weight shifts in the swing. Make sure the toe of the left foot will roll slightly through impact to the finish position. The rest of the left foot will remain flat on the ground. If the left foot does not remain on the flat on the ground you have created an incorrect weight shift. Many amateurs often spin out through impact and finish position. To prevent the spin out, make sure the left foot is flat on the ground while on the right toes. The right heel will be off the ground.
As you watch the ball fly towards the target think about the positives and negatives of the previous swing. After the completion of the swing you will uncoil from the proper finish position.
Address
Promote a consistent swing with the Correct Golf Set - Up. It's as simple as this, if you start with the correct set up, you will make a correct and repeatable golf swing. Starting with a poor set up will lead to inconsistent results and potential back problems.
Start with the proper grip. This is the only connection you have with the club. Take the left hand and position the grip through the palm and under the heel pad. The left thumb will wrap over the grip in a 1 'o clock position. Gripping with the left thumb in a 12'o clock position is too weak and will often lead to slices due to the inability to square the club face at impact. Gripping the club with the thumb in a 2 o'clock position is too strong, which will potentially lead to scooping or releasing the club early. The right hand will grip the club diagonally just below the fingers. It is imperative that the hands work cohesively hinging and releasing throughout the swing.
Stance
The proper stance will make it easier to achieve the proper sequence of movements throughout the golf swing. Start with a stance where the feet are slightly wider than the hips. The toes should be turned out, which will enable more turn throughout the swing. The knees will be bent slightly and pointing in the same direction as the toes. Again, this promotes the necessary turning throughout the swing. Allowing the toes or knees to point in or straight restricts the natural turning of the body throughout the golf swing.
Bend at the waist (stick your butt out) to create your spine angle. The spine angle should be flat and helps creates good posture in your set up. The arms should hang down comfortably under the chin while gripping the club. Think of an imaginary line that runs straight down through the middle of the body. The hands should be positioned slightly left of center.
Picture of set up - target line, maybe common faults, poor spine angle, standing too far, close, etc.
To create the magic move in the Correct Golf Set-Up shift the left hip forward to the left while moving the head and upper body back to the right. This should tilt your hips with the left hip higher than the right hip. Allow the right shoulder to drop down and create what is known as shoulder tilt. You should have a tilt in your hips and shoulder where the left side is higher than the right side.
Backswing
The Correct Set - Up position is critical to the proper sequence in the backswing. The body will maintain the initial spine angle throughout the swing. The back swing is initiated by turning the left shoulder under the chin and behind the golf ball. The left shoulder will also be turned behind the left hip.
The club head will be slightly closed when it reaches waist high in the backswing. The clubface appears closed, however, the clubface remains square throughout the entire swing plane. The hands continue going up and behind the right shoulder at the top of the backswing.
Avoid a bowed or cupped left wrist at the top of the back swing. The ideal position should be a flat left wrist at the top of the back swing. At the top of the backswing, the hands and clubface are square. The club should be short of parallel at the top of the back swing.
In addition, the slight tilt in the hips now levels out at the top of the back swing. When the hips start in a tilted position and level at the top of the back swing, you have produced the correct weight shift to the right foot. Be careful not to drop the left hip after it levels at the top of the back swing. If the left hip begins to point down this often leads to an over the top move or an incorrect weight shift.
The Correct Golf Set-Up properly positions the head, hips and shoulders in the correct positions. Over rotating and extra movements in the backswing cause the club to go past parallel. At the top of the backswing the head will be back, hips are level, full left shoulder turn under the chin and the weight is on right side. This is a perfect position to hold at the top of the backswing.
Forward Swing
The forward swing will be the opposite of the backswing. You swing the golf club in one circular motion around your fixed spine angle. This means you swing on the same swing plane in your backswing and forward swing.
The forward swing is the uncoiling of the body down towards impact. While the hips leveled out in the backswing, they will again go towards a tilt position. The right hip will lower back down towards the original tilt position while the left hip will go back to the original left hip high position.
The body will uncoil around your fixed spine angle. Both knees will start moving together. When both knees move correctly the head will stay behind the golf ball producing the proper weight shift. The right knee will start moving towards and below the left knee. In addition, the right heel will start to lift up. This is the proper weight shift of the weight transferring from the right side to the left side.
While the body is uncoiling the hands return down in a hinge position. The arms and club swings down in front of the body and down towards impact. Just before impact the shaft will flex as you hit down and through the golf ball.
Many amateurs throw the club down at the ball and release the club early, thus losing swing speed and power. This pushes the body forward and the head forward, producing a poor impact position as well as inconsistent golf swing.
Looking down the target line (behind the golfer and ball) you will notice a window between the arms and hands and between knees down towards impact.
The correct sequence will have the knee will be in front of the knee and the right hip will clear the left hip out of way to allow the inside out swing path.
Impact
Every move throughout the golf swing has an influence on what happens at impact. If you can achieve a fundamentally sound backswing you will have a much better chance of a consistent forward swing and impact position. If the clubface is square at impact, the ball will go straight. If the clubface is open the result will be a fade or slice. If the clubface is closed the result is a draw or hook. The swing path will also determine what direction the ball will start initially.
The perfect position is almost identical to the Correct Golf Set-Up. At address, the right shoulder is low, right hip is low, the head is back toward the right foot and the hands are slightly in front of center. If you consistently get back to this impact position the result will be solid golf shots.
Allow the club to naturally swing down and through to your finish position. The hands will lead the club down and through impact. The right elbow will appear tucked in towards the right hip at impact. The hands will lead while the shaft will lag and release through the golf ball.
The right side will transfer weight to the left side. The right foot will roll in towards the toe while the heel starts coming up off the ground. Maintain the flex in the left knee through impact. One of the more common swing faults is straightening the left leg at impact. This is often the result of an over the top move.
Finish
Finish what you start. Many amateurs that do not swing to a full finish often decelerate into impact. Accelerate to a solid finish position. Allow momentum to continue swinging the club down through impact and around the body. Depending on your flexibility the club should finish around the back of your neck. The right shoulder will finish closer to the target than the right shoulder. In addition, the hips will face the target.
After impact you want to continue the forward swing to a balanced finish position. The body will turn towards the target. The body and legs will straighten up in the correct finish position. You will finally stand up after maintaining your initial spine angle through your entire swing. Also, the left leg will now straighten. Remember, the left leg remains flexed at impact but straightens at the completion of the swing.
Many amateurs create extra movements and incorrect weight shifts in the swing. Make sure the toe of the left foot will roll slightly through impact to the finish position. The rest of the left foot will remain flat on the ground. If the left foot does not remain on the flat on the ground you have created an incorrect weight shift. Many amateurs often spin out through impact and finish position. To prevent the spin out, make sure the left foot is flat on the ground while on the right toes. The right heel will be off the ground.
As you watch the ball fly towards the target think about the positives and negatives of the previous swing. After the completion of the swing you will uncoil from the proper finish position.
Source...