Tip 2. Posture

Posture and Set-up
By Tim Odegard

After last week’s article about the grip, we’re going to continue with the pre-swing fundamentals of your posture and setup. Setting up to a golf shot requires a certain balance so as to allow proper motion. It’s important to note that our bodies are all different, therefore, how we each setup to the ball will differ slightly though there are a few points that everyone could benefit from.

• CHIN UP, EYES DOWN
Your eyes can see the ball without tucking your chin into your chest. Keeping your chin up allows room for your shoulder to turn during your backswing. Telling someone to “keep their head down” usually leads to this error. You will never hear a qualified teaching professional speak these words (Photo #1).

• REAR END OUT, LOWER BACK & TAILBONE STRAIGHT
This is one of the most common errors that we see as instructors. A poor posture is not only detrimental to your swing but also your body. The upper body needs to tilt forward while keeping the lower back and tailbone in a straight line. This is essential for balance and proper backswing rotation. Check your posture in a mirror to verify that your back is fairly straight (Photo #2).

• TAP HEELS NOT TOES
This will put your overall weight a little more toward the front of your foot than the heels. This is an athletic position that encourages a balanced movement during the swing which ensures the same at the finish. While watching the professional golfers on television, take note of their very solid, balanced finish. Check your finish next time you’re practicing. Can you hold your finish until the ball lands? It should be a natural occurrence based on a properly balanced setup. When your posture is correct your arms hang naturally and you have the correct space between the end of the club and your legs (Photo #3).

• SHAFT LEAN, AXIS TILT
As you can see in Photo #4, with an iron the shaft leans slightly forward or toward the target. This is encouraged because a divot is required when contacting the ball from the grass with an iron. This is how the ball gains backspin which propels the ball into the air. The club head is traveling into the ball and then into the ground. The sequence of those is crucial to solid ball striking.

It’s important to understand that the shaft as you see it in this address position will not be in the same position at impact. At impact the shaft will be leaning even more toward the target. This means that the hands will be closer to the target than you currently see them in this address photo A shaft that leans toward the target at impact creates the divot after the golf ball. This fact is necessary in order for the ball to gain backspin and travel into the air as stated earlier. When teeing the ball high with a driver or fairway wood, the ball is placed more forward in your stance (toward the foot that is closer to the target). The club shaft does not lean as far forward, but ball still gets airborne because of the ball’s placement. That placement helps the club travel into the ball on a more level or ascending approach, clipping the tee without contacting the ground and therefore propelling the ball into the air.

Please also be aware of your spine from this face-on position. Notice how the spine tilts slightly away from the target, consequently, you will have one shoulder lower than the other, and your head behind the golf ball.

Many setup or posture problems exist because of physical limitations Having strong abdominal muscles, glutes and back muscles are essential. Flexible hamstrings and hip flexors are also important. There are many golf specific books out there to help you stay golf strong and flexible. If you’re lacking time, stretching is much better that hitting balls prior to a round of golf. Ideally, you’ll have the time to do both.

As the top teachers in the state and contributing writers, Tim Odegard, Dana Smith, Tom Talbott, and Trent Wearner from the Meridian Golf Learning Center would like you to call with any questions you may have regarding this article or anything about your golf game. They offer golf schools, private lessons, after work clinics, the most successful junior golf programs, as well as custom club fitting.

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