Setting Up - Stance & Ball Position
Having a Good Golf Stance gives you stable footing throughout your Golf Swing and puts you in better control of the ball. The position of your feet and your posture affects the angle of your Swing which strongly determines the direction of your ball. A Good Set-Up or Stance is one that keeps you balanced as you do the Swing, allowing you to hit the ball with the center of the clubface. You may be able to make one hell of a swing, but without a Proper Stance, your Golf Ball will just end up anywhere in the Course except your target.
Here are some pointers on how you can achieve the Perfect Golf Stance:
- Your feet should be shoulder-width apart. The shoulder-width stance is best for mid-irons. For shorter irons, you will need to take a narrower stance, a wider stance will be required for longer clubs. The general rule is, the longer your club, the wider your stance; and, the shorter your club, the narrower your stance should be.
- The toe of the foot closest to the target should be rotated three inches towards the target
- The toe of foot the farthest from the target should be pointed to a spot perpendicular to the target
- Your knees should be slightly bent but keep your back straight.
- The sole of your Golf Club should rest flatly on the ground
- Your weight must rest lightly on the balls of your feet.
- Your arms should be stretched, forming a "V"-like shape.
- The clubface should be square to the target, somewhere from the middle of the stance-leftward.
Ball Position in the Set-Up
The position of your ball during set-up greatly depends on the type of club you are using. Here are some guidelines on the position of your Golf Ball based on the club you use:
- Short Irons: the ball needs to be positioned at the center of your stance.
- Long Irons and the Five-Wood: put your ball just in front of the center of your stance- that is about a Golf Ball width from the center of your stance towards the target.
- Long Woods, including the Driver: the ball is set just in front of your front foot. This is about two Golf Ball width from the center of your stance towards the target.
To check if you are at the right position from the ball, hold your club with your arms outstretched at waist height and parallel to the ground. Then bend forward, let your arms drop. The ball must be placed where the clubhead touches the ground. Having your ball positioned farther makes you slouch or stoop forward too much, thus creating a bad posture and a bad swing.
Aside from the ball distance and positioning, you need to keep a good posture. A good posture is characterized by a fairly straight back, head angled with your spine and behind the ball. Your knees should be slightly bent, and your weight equally divided between the balls and heels of your feet. Keep your chin tucked in and your arms should hang loosely with your right arm lower than your left. Following these guidelines will definitely result to a proper Swing.
See related products in our Golf Shop:
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These are all the Golf Techniques covered in this section:
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