GOLF TIP
by Debbie Vangellow"Set-up for Success...(not failure!)"
How you hold the golf club and aim it, and how you position your body in relation to the target and the golf ball, are known as your "set-up." When you set-up to the ball correctly, you greatly increase your chances of making a good swing. Conversely, for every set-up error you make, you will have to make a compensating move during your golf swing. Once you know the details of a correct set-up, you can put yourself in a position that gives you the best chance to make a good swing every time you address the ball.
Use the following check list and each swing you make will be set-up for success.
The Grip
The importance of taking your grip correctly is foremost in the set-up, since your hands control the clubface. Make sure this described grip is put on to a square clubface. Place (don't twist) your left hand on the club so that the handle lies diagonally across the palm and fingers with the club grip over the heal pad of the left hand. Close the hand naturally, seeing somewhere between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half knuckles on your left hand. Allow the left thumb to rest lightly, and slightly right of center down the shaft. Close the "V" between the left thumb and fore-finger. Feel the pressure in the last three fingers of the left hand, not in the palm. Place the right hand onto the club handle, snugly against the left (hiding the left thumb with the crease of the palm of your right hand) in either an interlocking, overlapping or baseball style grip. Allow the right thumb to rest lightly, and slightly left of center down the shaft. Close the "V" between the right thumb and fore-finger. Feel the pressure in the middle two fingers of the right hand, not in the palm. Make sure both "V's" point to a spot somewhere between your chin and your right shoulder, parallel to each other.
Posture
To establish good posture, take your grip as described. Stand tall, with your left arm on top of, rather than beside, your chest. With your arms hanging comfortable from your shoulders and the club shaft held parallel to the ground, simply let the club head drop to the ground as your bend forward from your hip sockets. Flex your knees for comfort and balance. Your weight should be balanced between the middle of your feet, never out over your toes or completely back on the heels. Width of stance is individual, but a good rule of thumb for your medium to short irons, is to place your feet no further than hip distance apart, measuring from your heels rather than your toes in case you flare your feet out. For your longer irons and woods, your stance should be shoulder width to accommodate the wider swing arc that the shaft length of these clubs demand. Think of your posture position as an "athletic ready position."
Ball Position/Hand Position
Incorrect ball and hand position can produce inconsistent shots even if you are good. Be careful with this important set-up fundamental. Ball position is individual, but a good, general rule of thumb for wedge through 7-iron, is to play the ball close to the center of your stance. For fairway woods and driver, play the ball off the left heel. Play the ball in relationship to the bottom of the arc, opposite of the left arm pit. Always have the hands in a position at least even with the ball, not behind it (driver can be an exception). Position the hands no more forward than the center of the left thigh, when you are using the club as designed with appropriate loft.
Aim and Alignment
With good aim and alignment, the direction is established before you swing and your swing is dedicated to producing the proper distance. Follow the same pre-shot routine for each shot. Get a good grip to a square club face. Standing on the extended target line from behind the ball, visualize the shot to be played. Find a line you want the ball to start out on, perhaps an intermediate target, to make aligning the clubface easier. Align the bottom line on the clubface perpendicular to your chosen target line. Take your stance, finding the ball position line and then aligning body lines (feet, hips, shoulders should all be aiming in a line parallel left of the target).
While this seems like a lot of things to remember, trust that it will soon become habitual (like all of the motions required to drive a standard transmission automobile) and you will do these checklist items on automatic pilot. To help this become a habit, go through the process of building your set-up exactly the same way for each shot you hit in your practice. Before you know it, you won't even think about your grip, your stance, your posture and your ball position. This will free you up to focus on your target.