Golf Tips

For a golfer, proper posture is vital. Among other things, it allows you to coil properly on the backswing, build the proper resistance from the ground up and swing in balance.

Here are some posture keys to check on yourself:

1- Imagine you are playing quarterback, taking a snap from the center. Get your center of gravity down, weight on the balls of your feet and your arms extended.

2- An "angular" look is best---bend from your hips so your upper back is straight and your arms hang slightly away from you. Your spine should angle slightly to the right, if you are a right handed golfer. Flex your knees slightly and tap your heels a few times to feel your weight on the balls of your feet.

3- If you have a mirror, or a friend who can check, look for the following from a "down the line" perspective:
*middle of the shoulders and the front of the knee should line up
*your hipbone and your ankle should also be in line
*your hands should be under your chin, with at least a fist to fist and a half gap between the club and your legs

Warning!!

Many golfers set up to their club, and they don't have a club that fits their most athletic stance.

This means that too often a golfer will adjust, or compromise many of the above ideas because their equipment doesn't allow them to take the correct posture. Incorrect line angles are the biggest culprit here. To verify that your equipment is at least in the ballpark, spec wise, take your posture as we have talked about without a club. Then, grab your 6 iron and see how the club rests on the ground. Odds are, the toe will be too far off the ground. If that is the case, get your lie angles flattened, or the toe lowered. Many clubs today are made too upright--a "standard, "off-the-rack" set of clubs does not always fit.

So be athletic as you take your posture. Contrary to popular belief in some circles, golfers are athletes, and that starts with your stance.