| The more golf instruction sessions I do and the more | | | | wedge. With the driver, make sure the heels are the |
| golf tips I write, the more I'm convinced that a solid | | | | same width apart as the shoulders. With the wedge, |
| set-up is a critical fundamental. Without a good one | | | | the feet should be close together. Somewhere in |
| no one, including the greatest golfer in the world, can | | | | between lies the ideal stance for every other club in |
| play the game well. That's why I key on the set-up | | | | the bag. Trial and error will tell you what feels most |
| in introductory golf lessons. If you want to get the | | | | comfortable, but it's imperative you find a stance the |
| most from your swing, you need a good and settled | | | | fits each club.Ball position influences the clubhead's |
| set-up.The discussion that follows will help you build a | | | | path at impact. That in turn determines initial shot |
| good set-up. While many of the tips in this article are | | | | direction. Many golfers vary ball position, depending on |
| reminders of advice you've probably heard previously, | | | | the club used. They move the ball back from just |
| they will help you achieve consistency and accuracy | | | | inside the left heel (right-handers) to the middle of |
| in your swing, which is what we all want. Establishing | | | | the stance as the clubs get shorter. Others, like Jack |
| a good set-up can help your golf handicap | | | | Nicklaus and Greg Norman, maintain constant ball |
| greatly.GripA sound set-up starts with a solid grip. | | | | position, just inside the left heel, for every club. |
| The way the hands are placed on the club | | | | Again, it's a matter of comfort and personal choice. |
| determines a swing's shape and the clubface's | | | | While varying the ball is more popular, I usually advise |
| direction at impact. That in turn dictates the direction | | | | those attending my golf instruction sessions, to try |
| of the ball. Use whichever grip (baseball, overlapping, | | | | both. Use whichever approach feels most |
| or interlocking) feels the most comfortable yet allows | | | | comfortable and provides the best results.Aim and |
| you to make solid contact with the ball, as I tell | | | | AlignmentGood golfers constantly monitor their aim |
| those who take my golf lessons. But, like everything | | | | and alignment. The clubface must be aimed at the |
| else in golf, it must be right for you.How do you | | | | target and the body must be aligned with the |
| know when you have the right grip? Your grip is | | | | clubface-known as perfect parallel alignment. Start by |
| ideally suited to you when the tips of the fingers on | | | | standing behind the ball and visualizing the shot. With |
| the left hand (right-handers) just touch the fleshy | | | | a clear picture of the shot in mind, step to the ball. |
| pad of the palm. If they don't, try another grip or | | | | Pick out an immediate target, such as a leaf or divot |
| check the position of your hand. Either or both | | | | mark, a club length or so in front of the ball along the |
| maybe the problem. It's the "trigger" position formed | | | | target line. Aim the clubface over that point. Once |
| by the thumb and the forefinger of the right hand, | | | | you establish a square clubface, build your stance |
| however, that's really critical. Make sure you can | | | | around it. Square your feet, hips, and shoulders to |
| "squeeze the trigger" with your grip. If you can't, | | | | the clubface position. Check your alignment by laying |
| there's something wrong. Also, when it comes to the | | | | a club down on the ground parallel to the target line |
| overall grip, apply just enough pressure to provide a | | | | in practice, something I have beginning students do in |
| secure hold on the club while feeling the club's weight | | | | my golf lessons all the time. Your stance should be |
| in your hands.PosturePosture is also critical to a solid | | | | parallel to the club.Triggering the SwingOnce in their |
| set-up. The body angles created at address in your | | | | set-up some players use a small movement to trigger |
| posture have an impact on the shape and quality of | | | | their swings in motion. A "swing trigger" encourages a |
| your swing. Keeping your balance throughout is crucial | | | | smooth takeaway and helps prevent jerky |
| to hitting good shots and a direct result of good | | | | movements that could harm the swing. Swing |
| posture. Good balance stems from perfect weight | | | | triggers are different for each player. Gary Player |
| distribution at address, essential to creating a solid | | | | kicks in his right knee. Arnold Palmer gives the club |
| base for your swing. To achieve good posture, stand | | | | one final, aggressive waggle. Jack Nicklaus turns his |
| up straight with your arms and club extended, then | | | | head to the right slightly-Nick Faldo does the same. |
| bend over from the waist while you lower the club. | | | | Try each of these swing triggers. If they don't work, |
| Once the club touches the ground, flex your knees | | | | try developing one of your own. It can make all the |
| slightly. That's good posture. Watch Ernie Els next | | | | difference in the quality of your swing.Copyright (c) |
| time a tournament is on TV. He has nearly perfect | | | | 2006 Jack MoorehouseJack Moorehouse is the author |
| posture despite having less than an ideal build for a | | | | of the best-selling book "How To Break 80 And |
| golfer, as I've mentioned in my golf tips.Stance and | | | | Shoot Like The Pros." He is NOT a golf pro, rather a |
| Ball PositionYour stance's width-the distance the feet | | | | working man that has helped thousands of golfers |
| are apart at address-is determined by the club used. | | | | from all seven continents lower their handicap |
| A major component in a consistent set-up, the | | | | immediately. He has a free weekly newsletter with |
| stance gets narrower as the clubs get higher. Widen | | | | the latest golf tips, golf lessons and golf instruction. |
| the stance for a driver, and narrow the stance for a | | | | |