Tip of the Month for January 2003

"The Lower and Upper Body Set-up"

A good starting position will lead to better golf shots!

Playing with many golfers with various handicaps and abilities over the years, I have seen that a majority of the people have the same problems: they have a poor set-up to the golf ball.
To be able to play your best golf, you have to have the proper starting position. This involves setting your body in the right positions so that you can swing the club on the correct line, without getting in your own way. These set-up positions are fairly simple; you can use a full-length mirror to check yourself to see if you have the correct positions.
Lower Body Set-Up

  1. Set hips and tilt base of spine away from ball
  2. Hips are behind the heels
  3. Sit down firmly on the inside of thigh muscles
  4. Draw knees slightly towards each other to
    firm up inside of calf muscles
  5. Weight should be distributed evenly between
    both insteps
  6. Legs will feel "springy", "alive", "athletic", etc.
  7. Toes can be easily lifted inside of shoes

 
 
Upper Body Set-Up

  1. Upper body must be relaxed and comfortable,
    tension free
  2. Base of spine is tilted back away from ball
  3. Keep spine in its natural curvature, slightly
    concave
  4. Draw an imaginary line from the top of the
    spine straight down. This line (center of balance)
    should be over the balls of the feet
  5. Bring the inside upper part of the arms (triceps)
    and rest them equally and lightly on the front
    of the chest
  6. Elbows are as close together as comfortably
    possible
  7. The front of the elbows will face forward away
    from the chest
  8. The hands and arms will hang comfortably
    below the shoulders
  9. Spine is centered in the middle of both feet
  10. Hands will naturally line up with the inside of
    of the left thigh
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