A balanced one golf swing starts before the club swings.
This sounds simple, but it’s one of the biggest mistakes golfers make. They work on back positions, transition movements and kick drills without first checking that their body is able to move well.
If your setup is out of balance, your swing must make compensations.
Here’s a step-by-step way to build a more balanced setup.
Step 1: Start with your feet
Your feet are your foundation.
For most full range of motion, your feet should be about shoulder width apart. A shorter iron might be a little tighter. A driver can be a little wider.
The key is that you should feel athletic, not static.
If yours RESIDENCE it’s too tight, you might wobble or lose stability. If it’s too wide, you may have trouble going back and finishing.
Quick test
Take your setup and then gently bend your knees.
If you feel athletic and stable, your stance width is probably close. If you feel stuck, heavy or wobbly, adjust your feet first.
Step 2: Feel the pressure between your legs
Many golfers place their weight too much on their heels or too much on their toes.
Both create problems.
Too many heels can cause you to stand up during the swing. Too much on the toes can pull you forward and cause poor contact.
At address, feel pressure in the middle of your feet, maybe a little toward the balls of your feet. You should feel like you could move in any direction if someone pushed you lightly.
Golf is an athletic movement. Your setup should look athletic.
Step 3: It depends on your hips
Good attitude does not mean flexion from your waist. That means DEPENDING from your hips.
Stand tall and then push your hips back slightly as your chest leans forward. Let your arms hang naturally from your shoulders.
Your back should feel fairly straight, but not stiff. Your knees should have a slight bend, not a deep squat.
One of the most common setup mistakes is bending the knee too much with too little hinge. This can cause the golfer to sit back, lose the spin and struggle to return the shot.
Step 4: Let the arms hang
Once your stance is set, let your arms hang naturally.
Don’t catch the ball. Do not jam your hands too close to your body.
If your arms hang naturally from your shoulders, the club has a better chance of returning to the ball without manipulation.
A good control point is whether your hands land below your shoulders or just slightly outside them. If you feel stretched, you are probably too far off the ball. If you feel crowded, you’re probably too close.
Step 5: Match the position of the ball with the club
The balance changes when the position of the ball it is wrong.
With short wedges and irons, the ball can be near the middle of the stance. With the middle bars, move a little forward. With freeway forests and the driver, it moves further.
The driver is the biggest difference. The ball must be sufficiently forward to induce a sweeping stroke.
The mistake is to try to play every club from the same place. This forces the body to make last-second adjustments.
Step 6: Check your conclusion
The best way to test your setup is to look at your termination.
A balanced setup should help create a balanced finish.
After each shot, ask yourself: Can I hold my finish until the ball drops?
If the answer is no, your setup may need attention.
Falling back, falling forward or rolling can be signs that your starting position was not as balanced as it should be.
Balanced configuration checklist
Before you swing by, check these five things:
- The legs are athletic and stable
- The pressure is concentrated on the foot
- Posture comes from the hips
- The arms hang naturally
- The position of the ball matches the club
You don’t need a perfect setup to play good golf. But you need a functional one.
conclusion
Balance is not just something that happens at the end of the movement. It starts at the address.
Build a better base, feel pressure between your legs, hang from your hips and let your arms hang.
A balanced setup makes the rest of the swing easier.
