I truly believe that if your the setup is goodnot only will you hit the ball more consistently, but your misses will be much more playable.
In fact, you can often tell where a shot is going before the player even swings – just by looking at their setup.
If you don’t have one consistent setup routine, you’re likely to be wildly inconsistent and leave a lot of good shots (and shots) on the table.
If you’re someone who struggles with setting them up, follow the five tips below.
1. There are many good configuration options
The good news? You need to determine the routine that works best you. Ideally, you’ll work with your instructor to build one that fits your tastes and goals.
Watch golf on TV and you’ll notice that while the best players in the world may look different in how they set up, they all of them do it the same way every time. Once they have established their routine, there is very little variation. This is the key to sustainability.
2. Keep the face of the club in mind
Once you’ve got your practice rhythm going and you’ve chosen your target, the first step in your setup should always be to aim for the clubface.
Position the clubhead behind the ball so that the face is pointed directly at your target, with the ball centered on the face. As you do this, look back and forth between the clubface and the target – it’s an easy way to improve your aim and start swinging in the right direction.
3. First hands? Or the club first?
You have two options here, and both can work.
You can:
- Place the stick first, then place your hands on the handle – being careful to place each hand correctly.
- Or put your hands first, then put the club behind the ball.
I often recommend the first hand method if you have difficulty with posture. By grabbing the club first, then tucking in and bending from the hips, you can establish better posture and balance – helping the arms hang naturally and improving contact.
4. Don’t forget your feet
Once your club and hands are set, it’s time to fix your feet. This is where great setups are made.
Your feet define:
- Ball Distance: Too close, and you’ll likely heel or hit behind the ball. Too far, and you’ll tend to hit your toe or kick the ball.
- Ball position: Too far back, and you’ll be pushing or shooting money. Too far forward, and you’ll pull or hit the fat ones.
- Alignment: Your toes should form a line that is roughly parallel to the goal of your face.
When you see great players carefully “set in” before each shot, now you know why – there’s a lot that’s being calibrated in that moment. This is the true art of a great setup routine.
5. Define your goal
Every great setup includes a clear system for targeting the clubface and body alignment.
Some players prefer to stay behind the ball, choose one intermediate objective a few meters in front of him and lie across that place. Others use their own body lines relative to the target and enter from the side.
