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In golf, so many factors work together towards success. Good equipment, fitness, grip, stance, posture, balance, and swing are all important. But mastering a good grip is pretty straightforward. A good swing is achievable with some guidance and moderate practice. And there are thousands of programs that teach fitness.
But the proper stance, posture, and balance seem to elude many golfers. Here is some advice about how to get set up in that very important 'middle-ground'.
Nothing kills a good swing, and lowers scores, like improper tension. Of course, you have to have a firm grip and you need to coil and spring on the swing. But when your body as a whole is tense, your mind is tense. Take a couple of deep breaths. Loosen up those neck and shoulder muscles.
It really is ok if your head moves slightly. Most good players will move the head 4-6 inches during an elegant and powerful swing.
Now take a good grip and address the ball with your heels at about shoulder width. Stand with legs slightly further apart for wood and low numbered iron shots, a little less for chips. Bend slightly at the hips (not the waist), but keep the back straight. Don't fear jutting your butt out, but don't exaggerate the position.
Let the arms swing freely with your weight slightly forward toward the balls of your feet. Don't tuck your chin into your chest, but instead keep your eyes pointed away, at the ball.
At this point, you should be balanced and relaxed. If you can lift one foot without falling over, your weight is not balanced. If you can be pushed left or right by a slight nudge, you don't have a firm stance and you're out of balance. If you could be pushed over backwards with a slight shove, your weight is too far back on your heels.
If your weight is too far back toward your heels, you'll tend to swing too much from the inside to outside. And that's a recipe for a hook. Correct it by ensuring that your kneecaps are almost directly above the balls of your feet.
Examine your stance. Your left foot should be slightly open, your shoulders level and aligned along the target line. Swiveling your head to the left (for right-handed players), an imaginary line running across your eyes should run parallel to the target line. In the proper position, your spine will angle slightly away from the target, even though your weight remains equally balanced.
You should remain balanced throughout the swing. Practice a backswing-to-downswing. You should be moving through a single swing plane throughout. If you're out of balance, that will be difficult to maintain.
As you move into the back swing, your weight will move to approximately 75% on the (inside of the) back foot, 25% on the forward. Through the downswing to impact, the percentages will reverse.
Your swing evolves naturally from your setup. Master stance, balance, and posture and a good swing is halfway in the bag. Make that, in that hole!
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