The Basics of Proper Golf Setup

Apr 01, 2020 silhouette of man holding golf club

When you work on your golf game, what is it that gets your attention? If you are like most golfers, you spend your time working on things like grip, swing plane, the transition, and other related fundamentals. To be sure, those pieces of the golf swing puzzle are important—but what about your stance? If you are serious about your game, working on your setup is a key element. After some setup work, the results you get on your portable golf launch monitor are likely to move in the right direction.

Start with Great Balance

There are few things more important in your golf swing than balance. Since you want to be balanced throughout the moving parts of the swing, it only makes sense to start out balanced at address. Place your weight in the middle of your feet and flex your knees slightly to establish a comfortable, balanced, athletic position.

Learn Correct Alignment

Getting aligned correctly is a difficult skill to learn, and it is something that many golfers take for granted. This is a target-based game, so knowing how to aim at your targets accurately is an ability that can take you a long way on the links. One key concept related to alignment is to remember that the club head should be aligned with the target while your feet are aligned to the left (for a right-handed golfer). To get this correct, place your club head down behind the ball first, get it in position, and then set your feet on a line that is parallel to the left of that target line.

Square or Flared?

The way you position your feet on the ground is going to be a matter of personal preference. Some golfers like to place their feet in a “square” position, meaning they are perpendicular to the target line. This is the simplest option, so start here and see if it works for you. If you find it a little difficult to make a full turn in both directions with your feet square, try flaring them out just a bit to allow for added freedom of movement.

Eyes Down, Chin Up

white golf ball lot

Last, we need to discuss how your head should be placed at address. Some golfers think they need to “keep their head down,” but that’s not quite right. It’s more accurate to say that you need to keep your eyes down but your chin up. With your chin up, you’ll have an easier time turning back and through while your eyes stay on the ball to help you make solid contact.

Contact Foresight Sports Today

Looking for a portable launch monitor that can help you move your game to a higher level? Foresight Sports is here to help. For a golf launch monitor that will provide the accurate data you need, contact us right away. Thanks for visiting!