Different, not strange.
There are some changes with our golf that can feel strange. Interestingly some of the more stranger feelings happen in the set-up, when we are not moving. This shows some human instincts are hard to change. A good set-up is fundamental to the golf swing and can have a large influence on the way we move. However, a strong set-up change during the golfing season can interfere with a golfers and make them feel uncomfortable. As a result performance and motivation may be lowered in that moment. With this drop in performance and motivation the golfer can lose faith and commitment with the changes and put them to one side.
The situation we are currently faced with presents us with a different way we can work. We can work on good fundamentals with fewer or no shot outcomes by using practice swings. This maintains high motivation levels and with this motivation comes an increase with commitment to change.
The golf swing is a dynamic movement and needs a dynamic position to start with. When making a change with the set-up, first be aware of the language attached to these changes. Think of it as different instead of strange. Using terms like strange attaches a negative label which becomes the first barrier to lasting change. Try to view the changes with curiosity and focus on how they will benefit in the long-term.
Below I’ve listed 3 key set-up fundamentals that can be worked on at home to develop good physiology, body movements and range of movements.
Start with the feet – When golfers try to get the posture ‘correct’ this can actually lead to poor set-up positions. Specifically I see golfers trying to get a ‘straight back’ and ‘good angles’ with the legs, arms and body. Approaching the set-up this way leads to a rigid body, unnatural distances with the body parts and distances from the ball, and poor balance. This all leads to a set-up that is tense, unresponsive and with poor adaptability. When I ask pupils to imagine they are going to throw a club, they rarely check first that their body is in a ‘correct’ position. They stand naturally with good balance and connection to the ground, ready to effectively transfer energy into the club. I understand golf is more complex than just throwing a club, but there are comparisons to take when the aim is moving an object fast.
Solution - Like any good building, build your body set-up from good foundations with the ground. 1. With the club behind the ball, find the balance point in the middle of the feet between the toe and the heels. 2. Bend from the hips with your legs still straight and your back in good form. Good form is different to trying to keep your back absolutely rigid and ‘straight’. Allow the arms to hang naturally towards the ground. Slightly flex the knees and set the feet apart. Tip with the feet - have both pointing slightly out. 3. Your body should not be tense but switched on and ready to move. Aim not to have parts of your lower body, including the hips, too far outside of your toes or heels. Click here for a good set-up example
The left hand grip – The golf club moves in many different directions and speeds during the golf swing. Without an effective hold on the club, it would struggle to support these strong demands. A key area to check is the connection of the left hand (right hand for left hand golfers). The club should be running through the base of the fingers and not through the palm of the hand. Imagine how you would pick up the handle of a suitcase. Holding a golf club like this gives a natural angle between your left arm and the shaft of the club. Holding the club this way will also give the left wrist freedom to hinge and unhinge and allow an easier squaring of the club-face at impact.
Solution - 1. With the right hand (left hand for left handed golfers) hold the club in-front of you level with the belly button. 2. Take the grip with your left hand and make sure the club is running through the base of the fingers. As a guide have the left hand thumb off centre to the right. If you feel the thumb is comfortable more over to the right this is no problem, the most important part is the club runs more in the fingers. 3. Practise holding the club this way a few times. 4. Once you have a feel of how the club fits into the left hand fingers, apply this new hold while taking the club naturally in the set-up with above process. Click here for grip in fingers example
Body alignment – The body doesn't have to be aligned absolutely parallel to the target to hit a straight shot. There are examples of tour players having a bias of either aiming slightly to the right or to the left of the target at set-up. One alignment that is important however is the alignment of the body segments with each other. These body segments can be broken down into the feet, knees, hips and shoulders. If one of these body segments are aiming too far out-of-line from each, then the body will have to make expensive compensations to overcome these misalignments during the swing. Speed is generated by the opening and closing of these body segments and therefore a misalignment with these body parts will have maximum speed potential compromised.
Solution - 1. Use an alignment stick or golf club to check all of your body segments are in-line. 2. Have one on the ground to work from, then hold the stick or club on each body segments to check they match and are aligned with the club on the ground. 3. Hold the club across your shoulders to make a final check of all the body segments. 4. Make practice swings and check to notice if any body parts are misaligned at the start.
Blog Summary
Key points:
The golf swing is an athletic movement which transfers energy to the golf club. It is important to have a dynamic, balanced ready position at set-up to support this
Build your body set-up around good ground foundations instead of forcing your body into the ‘correct’ set-up
Holding the club in the fingers of the left hand (right hand for left handed golfers), plays a key part in creating speed and aiding with squaring the golf club at impact
Ensure the body segments have a neutral starting point. This is so speed isn’t compromised and to avoid any unnecessary compensations to be made during the swing
Thank you and please let me know how you get on with this and if you have any questions by clicking one of the SM links below!