Posture is the Key

January 24, 2008
By: Butch Bundy

There are a number of things that have to happen in a golf swing for a good shot to occur. Solid contact has to be made, the right amount of arm swing and body rotation has to be used and the clubface has to match the path of the golf club. Good posture in the set up is what makes all of these things happen more consistently.
After the grip, posture is the next most important aspect of the golf swing. Achieving good balance and creating the proper angles at address is the key to consistency. In my teaching, the first question that I ask a student as I watch them hit balls for the first time is "where do you feel like you bend from?" Most people bend either too much from the knees or they reach for the ball by arching their back which creates rounded shoulders or in most cases both. As a result of poor posture, players tend to get most of their weight towards their heels or their toes both of which cause swing problems. I encourage players to bend very slightly at the knees and then to tilt down to the golf ball from the hip sockets while keeping the spine as straight as possible. This helps to ensure the proper blend of arm swing and torso rotation and also gets the player balanced throughout the swing. It also helps the club to stay on the proper path and plane. Swing flaws are almost always the result of poor posture or a poor grip no matter the skill level of a player. Even tour players spend a majority of their time working on set up and balance. It is always funny to me that people who are struggling with their game only come to me when they have exhausted every swing thought or quick fix they can think of. It often comes as a surprise that it only takes a change in the set up to get back on the right track. Start here before trying to change the motion.