Importance of good set up!

[delc]

After a bit of a purple patch last year, when I got my handicap down from 13 to 10, I have been slightly struggling with my game so far this year, only averaging about 30 points, and my handicap has gone back up to 11. I have just realised that my posture at address had got a bit poor. Bending more from the hips and sticking my backside out a bit more has transformed my ball striking. I had been hitting too many fat shots and even the occasional sh@nk. Also my back aches less after a round of golf. Result!

 

[chrisd]

I've mirrored your ups and downs exactly Del , including exactly the handicap changes. I had a lesson yesterday and the pro got me more connected with my arms, it was a revelation! Part 2 of the lesson next week - hopefully onwards and upwards (or should that be downwards)

 

[spongebob59]

Who's your pro..

Might be moving down that way.

 

[pokerjoke]

The set up for me is so important.
Getting the fundamentals right gives you a great
Platform to work on.
When my games off a little,generally when I look
Down my set up was poor.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Worked hard on my set up this week and standing much taller. It's amazing how hunched I can get without realising. Shame there's no mirror on the practice ground. A great set up is the foundation of a solid swing.

 

[delc]

I came 3rd in our Seniors Scratch Championship yesterday, and possibly could have won it but for a couple of silly holes and a few putts that would't quite drop, including a complete horseshoe out! Gross 84 paying off a handicap of 11, which is the best I have managed for a while. I generally struck the ball very nicely, so improving my set up has definitely helped.

 

[delc]

As a follow on to this, I had a golf lesson a couple of months ago, where the pro pointed out that my swing was much too 'in-to-out', which meant that didn't always strike my iron shots off the ground particularly cleanly, my club head tended to get stuck behind me, and I had to be rather handsy to square up the club face at impact. If I didn't get the timing absolutely right I was prone to hitting either pushes or snap hooks. I have been working to correct this, but only recently noticed that I was setting up with my feet parallel with the target line, but my shoulders rather closed. Just squaring up my shoulder line at address seems to have greatly improved my ball striking, particularly with the irons. I have played to or below my handicap for 3 of my last 4 rounds. Unfortunately the one exception was in a medal qualifier, and that was more down to a bad day on the greens.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Following a couple of lessons to fix a major issue with my game (my backswing take-away) I have been having big problems using my driver (snap-hooking a la Sergio).

Watching the RC these last few days I realised that my set up for tee shots with driver was not as the players were setting up - and I concluded it was me wot was getting it wrong! So yesterday evening I played a few holes putting my set up observations into practice. Night and Day - brilliant result - and all down to incorrect set up that worked OK with 'old' swing but was hopeless with 'fixed' swing.

 

[bladeplayer]

to be honest ive just discovered how important it is , always been the kinda walk up, stance and smack . spending a bit more time on set up now and touch wood scores seem to be improving a bit ..

Now have a pre shot routine and concentrate on set up , mainly as a result of playing with & watching better players i think

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

to be honest ive just discovered how important it is , always been the kinda walk up, stance and smack . spending a bit more time on set up now and touch wood scores seem to be improving a bit ..

Now have a pre shot routine and concentrate on set up , mainly as a result of playing with & watching better players i think

I also have to be aware of my weight distribution on my feet front and back - I tend to sit back a bit much as I feel I should but it is the opposite to what I need to do to get my posture correct.

 

[bladeplayer]

I also have to be aware of my weight distribution on my feet front and back - I tend to sit back a bit much as I feel I should but it is the opposite to what I need to do to get my posture correct.

Ive just been aware how important to visualise the shot u wana play in the practice swing , so i now set the club as i will in the shot swing and visualise the ball going off the club face and making sure the club face stays square to the target

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Ive just been aware how important to visualise the shot u wana play in the practice swing , so i now set the club as i will in the shot swing and visualise the ball going off the club face and making sure the club face stays square to the target

Unfortunately my thoughts are having to be a lot more basic than that. I have to concentrate totally on my stance, setup and take-away on EVERY shot - if I don't I WILL hit a shank - guaranteed 100% (bizarrely)

 

[bladeplayer]

Unfortunately my thoughts are having to be a lot more basic than that. I have to concentrate totally on my stance, setup and take-away on EVERY shot - if I don't I WILL hit a shank - guaranteed 100% (bizarrely)

Im not going to mention THAT word but thats what made me concentrate more , esp on the clubface going straight thru the ball and twords the target , give it a go ,i just try to remember its the club that changes , not the swing and try not to kill it

This might sound silly to alot of people but im more worried about the relation of the ball and the club face at contact than the take away so my concentration is having that club face square at & thru contact .. im no coach or swing guru but thankfully its working for me ...

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Im not going to mention THAT word but thats what made me concentrate more , esp on the clubface going straight thru the ball and twords the target , give it a go ,i just try to remember its the club that changes , not the swing and try not to kill it

This might sound silly to alot of people but im more worried about the relation of the ball and the club face at contact than the take away so my concentration is having that club face square at & thru contact .. im no coach or swing guru but thankfully its working for me ...

Sorry - I have to face my demons and we not really supposed to use **** in posts

I have to remain highly aware that if I lose concentration I will do a lucy locket (let's use a euphemism)

 

[jack1]

Im not going to mention THAT word but thats what made me concentrate more , esp on the clubface going straight thru the ball and twords the target , give it a go ,i just try to remember its the club that changes , not the swing and try not to kill it

This might sound silly to alot of people but im more worried about the relation of the ball and the club face at contact than the take away so my concentration is having that club face square at & thru contact .. im no coach or swing guru but thankfully its working for me ...

In terms of getting square through impact i have tried to think of keeping my left hand flat and square with the target line at impact. I notice Rory keeps his shaft in a straight line down through his left arm at address. Copying that helped me this weekend to achieve the above. However, i have no idea where my head or sternum are in relation to the ball and the shorter the club the further back the club head sits, or, the further forward is the press!!!

 

[ScienceBoy]

I know for myself that set up, alignment and backswing pretty much determine my golf shot. What happens from the top down is all down to what precedes it.

Once a good transition is made I am but a passenger

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I know for myself that set up, alignment and backswing pretty much determine my golf shot. What happens from the top down is all down to what precedes it.

Once a good transition is made I am but a passenger

What's the transition? (showing my total ignorance of the terminology used about the golf swing)

 

[delc]

What's the transition? (showing my total ignorance of the terminology used about the golf swing)

When you change direction from the back swing to the forward swing.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

When you change direction from the back swing to the forward swing.

I just stop my backswing and start my downswing. Not sure I do anything else at that point. Or maybe the transition is the period as you complete your backswing (but it's not finished) and you have started your downswing.

 

[garyinderry]

Unfortunately my thoughts are having to be a lot more basic than that. I have to concentrate totally on my stance, setup and take-away on EVERY shot - if I don't I WILL hit a shank - guaranteed 100% (bizarrely)

there must be something really skewwhiff about what you are doing. there is countless people with nowhere near perfect stance, setup and take away and they don't hit Sh**ks!