It is my firm belief – and I emphasize this word hard – That almost all swing guns can be directly traced to a setup defect.
Poor grip, poor posture, incorrect distance to the ball, incorrect alignment, incorrect ball position, or a combination of these can hinder even the most talented players. You cannot build a highly reproducible, high-level golf swing on an unstable foundation.
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Can you hit a good shot from a bad setup? of course. But can you do it consistently? Absolutely not. Remember, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Poor setup conditions can cause you to stumble on a great shot here and there, but over time you’ll reach a ceiling and your ball-striking will become much more inconsistent. If you’re constantly chasing corrections during your swing, the real problem may start long before the club moves.
That’s why I always tell my students that practice should be about: qualitynot quantity. One of the easiest ways to improve your practice is to put an alignment stick on the ground and go through a complete pre-shot routine every time you hit the ball. Not sometimes. every time. Treat your driving range like a golf course, not a ball dispensing machine. You can’t hit a shot on the course without aiming and setting up properly, so why hit a shot at the range?
So who had the best pre-shot routine of all time? Jack Nicklaus, of course. Right behind him, I’d put Tiger Woods and probably Raymond Floyd. It wasn’t just talent that made these players special, it was discipline. I often tell my students that one of the characteristics of elite tour players is boredom. They do the exact same thing before every shot. Same routine. Same checkpoint. Same commitment.
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Recreational golfers, on the other hand, tend to be too “exciting.” Aim for the ball carefully. Next time it won’t be like that. One swing and they stand tall. Then they squat down. Over time, the contradiction becomes insurmountable.
If you want to play better golf, become an expert at setting up – yes, it’s worth repeating. Become a setup expert. Develop a pre-shot routine that is basically 100 percent healthy. Create a grip that fits your swing, establish your athletic stance, position the ball correctly with the club in your hands, and aim with precision like a world-class shooter.
With these fundamentals in place, your swing will become simpler, your contact will improve, and your stability will continue. The setup doesn’t just start the swing, it defines what is possible once the club starts moving.
Stance Towel – by Swing Plate
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The real cause of most swing problems is not your swing appeared first on Golf.
