How To Unlock Your Full Potential By Observing The Proper Stance For Golf
When you first pick up the game golf can be incredibly frustrating. It seems so simple.
Hit a small ball (that isn’t moving) off a tee. All beginner golfers learn quickly that it’s shockingly difficult.
Players spend hours on the driving range trying to “fix” their swing, but most new golfers make critical mistakes before they start their backswing. How you hold the club and how you set up for the shot will determine the success of your swing. Today we’re going to focus on taking the proper stance for golf.
The good news is that anyone can follow these tips. You don’t have to be Tiger Woods to take the proper stance for golf. Follow the instructions below and you’ll be on your way to playing better golf!
Importance Of Taking The Proper Stance for Golf
Taking the proper stance for golf is critical to your success.
If you set up incorrectly, it doesn’t matter if you have a great swing.
The most obvious example is your alignment. When you take your stance your feet, shoulders, and hips determine where you are aiming the golf ball. If you’re lined up 30 yards left of your target, it doesn’t matter if you hit a great shot. Your ball will still end up in a bunker, the rough, or even out of bounds.
Alignment is just one element of your swing that’s impacted by your stance. The proper stance for golf will also improve your balance, your distance, and the consistency of your ball striking.
Give every shot you hit a chance to be great by always setting up with the proper stance for golf!
Now that we’ve discussed the “why”, let’s focus on the “how.”
5 Simple Tips To Perfect Your Golf Stance
Don’t take another swing without following these tips. Today is the day you start playing golf the “right way.”
1. Proper Width Of Stance
The width of your stance determines your balance and your ability to turn through the golf ball. The proper stance for golf includes the width of your feet being slightly wider than your shoulders.
A narrow stance makes it hard to “hold your pose” and stay balanced throughout your swing. Wider is better than too narrow but too wide can also be a problem.
As Chubbs told Happy Gilmore, it’s “all in the hips!” If your stance is too wide, your hips can’t rotate and you’ll lose power.
The first thing to check when you take your stance is the width of your feet.
It will quickly become second nature and your swing will feel more stable. Does it help you to see a good example?
Check out a video of Rory McIlroy - a great example of the proper stance for golf.
2. Heels To Toes Balance
Where’s your weight when you prepare to start your swing?
Do you feel it in your heels or in your toes? We hope your answer is “neither.”
The proper stance for golf requires that your weight is located on the balls of your feet. If your weight is on your heels, you’ll have the tendency to fall backward causing a hook.
Get too far on your toes and you fall forwards causing several different types of poor shots including the dreaded shank.
Get your weight in the correct place to get your swing started on the right track!
3. Check Your Posture
Good posture is important in life and in your golf game.
You want your knees to be slightly bent (flexed, not-locked), you want to bend from the waist, and avoid slouching your shoulders.
This type of athletic posture will improve your balance and create power in your swing.
The most common reason that golfers have bad posture is because of weakness somewhere in their bodies.
We strongly recommend you add a fitness routine to your golf practice plan. Did you know that there are specific exercises for golf?
They’ll improve your flexibility and strengthen the muscles you use when playing the game.
Get your body in shape and your posture will improve and your scores will go down!
4. Ball Placement
Ball placement is an important part of the proper stance for golf.
To be clear, ball placement is the location of the golf ball in relation to your feet prior to starting your swing.
For a right-handed player, your left foot is the front of your stance and your right foot is the back of your stance.
The correct ball placement changes based on the club you’re hitting and the shot you’re trying to play.
If you’re hitting Driver the ball should be in the front of your stance (near your left foot), but if you’re hitting a wedge, the ball should be in the middle of your stance. It’s rare that you’d want the ball farther back than the middle of your stance. The Driver should be in the very front of your stance and the correct ball placement should be slightly more toward the middle as you work through your clubs.
In other words, your 5-iron should be more toward the front than your 7-iron.
You may adjust the ball placement if you’re trying to hit a certain shot. For example, it’s easier to hit a high cut (the ball that curves slightly to the right) with the ball in the front of your stance. A low draw will be easier to hit with the ball toward the back of your stance.
5. Check For Alignment
Our final tip to help develop the proper stance for golf is to always check your alignment when you are practicing on the driving range.
The best way to do this is to lie an alignment stick or spare club on the ground in front of your feet. Step away from the ball and stand behind it.
Where’s the alignment stick pointing?
If you’re properly aligned, it’ll be approximately 10 yards left of your target (right-handed golfer) and it’ll be pointing parallel to your target. If it’s pointing in the wrong direction, fix it, and leave it on the ground.
You can now use it to get properly aligned prior to each swing.
Don’t forget to check your alignment on the putting green as well!
Fix Your Setup & Play Better Golf
It’s quite simple. Learn to use the proper stance for golf and you will shoot lower scores. Teach yourself to be aware of these 5 tips and your ball striking will immediately improve.
Good luck and enjoy your time on the course!