Winter Golf Tip -By Mike Colandro for CTGolfTips.com

A perfect swing begins with a perfect set-up.  By aligning our body and our club square and on-line to the target, if we hit it correctly, the ball will go exactly where we “hope” it will go.  Our alignment however, is just one piece of the puzzle.  With a correct neutral grip, we can now set-up to the ball. 

Whether you are hitting a driver off the tee box, or chipping around the green, having a correct set-up is essential.  A perfect set-up always includes two important parts: posture and balance.   Perfect posture means that no matter what the shot, you are comfortable over the ball, and are in an athletic position.  Since golf is a sport and golfers are athletes, it goes without saying that all athletes must “look the part”.  To do this, first, relax. 

Tension is the #1 killer in all golf swings.  When addressing your ball, your spine should be angled in such a way that has your shoulders on top of your toes and our arms hanging freely down from the shoulders.  A good way to test this is by getting into position, and taking your right arm off of the club and let it hang freely.  If you let your right arm swing loosely, it will come right back to your club.  With this, bend your knees just enough to earn our second point of discussion, balance. 

            Without balance, it is guaranteed our perfect swing will fail.  Our weight should be centered over the sole of your feet, and your feet should be spread accordingly

        *  For chips, pitches, and your low irons (8,9)
your feet should be closer than shoulder width apart.

* For your mid-irons (5-6-7) your feet should be shoulder width apart.

*  For your long-irons and woods, your feet should be wider than shoulder width apart, because with the increased shaft length means increased stability. 

Balance also comes with swinging within your limits. 

A controlled tempo golf swing will incorporate balance, so know your limits.  Good exercise programs and proper practice techniques will help you develop a sound swing!