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This Week's Golf
Tip -by
Kevin Ferrarotti,
Owner of the Premier Golf Academy
Set Up
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:
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For chips, pitches, and your
low irons (8,9) your feet should be closer than shoulder width apart.
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For your mid-irons (5-6-7) your
feet should be shoulder width apart.
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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! |
