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| Proper Setup For Wedge |
In my previous post, I addressed
10.5 checkpoints for a proper setup position, from the “Down the Line” point
of view. Today’s post is a follow up with five additional checkpoints… this
time from the “face on” view or what I call “Caddy View.”
I encourage you to practice the
checkpoints from my previous post and this one whenever you have a chance. Everyone
(AS IN EVERYONE!) can have a great set up position regardless of strength,
flexibility, coordination, and ability! So why WOULDN’T a Golfer want to master
the setup position?
So without further delay… here
are “5 More Checkpoints for Proper Setup Position.” (from Caddy View). Again,
use a mirror for instant feedback when checking these positions.
CHECKPOINT - 1
Feet should be about shoulder
width apart… meaning lines drawn from outside the shoulders to the ground would
find the feet directly beneath them. With wedges (as in the image of me below)
and shorter irons, the feet may be a bit inside these lines. Mid- to
long-irons, directly beneath the lines and with hybrids, woods and especially
the driver, the feet would be outside these lines…
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| Shoulder Width Apart |
CHECKPOINT - 2
Since hips are a bit narrower
than shoulders… the feet should be directly under them or wider… with the
exception of shortgame like chipping and pitching. Notice in the image below…
that my left shoulder is in line with my left hip… yet the right shoulder is
outside of my right hip. Hmmm… why would that be? …
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| Hip Width |
CHECKPOINT – 3
… Because the shoulders are
slightly tilted… with the target-side shoulder (my left) higher than the
trail-side shoulder. This makes my upper spine (head area) tilt slightly away from
the target than my lower spine… due to the simple fact that my trail-side hand
(my right hand) is lower on the club than my target-side hand.
CHECKPOINT - 4
Notice also in the image below, that
when lines are drawn from my shoulders… there’s a bit more gap between the line
from my right shoulder and my right hip… than the line between my left shoulder
and left hip. This is because my hips are counterbalancing the backward tilt of
my shoulders by leaning ever-so-slightly toward the target. This is how I keep
my weight distributed evenly over both feet.
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| Hips Counter Balance for Even Weight Distribution |
Players with more shoulder tilt
often have a bigger gap between the line from right shoulder and right hip as
Sean O’Hair does. His hips are a bit more toward target to counterbalance and
keep his weight evenly distributed.
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| Sean O'Hair Hips Bit Forward Toward Target to Counter Balance Shoulder Tilt for Equal Weight Distribution |
Players with less shoulder tilt
are a bit more equal in gaps of hips from shoulder lines… as does Lorena Ochoa.
Because her shoulders are a bit more level… her hips don’t have to
counterbalance as much to keep her weight evenly distributed.
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| Lorena Ochao... Less Shoulder Tilt so Hips More Centered Over Feet |
So who’s right? The answer: Both
are! I see professionals set up both ways! HOWEVER… I can’t find a professional
who has a wider gap when lines are drawn from LEFT shoulder and LEFT hip. Not
one! Not for a “normal” shot…
CHECKPOINT – 5
I know there are several schools
of thinking when it comes to ball position. One… the ball position varies with
different clubs. Two… the ball remains in the same position (about two inches
inside the target-side foot) while the trail-side foot widens or narrows. Both
have great reasons as to why and this post isn’t to argue who’s right.
However, my preference is
that the ball position varies depending on club. My reasoning is that as an
instructor, I find that students who play the ball forward in their stance
oftentimes have shoulders that are “open” (pointed left of target for right
handed golfer) which promotes an “over the top” move on their downswings.
Feel free to experiment on your
own with ball position. In the image of me below, my ball position for a wedge
is under my left cheek or left ear. From there… as my club gets longer… my ball
position will move slightly forward in my stance… with my driver ball position
being under my left armpit (the yellow line in the image below). That places my
ball position about two inches inside my left heel.
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| Ball Position Varies with Wedges and Short Irons More Middle of Stance and Longer Clubs More Toward Left Armpit |
CHECKPOINT – 5.5 (Bonus)
And finally… notice my hands in
the previous image are slightly ahead of the ball. All pros have their hands
either ahead of or directly above the ball. NONE have the hands set up
behind the ball. I believe the more shoulder tilt, the more the hands are forward
(Review Sean’s picture), and the more level the shoulders (Review Lorena’s
picture) the less the hands are forward. When in doubt… go moderate… but again…
NEVER behind the club and ball!
Whew! Okay… VOLUMES could be written
about the setup position. Which I almost accomplished! But the setup is THAT
IMPORTANT!!
Work on perfecting (usually I
hate to use that word but this time it applies) the set up position and your overall golf game can only
improve!
Till next time! Peace… Love…
Golf!
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