The Setup Routine

The setup routine is the most important factor in determining your score. This is also the easiest part of golf swing to change. If you set up to the ball in the manner describe, your golf swing will greatly improve.

If you have an unpredictable slice or hook, hit behind the ball, or even top the ball, the problem may originate in your current setup. If you experience one or more of these problems, the problem is due to:

1. Your setup putting you in a position to allow for these frustrating results, or
2. You have adjusted your set-up or swing to compensate for the problem, which has done nothing but facilitate a complicated golf swing.

In the beginning, it will take an open mind and some work to get used to this new set up. For some of you, it will be close to the set-up you are currently using. For the rest of you, it will require that you change your set-up completely.

The Mechanic of the Setup

Position yourself so that your feet are shoulder width apart. For the longer clubs, you may need a wider stance to support yourself, and for the shorter clubs you may want a narrower stance.

A stance that is too wide will make it difficult to turn. A stance that's too narrow will result in loss of balance.

Feel free to get comfortable, as long as your feet are approximately shoulder-width apart. The toe of your left foot should be point straight out, not point to the left at all. This will prevent you from completing a full shoulder turn.

The ball should be half way between your left and right foot. You should play the ball in the middle of your stance for every shot. You shouldn't position the ball more than its' width forward or backward in either direction.

Position the ball in the middle of your stance should be best for every shot to begin with. Once you master that step, you could experiment by moving the ball off-center by as much as one ball width toward your trailing foot for the shortest irons and as much as one ball width toward your leading foot for long irons.

For now, place the ball in the middle of your stance.

You can click on the link below to see picture of how you setup this routine.