How to Ensure Proper Golf Setup Position

The single most important full swing fundamental in golf is the setup position i.e. how to align you body and where to place the ball.

Alignment
Your body especially your feet should be positioned parallel to the target line. The golfer will appear slightly left of the target because the ball is on the target line while the body is not. The easiest way to imagine this is the image of a railroad track. Your body is on the inside rail and the ball is on the outside rail.

For the middle irons, your feet should be shoulder width. The short iron stance will be two inches narrower and the stance for long irons and woods should be two inches wider. The foot at the target-side should be flared toward the target from 20 to 40 degrees. This is to allow the body to rotate toward the target on the downswing. The back foot should be square (90 degrees to the target line) to slightly open to create the proper hip turn on the back swing.

Ball Placement
The ball placement varies with the club you select.

1) For short irons e.g. wedges, 9-iron and 8-iron, place the ball in the centre portion of your stance. These clubs have the most upright lie angles and they must be swung at the steepest angle, and you should take a divot in front of the ball.

2) For middle irons, place the one ball toward the target-side foot from centre (a ball left of centre for the right-handed golfer). These clubs have a slightly flatter lie angle and you should take a slightly shallower divot than with the short irons.

3) For the long irons and fairway woods, the ball position is two balls toward the target-side foot from centre. With these clubs, the ball should be struck directly at the bottom of the swing arc with very little divot.

4) For the driver, the ball is placed farthest forward (three balls left of centre for the right-hander) to strike the ball on the upswing.

With short irons, your body weight should be 60% on the target side foot. For middle iron shots, the body weight should be 50/50 or equal on each foot. For your longest clubs, place 60% of your weight on the backside.

About The Author:
John Woon is a successful latex consultant, Internet marketer and a keen golfer. To get your best golf instruction, please CLICK HERE: The Best Golf Instruction and The Incredible Simple Golf Swing