The Static Four: Grip, Posture, Alignment, & Ball Position

It has been written about for almost a hundred years. So why have we not gotten it right? Why does the basic preparation to hit a golf ball seem so elusive? For the average golfer the "static four", including the grip, posture, alignment and ball position, are the easiest elements of the golf swing to improve and even master.

GRIP
How we hold the club determines the arc and the way in which the wrists set or load at the top. Whether the grip is weak or strong makes the ball spin right or left. If the club sits properly in the fingers, the rotation through impact reacts on a larger level by rolling the forearms, one over the other. Correcting the grip always feels dramatic. But if the change is needed to develop and foster a better swing it is always worth the uncomfortable feelings associated with it. When a student says they have tried to change their grip but they can't, they have basically mastered the wrong grip and are often doomed to make other adjustments to accommodate their poor starting position.

POSTURE
The preferred posture is debated. But, we need to stand in an athletic position ready to act and be forward. Twenty-five years ago there was emphasis on straightening the spine as it entered into the pelvic area, almost inverting the hips, only to find out that this position gave everyone a back ache. Now it is widely accepted that the curvature in the lower spine should be angled to match the pelvic area straight on. No "hyper extension" of the lower spine. It needs to be comfortable. Good posture is about balance. That balance needs to be slightly forward on the balls of the feet. So a little bend in the knees, a little more bend at the hips and the hands will hang naturally away from the body 4-5 inches. The bottom counter balances the top with a little emphasis forward toward the golf ball. The curvature of the spine leading into the neck and head needs to be comfortable. A little slouching is okay as long as it remains slouchy throughout the swing.

ALIGNMENT
There are many good reasons to be aligned wrong. And that is okay. But understand the affect of poor alignment. Check out an earlier post, Alignment: Pull Shots and Slices, for more information.

BALL POSITION
The various ball positions, as they relate to the center line between the feet, is often misunderstood. For 90% of all full shots the difference in ball position between a wedge and a fairway wood is much less than most people visualize. Good practice aligns the ball in the center of the stance for a wedge. For every longer club the ball position moves toward the target (forward) by less than a 1/2 inch. That means about 5 inches between the wedge and fairway woods. Other factors, such as the width of stance and alignment can further reduce the disparity between the short irons and longer clubs. For both alignment and ball position, placing an alignment stick or club on both the parallel and perpendicular line is helpful to visualize these positions.

The grip, posture, alignment, and ball position all determine the direction, trajectory, and spin on the ball. These static elements of the address position require very little athletic ability. How you hold it and stand there affects everything. It is time we all get it right.

Girlfriendz Magazine Golf Clinic

I was recently asked to lead a golf clinic for Girlfriendz Magazine, an informative magazine for South Jersey women. The event, sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank, was an introduction to golf for 17 women covering etiquette, grip, stance and posture, and the basic overall movement of the golf swing.

Women were given the option to play nine holes at Little Mill Country Club or attend the clinic at the driving range. Bringing new golfers to the course in a friendly, low stress atmosphere, is core to building the game and promoting the club.

Are You Playing The Right Ball?

It seems there are plenty of options when choosing a golf ball. Distance is not really the issue anymore. Find a ball that feels good around the green then check the status regarding distance and compression. Is there a big difference between $50 per dozen and $36 per dozen? Here is a link to a recent 2012 Golf Digest article that covers numerous balls. You be the judge. I like the cross section photographs.

Golf Digest 2012 Hot List: Golf Balls

Pin My Head To The Wall

from the series "how it feels to me"

There has been plenty of references to a stake or pole being driven down through the head to the ground in reference to the axis point in the body. The vertical center line that all the motion rotates around. I recently had an experience while practicing where the feeling I had was more related to a wire being driven directly toward the front of my head so that it would be driven into a wall behind me. Not immediately behind me, but more like 10 feet or so. This distance would give the sense of slack in the wire, but taut enough for stability. The feeling gave me the sense of keeping my head still, but allowing it to move slightly throughout the swing. More specifically, during the moment of impact, as the hands and arms are reaching their maximum speed, my head actually moves backwards, allowing the whip of the club to pass by. There is a slowing down nature to the big muscles, of which my head is connected, as they reach impact. Much like a whip pulls back to make the snap.


"My head felt like there was a pin directly through my forehead into a wall behind me as my arms and body ripped through impact."

excerpt from I Want To Hit It Like I Am 10 Years Old