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.