Every great golfer tends to use a go-to routine prior to taking a shot. Sure, this helps them mentally prepare, but it also allows their body to feel where certain parts need to be in order to execute their game plan.
If you’re capable of building a consistent setup process — making sure all parts are the same before each swing — you’ll find more success during a round. So how can you develop the best setup routine for your game? I provide some tips below.
1. Consistent posture and spacing
Having a setup routine will allow you to have consistent posture regardless of the club you’re using — which directly affects your ability to hit the middle of the clubface. Ideally, you should be in the same balanced posture with every club, avoiding any variance between your shortest to longest clubs.
2. Set the club and then yourself
In most cases, every golf club is a different length, so the bad news is that you’re at a different distance from the golf ball with each. But there is good news! Assuming you’re in the same posture with each club — allowing your arms to hang with your hands beneath your shoulders with space between your hands and thighs — you’ll have the same consistency no matter your club choice.
To help you simplify the setup, I suggest setting the club behind the ball first, and then set yourself. This is part of the reason why having the proper club fit for your body is so important — which is why I suggest using TrueSpec to my students.
3. Clubhead and clubface first
By setting up with your clubhead behind the ball first, you’re allowing yourself the chance to check your aim. Ideally, you’ll already have taken a practice swing, so you’re able to give your target once last look before going into performance mode and taking your shot.
So always check that the leading edge is perpendicular to where you want the ball to start — which is a great starting point to build the rest of your setup around.
4. Personalize your grip
Placing your hands properly on the grip is a huge part of any good setup routine. That’s because your grip is a huge factor in how you control the clubface through impact.
Have you ever noticed how intentional better golfers are about placing each hand individually on the club’s grip? This shows the importance and value.
5. Bend at the hips
Once you’ve set your club on the ground behind the golf ball, be sure to bend from the hips to get into the proper golf posture — which, as mentioned, should allow your arms to hang beneath the shoulders for you to naturally swing them while rotating.
Another key is your footwork. The feet have a lot of jobs in the golf swing, including spacing, ball position, and aligning the body — so don’t forget about this in your setup routine.
6. Step for spacing
By stepping your feet, you’ll find the proper distance from your hands to your thighs, which will allow your arms to truly hang. This spacing should be identified and then repeated for each shot.
If you’re too far away from the ball, your arms will appear diagonal — which tends to produce thinned, topped, or toed shots. If you’re too close, it tends to adversely affect posture and can become a bit upright — which may result in fat shots or contact off the heel.
7. Step for ball position, too
The stepping of your feet is also important to find the proper ball position, relative to forward or back. By directly stepping side-to-side, it will allow you to make ball position adjustments without affecting clubface aim or body alignment.
8. Step for alignment
It’s so important to use your feet to allow you to properly align your body. For a straight shot, your body lines should be relatively parallel to your target line.
9. Step for stance width
Another way your feet will help with consistency is by finding the proper width of your stance.
Ideally, your stance width will be about hip width when the ball is on the ground, and slightly wider with the ball on a tee and you’re using driver. Also, when your stance is wider with the driver, remember to have the ball position more forward and add some necessary shoulder tilt — where the lead shoulder is higher and the trail shoulder is lower, which allows maximum contact directly with the back of the ball.
10. Feet last is almost a rule
Most golfers personalize their setup routines to what’s best for them, so as you do so, a good rule of thumb is to place your hands on the club and then adjust your feet. The reason? Because your feet help with other responsibilities like spacing, ball position, alignment, and stance width.
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Nick Dimengo
Golf.com Editor
