Aiming the clubface and aligning your body correctly at address is a skill that needs to be practiced and earned. Your setup routine should help you do both.
Try this: Once you’ve chosen your target and taken hold of the club with both hands on the handle, step forward with your trail foot and bow from your hips to set the club behind the golf ball (below, left). Take care to set the leading edge of the club perpendicular to the target line. Your bow should allow your arms to hang freely with your hands under your shoulders.
Now that your clubface is aimed, it’s time to align your body. Step in with your lead foot, keeping your stance very narrow, which will help align your shoulders, hips, knees and feet parallel with the clubface. It’s the easy way to avoid setting up too open or closed. Once set, spread your feet to position the ball correctly (above, right), depending on the club in your hands and the shot you want to hit.
Two easy steps to help any player nail their aim. All that’s left is a confident swing.
Kellie Stenzel is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher who teaches at the Palm Beach Par 3 and The Boca Raton in Fla.
