Use this quick 4-step routine to ensure your posture is perfect at address

If you’re having trouble getting the ball into the air, the problem may not be your swing — it could be your posture!

“Women have a different center of gravity than men,” says Stefanie Shaw, a teaching professional at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Fla. and Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. “For women, it’s in our hips, which means we have to stand a little bit differently to keep our balance in the golf swing.”

According to Shaw, that means that when you address the ball, the more that you can send your hips back, the better.

Check out the main photo above. In the left picture, Shaw is demonstrating bad posture: upright, with too much knee bend. On the right, you can see the correct, balanced posture at the address position.

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“It should feel like you’re bowing toward the ground,” Shaw says. “That gets your arms, hands and club closer to the grass.”

By keeping your hips back, you’re making it easier to hit the ground with your club in the correct impact zone, thereby making it easier to get the ball in the air.

Sounds simple, right? It is! Here’s a quick four-step routine, courtesy of Shaw, to help ensure that you’re setting up for success when it comes to your posture.

4 steps to perfect posture

1. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart.

2. Grip your club and extend your arms in front of you, with your club at a 45-degree angle.

3. From here, hinge forward or “bow” to the ground from your hips, allowing your arms to hang directly below your chest.

4. Unlock your knees.

And there you have it!

One thing to look out for, says Shaw, is to make sure you don’t have too much knee bend, because that will pull your chest and arms away from the ground. Keep your arms directly below your chest, and enjoy your newly crisp contact!