How do you get in the proper golf stance? How do you know what a golf stance even is? Well the answer is simple.
Have you ever been told to get in the “ready” position?
I know I have! I can remember my coach yelling…”ready position Jay!” I know what these words meant because of endless hours of practice. “Bend your knees, drop your butt, eyes forward.” I can still hear the words like vivid pictures. I think you should know that my coach has mostly been my Dad. You know how that is:)
All successful golfers have an effective and proper golf stance; the good news is you can too.
Today we’ll walk you through the how’s and the why’s.
Like gripping the golf club, see here about that, your golf stance is another foundational and vital key to your golf swing.
Proper golf stance will allow you to better control the balls direction, distance, and height. A repeatable proper golf stance helps us be more consistent and lower scores.
Kinda the point, right?!
Good athletes start with a good athletic position.
Why is Golf Stance Important
There are essentially three significant “why’s” to proper golf stance we should cover.
Knowing them will make execution easier and consistency more likely.
1. Correct golf stance leads to proper swing plane
2. Allows you to set up different type of shots
3. Keeps you from injury
Correct positioning allows for proper rotation in the backswing and follow through.
When your legs, hips, and arms are working together like a well-oiled machine, good rotation, backswing, and follow-through are natural.
Need to setup for a cut or a fade? Having your feet in the right position will promote those type of shots.
Want to feel good instead of hurting after a round? Proper golf stance is the solve.
3 Main Elements of a Proper Golf Stance
There are three main elements to getting your golf stance correct.
Foot alignment, posture, and balance.
Mastering these steps will improve your overall golf health. As in, your physical health, mental health, and scorecard health.
If your body is a golfing machine, your feet are the foundation. If they’re not set up right, the rest of you is going to be iffy.
Don’t be a helicopter guy, who spins and twirls after his swing because his feet aren’t planted. Wait, maybe you are him! No worries, we will fix that little red wagon.
Next up is posture. Posture is the backbone of your golfing machine.
Spine position is also necessary for a healthy round. Without it, holding your body throughout your swing is nearly impossible.
See, having good foot position and posture, will lead to excellent balance.
Lastly, balance. Balance is felt in your feet. Just like the shortstop waiting for the ground ball, you need to have evenly distributed weight in your feet.
Foot Alignment
Generally speaking, your feet should be about shoulder width apart.
Unless you are driving the ball, when they should be just a little wider.
The toes of each foot should be in a line as shown in the photo below. No reason to have your back foot behind your front.
Depending on what your shot needs to accomplish, you have three foot positions to choose from.
Neutral Foot Position
Just like it describes. Foot position is neutral to the ball, or clubface. Imagine a line drawn from your clubface and a line drawn from your feet.
They will never intersect. Just like railroad tracts. The line your feet make should be parallel left to where you are aiming the ball.
Open Foot Position
Need to set your shot up for a fade or cut? Setting your feet in the open position while aiming at your target will promote an open clubface at impact. Resulting in a fade or cut.
Closed Foot Position
Need to play a draw or even an extreme hook? Setting your feet in the closed position while aiming at your target will promote your clubface to be closed at impact. Resulting in a draw or even a power hook (just in case you need to get around a tree after that wonderful drive.)
Proper Golf Posture
Standing over the ball sounds like a simple concept. However, far too many golfers get it wrong.
Too bent over,
too tall,
etc…
Getting it just right, every time is going to lead to better rounds.
Please don’t be the Hunchback of Notre Dame or the Olympic gymnast posing at the end of her routing!!!
Contrary to foot alignment, there is only one right way to align your spine. I’ll share the correct way with you, and share the two most common spine alignment faux pas to hopefully help you prevent them.
Neutral Spine
This is the only healthy way to align your spine for golf.
Shoulders are over your slightly bent knees, your spine is straight, and your chin is pointing at the ball.
C-Spine
Knees are a little more bent, your shoulders are not over your knees, and your back is not straight. It has a “C” curve to it, (kind of like Quasimodo.)
Im pretty sure he didn’t play much golf!
S-Curve Spine
Danger curves ahead!
Not those kinda curves. Curves from your “S” shaped back.
Too much posture, or better said, an over exaggerated posture is not good for you golf swing.
Standing this way causes too much strain on your back. When you stick your bahooky out too far, undue stress on your spine and your golf game.
Yes, bahooky is a real word. Just ask my whole family:)
Proper Balance is in Your Feet
I can hear Mr. Miyagi now “balance Daniel Son!”… ok so maybe he didn’t say that, but come on, you have to have balance when trying to stand on one foot against Cobra KI!
All joking aside, balance maintained throughout your golf swing will bring those mis-hits down dramatically.
I am breaking it down into 3 balance scenarios, heels, toes, and arch (or neutral.) Anyone else starting to feel a little Switzerland-ish with all this talk of staying neutral? No? Just me? Well, alright.
The Only Right Balance is Arch or Neutral Balance
Distribution of your weight placed evenly between heels and toes. Placing your balance here makes maintaining proper golf posture and balance through your entire swing possible.
Heel Balance is the Wrong Balance
Leaning too far back on your heels will not maintain balance through your entire swing. This misstep causes you to lean back too far and hit the ball on top or on the heel.
Toe Balance is the Other Wrong Balance
Leaning forward onto your toes and into your golf shoot will cause you to potentially hit the ball on the heel of the club. Or worse yet, grounding it.
How to Perfect Your Proper Golf Stance
Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be. Moving to Switzerland is not the answer to all the neutrality needs golf demands.
Let’s talk about repeatability.
To find that sweet spot of foot placement, start by placing both feet together. Toes and heals must line up.
Front or lead foot should be in a line with your ball. Take a baby step toward target with lead foot.
Next, take a larger step with back or trail foot making sure toes and heals stay in a line.
Total width should be shoulders width apart or slightly wider.
With proper foot placement set, move on to posture.
Stand straight up, then slightly bend your knees. Next, bend at your hips until your shoulders are over your knees.
Let your arms fall down naturally with your palms facing together.
This is where you should be holding your club.
If the first two steps are done correctly then this last step will be easy pease.
You want to have a neutral balance focused in the arch of your foot. No need to be on your toes or heels.
Like I described earlier, being on your toes or heels will cause you to be off balance.
Best way I can tell you to get in the proper balance is to rock back on your heels. Then rock forward on your toes and notice the feel.
Then come back to where you feel that your balance in neutral.
Another way is to jump and land flat-footed, but this may get a little awkward on the course after 18 holes of you jumping around like a Kansas City… well, never mind, I suppose Blazing Saddles doesn’t make for a good joke these days.
Proper Golf Stance Rapid Recap
Now then, you made it to through all the steps.
Nicely done!
Let’s review:
First get your foot placement correct. Remember, shoulder width or a little more.
Second, get your posture correct. Spine straight, knees slightly bent, shoulders over your knees. Ready to stay balanced throughout your golf swing
Lastly, get neutral. Distribute your weight evenly in the middle of your feet.
Now like every subject we talk about…time for you to go put in the work.
Let’s get golfing, and remember to have a Parvelous round.
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