One of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of the golf swing is posture. According to the Titleist Performance Institute, five out of the 12 most common swing faults are directly related to posture. The good news? Posture is also the easiest thing we can improve and ultimately fix using the Live View Golf camera.
How to Identify Posture Faults
To begin correcting our posture, we start by using the Live View Golf camera to draw a few key reference lines:
- Line in front of our forehead
- Vertical line down our back to the tailbone
- Line through our spine
With these lines in place, we can quickly identify the five most common posture faults:
- C-Curve: This occurs when our back rounds excessively, resembling a "C" shape.
- S-Posture: Often seen in more athletic golfers, this fault involves excessive curvature in the lower back, placing undue stress on the spine.
- Standing Up: This fault occurs when we come up out of our posture during the swing.
- Flat Shoulder Turn: A common mistake where our shoulders turn too flat, leading to swing inefficiencies.
- Early Extension: The most prevalent fault, where we stand up and out of posture too early in the swing.
Importance of Proper Posture
Maintaining proper posture is crucial for several reasons. When our vertebrae are aligned correctly, they allow for a more efficient and powerful turn. This alignment ensures a better pivot and a more consistent swing sequence. Simply put, good posture leads to better swings and more power.
Ensuring Proper Posture: The Two Bends and a Tilt Method
To check and maintain our proper posture, we use the "Two Bends and a Tilt" method:
- First Bend: We bend straight over from our hip sockets, keeping our spine neutral. We can use our chin as a brace to ensure we’re bending from the hips and not the back.
- Second Bend: We add a slight bend in the knees while ensuring our weight remains on the front part of our arches.
- Tilt: We tilt our pelvic girdle and shoulders so that they are aligned, avoiding the formation of a C-curve in our spine.
From a front angle, this involves bending from the hip sockets, a slight bend in the knees, and then tilting to the right so that our left hip and left shoulder are slightly higher than the right side. This posture will set us up for success in any swing.
Maintaining Consistency Across Clubs
Once we’ve identified our proper posture, it should remain consistent across different clubs. Whether we’re swinging a sand wedge, an 8-iron, or a fairway wood, our posture should not deviate. The only adjustment might be a slightly wider stance with longer clubs.
Monitor Our Posture with Live View Golf
To ensure consistency and correctness in our posture, we should use the Live View Golf camera while practicing. Regularly monitoring and correcting our posture can significantly improve our golf swing and overall performance on the course.
By mastering our posture, we’re setting a strong foundation for a more powerful and efficient golf game. Let’s get out there, make the necessary adjustments, and watch our game improve!
About Patrick Parrish
Patrick Parrish was named the 2016 Northern California PGA Instructor of the Year. Patrick has coached dozens of juniors to Division 1 scholarships. If you are interested in contacting Patrick for questions, he can be reached at www.pparrishgolf.com