Welcome to the first installment of our Swing Fundamentals Series, where we delve into the essential aspects of setting up your golf swing. Todd Kolb, a PGA teaching professional, Golf Digest Top Instructor, and the director of instruction at US Golf TV and the Sanford Power Golf Academy, shares insights on one of the most critical elements of a successful golf swing: the setup position for both irons and drivers.
A proper setup is the foundation for a solid golf swing. Without it, even the best swing mechanics can fall apart. In this post, we'll guide you through the steps to achieve the ideal setup for both irons and drivers, ensuring you're in the best position to make a great backswing and hit quality shots consistently.
The Importance of Setup
Getting the setup right is the first step towards improving any swing. A good setup not only facilitates a better backswing but also positions golfers to strike the ball cleanly and accurately. Whether using an iron or a driver, the principles of a good setup remain consistent, with a few key differences we'll cover later.
Utilizing LiveView to Perfect Your Setup
Before diving into the setup specifics, let's discuss how to use the LiveView Golf camera to monitor and adjust the setup. The LiveView camera is an excellent tool for visualizing the swing and ensuring the correct position. Here's how to use it effectively:
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Positioning the LiveView: Set up the LiveView camera in front, ideally in the Caddy View (facing the golfer). In confined areas, rotate the camera to the side, allowing it to be positioned closer without taking up too much space.
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Creating a Template: Once the LiveView is in place, create a basic template by standing tall and square to the target. Use the camera's features to draw lines that mark key positions:
- Place one line just outside the lead hip.
- Place another line just outside the trail hip.
- Draw a vertical line at a 90-degree angle between the hips.
This template serves as a reference for ensuring consistency in the setup, regardless of the club being used.
Setting Up for Irons
Now that the template is ready, let's focus on setting up for irons.
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Stance Width: With a 6-iron, feet should be roughly shoulder-width apart. Using the lines on the LiveView, align feet so that the blue lines run through the ankles, ensuring a solid, balanced stance.
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Hand Position: Hands should be in a neutral position, slightly ahead of the ball. Avoid having hands too far behind the ball, as this can lead to poor contact.
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Hip and Upper Body Position: Slightly bump the lead hip forward, which encourages an inside-out swing path, crucial for good iron shots. Additionally, tilt the head back just a bit, so the vertical line aligns with the lead ear. This promotes a better upper body position and ensures a successful setup.
Setting Up for the Driver
The setup for the driver shares similarities with irons but requires a few adjustments to accommodate the different swing dynamics.
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Ball Position: With the driver, the ball should be positioned slightly forward in the stance. Place the ball in line with the lead blue line using the LiveView template.
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Stance and Alignment: Begin with feet together, and then take a small step forward with the lead foot and a larger step back with the trail foot. This opens the stance slightly and positions the ball forward, essential for hitting up on the ball with the driver.
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Hip and Upper Body Position: Just like with irons, bump the lead hip forward. Additionally, tilt the lead ear up, which helps maintain the correct spine tilt and sets up the golfer to hit the ball on the upswing.
Practice Makes Perfect
Now that a solid setup for both irons and drivers has been established, it's time to practice. Using the LiveView, golfers can quickly check stance, hand position, and alignment before each shot. This consistency is the key to developing a reliable and repeatable golf swing.
Every time a shot is set up, follow the same setup process:
- Check stance width.
- Position hands correctly.
- Adjust hips and upper body.
By creating and using the LiveView template, golfers ensure they are in the same position every time, which is crucial for consistent ball striking.
Good golf begins with a good setup. Take the time to master these fundamentals, and golfers will be on their way to hitting more accurate and powerful shots. Stay tuned for the next post in our Swing Fundamentals Series, where we dive deeper into refining the backswing.
For more tips and tools to improve your golf game, don't forget to check out Live View Sports and see how our products can help golfers practice smarter and play better.
This post is part of our Swing Fundamentals Series, designed to help golfers of all levels improve their game with simple, effective techniques.