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Off-season swing tips for a happier spring

Photo: DEBBIE MASSEY

 

As the golf season nears the end in many parts of the country, I’m often asked what golfers can do over the winter so their swing doesn’t feel so foreign in the spring.

The best thing you can do is practice the setup position. This takes only a few minutes, but it will pay big dividends in the spring.

The proper setup is similar to an athletic position common in all sports. Here’s how it works:

• Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, your weight on the balls of your feet and a slight knee bend.

• Next, bow from the waist and keep your back straight (not hunched over). Your back side should be sticking out, and your arms hanging from the side.

Check out the two photos. The first demonstrates the correct setup position, the second the incorrect position.

Notice in the first photo that my arms are hanging in front of my body where the ball is – as opposed to the incorrect setup where my weight is on my heels and I’m in a sitting position.

As you can see, in that photo my arms are hanging at my sides, and it becomes difficult in this position to get the ball airborne or hit it straight.