Setting up for success

In 2002 I received thousands of e-mail questions from readers. Since I cannot respond to all of them, I am going to dedicate my column in 2003 to sharing my insights on the various aspects of the swing. I'll begin with the setup and then go step-by-step all the way into the finish.

I have mentioned many times that everything in golf evolves in reference to the target and the target line. How you swing the club in reference to this target line determines the distance the ball travels, the direction in which it travels, and its trajectory. How you set up to the ball has a tremendous influence on your ability to swing the club along this path.

Ball-position theories

Shifting ball position. According to this school of thought, the position of the ball in the stance moves according to the club. Highly acclaimed teacher Jim McClean says in his book The Eight Step Swing that "it is absolutely ludicrous to think you can play all shots from one position in your stance." Another notable instructor, Jim Flick, states in his book On Golf that he prefers to think of a ball position zone that, for a full swing, ranges from dead center to the instep of the left heel. "The exact location will vary according to the length of the club," Flick writes, "with the ball in the center of your stance for short-iron shots and fractionally forward for mid- and long-iron shots ... [and] inside of your left heel to drive your ball." The same view is voiced by 1999 PGA Teacher of the Year Mike McGetrick, whose Web site recommends three basic ball positions for normal shots on level lies. For short irons, says McGetrick, "play the ball about one inch to the left of the center of your stance, or opposite your shirt buttons." For mid-irons, "play the ball about two inches left of center, or opposite where the logo on your shirt would be." For long-irons and woods, play the ball "three inches left of center, or opposite your left armpit."

Single ball position. This camp believes the ball should be positioned opposite the left heel and in line with the left armpit, no matter what club you are using. Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer of all time, writes in his book Golf My Way, "I play every standard shot with the ball in the same position relative to my feet. That position is opposite my left heel." Hall of Fame golfers Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Johnny Miller and Greg Norman are of the same opinion: The ball does not have to move to accommodate different clubs.

How to set up to the ball

Golf clubs come in different lengths, so let's start with the shortest shaft and move on to the longest. With your putter, position the ball off the instep of your left foot with your right foot positioned approximately six inches from the target line. As you make your way through your clubs, from shortest to longest, the ball is going to remain in the same spot in reference to your left foot, but the position of your right foot is going to gradually widen. Your widest stance, for the driver, will have the inside of your feet shoulder-width apart.

Setting up with an iron.	Setting up with a driver.

How ball position influences your swing

Swing arc. The narrower your stance, the steeper your swing arc. A steep swing arc is desirable with your short irons, because you want to launch the ball higher into the air. As the club lengthens and your stance widens, the clubhead moves on a wider, shallower path -- a more efficient arc for longer shots.

Balancing the axis. The bottom of the swing arc is influenced by the balancing of the body's axis. This axis is most clearly seen as you hold your finish. Your spine should be balanced on top of your left leg, with your right side supporting. In the photographs, note the constant axis in reference to the ball's position.

Just prior to impact.	Just after impact.	Holding the finish.

I teach the single-ball-position theory because I want my students to establish that axis, in reference to the location of the ball, with the backswing. That sets up the forward swing, which is basically a balanced rotation on that axis. If you keep changing your ball position, the ball moving around in your stance influences how your body balances on this axis. With the woods and long irons the ball is farther forward in the stance, allowing your body to shift onto that forward side. But as the ball moves back in your stance for the short irons, your body cannot shift its balance ahead of the ball. Instead, you hang back on your right side.

SETUP DRILL

Setting up in a setup station. With a chalk-line string, create a setup station. Lay the string on the ground, pointing directly to your target in the distance. Secure the string by looping it around a tee and extend it back. (This part of the string represents your target line.) Now loop the string around a couple of tees and run it back parallel to the target line. This gives your feet a reference for the setup. Finally, angle the string away from the foot line at 90 degrees. This represents your ball position.

© 2003 Rob Stanger

Rob Stanger is teaching professional at the Mission Hills Country Club Golf Learning Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Contact him at robstanger.com.

 

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