Stance & posture

A repeatable swing starts from a repeatable setup. Get your body into the same athletic position every time and you remove a huge source of inconsistency before the club ever moves.

The setup, top to bottom

• Feet about shoulder-width for a mid-iron; a touch wider for the driver, narrower for wedges.
• Tilt from the hips, not the waist. Push your hips back and let your upper body fold forward so your arms hang down naturally under your shoulders.
• Soft knees, flat back. Athletic, like you're about to catch a ball — not hunched, not rigidly upright.
• Weight balanced over the middle of your feet, not your toes or heels.

Ball position is a dial, not a rule

Move the ball forward in your stance as the club gets longer:

• Wedges: middle of your stance.
• Mid-irons: just ahead of middle.
• Driver: off the inside of your lead heel, so you catch it slightly on the upswing.

Build it the same way, every time

A good setup is a sequence, not a pose. Steal this four-step routine:

1. Aim the clubface first. Stand behind the ball, pick your target, then set the face behind the ball pointing at it — before your feet get involved.
2. Take your grip while the face is aimed.
3. Step in — trail foot first, then lead foot — until the ball sits where it should for that club.
4. One look, one waggle, go. The longer you stand still, the stiffer you get.

Done in the same order every time, your body learns the position without you thinking about it — which is the whole point.

Alignment: the railway tracks

Here's the mistake almost every beginner makes: aiming their feet at the target. Picture railway tracks — the ball and clubface travel on the far rail (pointing at the target), while your feet, hips and shoulders stand on the near rail, parallel left of the target. Lay a spare club along your toes on the range now and then; you'll be surprised where it points.

Common errors and what they cause

Locked, straight knees — no athletic base, so you sway instead of turning. Soften them until you feel spring.

Rounded upper back — hunching over the ball blocks your shoulder turn and leads to weak, steep swings. Chest proud, tilt from the hips.

Reaching for the ball — weight creeps to your toes and you fall toward the ball mid-swing. Arms should hang straight down; if the ball is too far away, step closer.

The ball quietly creeping back in your stance between shots — a classic slow drift that causes fat and pushed shots. Check it against your lead heel and stance middle every few holes.