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In This Issue
·
Golf Tip 2011
·
Gift Vouchers
Coombe Wood GC
Weather Update
Custom Fit Clubs
M=
artin
Rathbone
Contact=
Details
http://www.martinrathbone.co.uk=
info@martinrathbone.co.uk<=
/o:p>
tel. 07958 785326=
![](3D"feb2011_files/image006.jpg")
![](3D"feb2011_files/image007.gif")
![](3D"feb2011_files/image008.gif")
![](3D"feb2011_files/image009.jpg")
Don’t forget the Masters starts next month – w=
ho do
you think will win?
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NEW =
GOLF TIP
FOR 2011
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One of the most overlooked, yet very important
fundamental for golf is the setup position.
We will =
try
to give you a tip to enhancing your chances of getting this correct. All
the below information is based on a right handed golfer.
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![](3D"feb2011_files/image011.jpg") =
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Alignment
At addre=
ss
your body (feet, knees, hips, forearms, shoulders and eyes) should be
positioned parallel to the target line. When viewed from behind, a
right-handed golfer will appear aimed slightly left of the target. This
optical illusion is created because the ball is on the target line and =
the
body is not.
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As in
Picture 1 the easiest way to imagine this is the thinking of railway li=
nes.
The body is on the inside rail and the ball is on the outside rail. For
right-handers, at 100 yards your body will appear aligned approximately=
3
to 5 yards left of your target, this will increase slightly as this
distance grows.<=
/o:p>
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The feet
should be approximately shoulder width apart, but this will vary slight=
ly
with longer / shorter clubs.
Some peo=
ple
like the front foot slightly flared towards the target, this helps to a=
llow
the body to rotate toward the target on the downswing.
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![](3D"feb2011_files/image013.jpg") =
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The back
foot should be square (90 degrees to the target line) to slightly open =
to
create the proper hip turn on the back swing. Your flexibility and body
rotation speed determine the proper foot placement.
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The ball placement vari=
es with
the club you select.
From a flat lie:
Start with your feet to=
gether
and the ball in line with the middle of your feet. For right handed gol=
fers
always start with your left foot first and move it approximately 2inche=
s to
the left.
Keeping =
the
left foot stationary, move the right foot to balance, this means you may
want to take a wider step with the longer irons and a smaller one with =
the
shorter irons.
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![](3D"feb2011_files/image014.jpg") =
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Your weight should be balanced on the balls of =
the
feet, not on the heels or toes.
Your knees should be slightly flexed and direct=
ly
over the balls of your feet for balance.
The cent=
er
of the upper spine (between your shoulder blades), knees and balls of t=
he
feet should be stacked when viewed from behind the ball on the target l=
ine.
Also, the back knee should be cocked slightly inward towards the target.
This will help you brace yourself on this leg during the back swing, th=
us
preventing lower body sway.
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Your body should bend at the hips, not in the w=
aist
(your buttocks will protrude slightly when you are in this correct
posture). The spine is the axis of rotation for the swing, so it should=
be
bent towards the ball from the hips. This right angle relationship betw=
een
the spine and the shaft will help you swing the club, arms and body as a
team on the correct plane.
Your chin
should be up, out of your chest to encourage a better shoulder turn. The
head should be tipped at the same angle as the spine and your eyes shou=
ld
focus on the inside portion of the back of the ball.<=
/h1>
At address, your hands =
should
hang just inside and level with your left thigh.
The hands-to-body dista=
nce
varies depending on the club you are hitting. A good rule of thumb is h=
ands
"a palm’s width” from the body.
The shaft of the club will appear to lean slightly
toward the target with your short irons because the ball is positioned =
in
the centre of your stance. With your middle irons, the shaft of the club
will lean only slightly toward the target (or not at all) since the bal=
l is
forward of centre. With long irons and woods, your hands and the shaft =
of
the club will appear to be in line. Again, as the ball position moves
forward, the hands stay in the same place so the lean of the shaft
disappears. With a driver, the shaft will lean away from the target.
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Your arms
and shoulders should form a triangle and the elbows should point to the
hips.
One of t=
he
biggest killers of the swing is tension anywhere in the body; try to fe=
el
you are holding the club like you would whilst holding the hands of a 3=
yo.
Remember: "Your swing evolves from your setup."=
; If
you focus on this vital pre-swing fundamental, you are more likely to
improve your performance. A good setup does not guarantee success, howe=
ver
it improves your chances immensely.
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![](3D"feb2011_files/image016.jpg") =
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