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Golf Tips

Other Tips:
Shave Strokes with a Better Grip (from Golf Magazine
Semi-Buried Lie
Stop Pushing Your Irons
Punch One from a Fairway Bunker
Make a Perfect Bunker Shot
Hit it Behind You
Clip Your Tee
Quit Hanging Shots to the Right
How to:
Use Better Posture for Longer, Straighter Drives
  From the January 2010 Issue of Golf Magazine
  "Ask The Top 100"

I have problems driving the ball consistently. Is my grip or stance causing this problem, or do I have to analyze my entire swing?
-James M., Dallas, TX
Use Better Posture for golf
You may be sabotaging yourself before you even take your backswing because your setup is off. The left photo, above, shows what I call a "question-mark" setup. My body is straight up and down, and my neck and shoulders are bent forward. This position impedes a full, unobstructed coil.

In the photo on the right, I've correctly bent from my hip sockets, which gives me a forward tilt and a solid spine angle. My head is also in a more elevated position. A line drawn up the shaft and through my body forms a 45-degree angle. This is the optimum position for creating power. If you don't set your spine angle properly at address, your arms and club won't move freely and your swing speed and accuracy will suffer.

Rod Lidenberg