Success Starts With a Good Golf Setup Position

(Related: A proper golf setup position in pictures.)

Golfers striving to improve their scores must focus on fundamentals for success. The single most important and most overlooked full swing fundamental is the setup. The setup writes the script for the swing and all too often amateur and professional golfers struggle due to poor address positions. All great golfers and teachers are aware of the importance of the setup.

• Jack Nicklaus: "If you setup correctly, there’s a good chance you’ll hit a reasonable shot, even if you make a mediocre swing. If you setup to the ball poorly, you’ll hit a lousy shot even if you make the greatest swing in the world."
• Tommy Armour: "Before they ever begin swinging, I can improve nine out of every ten typical amateur golfers."
• David Leadbetter: "What invariably distinguishes a good player from a poor one is their respective address positions or setups."

A good golf setup position helps you achieve three important objectives. First, proper posture and foot placement allows you to maintain your balance throughout the swing. All great players are balanced from address to the finish, which allows them to hit the ball squarely in the center of the clubface. Balance is the key to consistent ball striking and a good setup allows you to remain in balance when swinging.

Second, a good setup helps you create power and control the direction of the shot. Key pre-swing elements such as ball position and body alignment create the conditions that lead to control. The body angles that you create at address directly influence the path and angle on which you swing the club. They influence the actual in-swing body positions and movements; therefore your setup directly affects all elements of the swing.

Finally, all great players pre-set themselves in positions that they try to create at impact. In other words, your golf setup puts you in positions of advantage, making a fundamentally sound swing possible. Your swing evolves from your setup and if you want to achieve a good impact position, you can simply setup with impact in mind. A good setup stacks the deck in your favor and places you in positions of advantage.

What a Good Golf Setup Looks Like
So now that we know how important the setup is, what does a good one look like? See the step-by-step illustration of a proper golf setup.