Setup: why square?

[ubizmo]

In the standard setup, we face the ball squarely with shoulders and hips. Everything I've ever read or heard says to do it this way. But why? In the classic golf swing (as opposed to the Moe Norman-inspired "natural golf" swing) we do not return to this position at impact. Instead, shoulders and hips are somewhat open at impact. Again, every book I've seen, and every freeze-frame photograph of the golf swing that I've seen shows this. Ernie Els makes a point of it in his book The Classic Golf Swing; I.e. Shoulders and hips should not be square at impact.

So why do we setup in a position to which we will not return? Isn't the point of the setup to "imprint" the position somehow, so the body can "home" back to it?

Out of curiosity, I tried this today at the range, with mid-irons. Instead of setting up square, I tried to get into the position I thought I should be in at impact: hips and shoulders turn somewhat toward target, right knee breaking slightly toward target. I commenced my swing from that position and the result was...pretty good. Better than my usual, which is rubbish.

This was just an experiment, and since my ball striking is terrible to begin with, I don't want to acquire habits that will make it worse in the long run. So I'll stick to what my betters tell me and practice the standard square setup. But I'd appreciate a better understanding of why I should.

[GregJWillis]

Re: Setup: why square?

Because the impact position is a position of motion, and address is at rest. Putting your setup position at address would not be a balanced, relaxed state.

I do have my "Impact" drill do this exact position where you start with your feet, hips and shoulders open and only swing with the shoulders, arms and hands to illistrate the feeling of a correct impact position where those that have this problem of not getting rotated through before imact will benifit.

Good thread!

[ubizmo]

Re: Setup: why square?

I do have my "Impact" drill do this exact position where you start with your feet, hips and shoulders open and only swing with the shoulders, arms and hands to illistrate the feeling of a correct impact position where those that have this problem of not getting rotated through before imact will benifit.

Good thread!

Yup, it was your drill that got me thinking about this. I'm one of those who have this problem, and as a result a lot of my shots push to the right.

The odd thing (to me, anyway), is that when I do your other drill, the right hand drill, I don't have this problem at all. It's only a half swing and my hip comes around and I have a beautiful, straight, but short golf shot. It seems that in going from half swing to full swing, my hips get left behind and the ball goes farther but to the right.

I have seen some players who appear to use a target-ward twist as a "trigger" before starting the takeaway. Maybe that's another way to do it.