Setup question!

Hi, My name is Saemi and I'm from Iceland

I have one question for the pros -

I know the rule of thumb is to align your feet parallel to the target line, but when you guys set up, do you align your feet that way? I've heard that it's impossible to hit a straight golf shot, you must choose whether you want to work the ball to the left or the right?

So if I choose to work the ball from right to left (wich I do) shouldn't I set up that way... align my feet to the right of the target?? Last summer I was hitting very well, fading the ball, then I started reading tutorials about the swing and changed my setup to the feet parallel to target setup, and doing that I never know whether the ball goes left or right, leaving me much more inconsistent!

So my question is, do you set up with your feet parallel to the target???

Thank you,
Saemi

Yeah I setup parallel to the target line. But sometimes I try to put the right foot a little behind to promote a more inside-out swing path.

Yes, if you are working the ball, you will be aiming your feet, shoulders and hips away from the flag (or final destination) to a different target...how far depends on how much you are working the ball.

I have never heard that you should never try to hit a straight ball. There might be slight deviation due to wind, or errors in your clubface squareness, but generally it can go straight without a problem. To think that you always have to work the ball one way or the other is silly. Excluding a straight shot in you bag is taking out what I think is the most important shot one can hit, the one that you need to rely on the most.

I completely agree with Greg. I have a completely straight shot from my 5I down to my wedges. After a few swing modifications, my 4i to driver should be straight as well this year. I find if you can hit the ball straight, it is much easier to work the ball left to right (fade) or right to left (draw).

Ok thanks alot

It was Ben Hogan that said -

''I can't,'' he said. ''I don't believe anybody else can hit a straight ball. You only hit a straight ball by accident. The ball is going to move right or left every time you hit it, so you had better make it go one way or the other.''

Saemi

Just guessing here that equipment might have had something to do with this. The shafts were wood and were regular flex at best, the balls were very soft and cut easily making it move to one side or the other.

You've gotta have straight - especially on approach shots. Even if you're always a 'fire at the pin' kind of player, to have to work a shot sideways (R2L or L2R) is always tougher, especially with wind.

I've been working on a slightly open foot stance and a square should alignment, is this bad?

Clubs are very different now but they did not use wooden shafts at Ben Hogans time.

But thank you for your answers... I'll start work on my swing

Saemi

You shoulders should always be square to the line your feet are aligned to. Is you foot open or your stance open? That is a big difference. With an open stance you are encouraging an outside-in path relative to the target line. With your foot open, you are allowing for a bit more rotation in the hips.

I guess it's just open to the ball with my left foot pointed slightly towards the target. I guess I'm confused, if I practice with a club at my feet and my left toes pointed towards the target slightly should I still runs the alignment club I am using across the front of my toes? If you need a picture of my setup I can do that.

I see what you are saying....because the front foot goes at a slight angle towards the target, your alignment of the feet will point slightly open.

Answer: Not enought to worry about. You are talking 1/2 a degree at best. And if anything, pointing the feet slightly open is a prefered alignment. It promotes a better thurn through the ball at impact. So just align them as you normally do at your target.

If you want to get technical here: The alignment of the ball to the target ise a straight line. The feet should be in a railroad track alignment about 2 feet left of the target. In a 2 foot putt, this make a hugh difference. You never want the feet pointing at the target because you will have a crazy triangle alignemnt of the feet to the hole AND the ball at the hole...where you would be putting almost aross your body. In a 150yd approach, 2 feet left of the target is .075 degrees open to the target. So this is negliable. You want your feet on a perfect parallel line from the ball's alignment to the target....like a railroad track.

This is my guess. When you line up parallel after being used to setting up open, you may be trying to compensate for that change and wind up steering the club. That will often lead to inconsistancy. You're used to being open -so now the target feels like it's behind you -so you try to send the ball off in the direction left of where it is. That could give you a slice, fade or pull depending on where your club face is in the steering process.

Obviously I'm just taking a stab without seeing what you're doing.

Seriously, I would suggest you go back to your open stance and your fade if that's what is most comfortable. If it aint broke...