I have mentioned many times the importance of having your golf clubs fitted to you, for proper length, shaft length, shaft flex and lie angle of your irons.
But unless you learn the proper posture, it will be impossible to fit the clubs to yourself. Why? In a sound swing, the golf club must be swung around your body and a 45-degree angle to your spine to maintain the proper arc.
Try standing erect and keeping your spine straight, turn to the right and turn back to the left letting the club follow your pivot. Keep the club at right angles to your erect spine. Make a fist and place it against your chest. Then place your thumb under your chin. Now gradually let your spine tilt by letting your rear go back and up, bending from the hips.
Maintain this angle on the backswing and on the forward swing. To attain the proper posture at address, simply stand erect, let your knees flex just slightly, while holding the club in front of you parallel to the ground. Your upper arms should be touching your chest. Now let your arms drop until your elbows touch your body. Hold them there and bend backwards from the hip joints only until the club touches the ground.
Every PGA and LPGA player is in this position at address, All their swings may vary but not this address position. Get a copy of any golf magazine and notice this posture and try to emulate it in a mirror.
Now you can have your clubs fitted. It's a great game, and doing these few things will enhance your enjoyment of it.
Rules teaser:
In stroke play, a player tees off and the ball strikes a tree and comes to rest in the teeing ground. There was some tall grass behind the ball and the player stepped on it to flatten it. Ruling?
Answer to last column's teaser:
In a water hazard, a player removes a rock that had broken off from a larger one that was put aside the hazard. Ruling? No penalty.
John Lucas is the golf professional at SkyRidge Golf Course. He can be reached at john98382@olypen.com.