Common Golf Setup Mistakes Drill: 5 Checks Before You Swing

Step 1. Watch the five setup checks

Watch the grip and walk-in routine, then the demonstrations of distance, posture, alignment and turning space.

Watch the demonstration on YouTube.

Step 2. Work through the five checks

1. Place the grip across your lead-hand fingers

Raise the club roughly parallel to the ground and place the grip across the fingers of your lead hand as shown in the demonstration. Close your hand around it, add your trail hand and lower the club towards address.

Your lead hand is the left hand for a right-handed golfer and the right hand for a left-handed golfer. Keep the hold secure and comfortable.

Try taking your grip while standing behind the ball. Choose a target, then walk into the shot and settle your stance.

2. Check your distance from the ball

Let your arms hang comfortably from the shoulders. Compare that feeling with reaching out to make your arms and shaft one straight line.

At address, briefly release your trail hand while your lead hand holds the club. Let the trail arm relax, then return the hand to the grip. Notice whether it returns comfortably or whether you have to reach.

3. Match posture and ball position to the shot

Notice how much your upper body leans away from the target and where the ball sits in your stance. Avoid forcing an exaggerated tilt to copy an impact position.

Choose a balanced forward tilt from the hips and a comfortable knee bend. Ball position and upper-body tilt depend on the club and shot: an iron setup and a teed driver setup need different checks. Use the video and photographs to compare positions with the club you are practising.

4. Check your feet and shoulders against the target

Choose a target and place an alignment stick or spare club on the ground as a reference for your intended stance line. Keep it clear of the ball and club path.

Compare the direction of your feet and shoulders. Check from behind the ball, then return to address. A ground reference can help you spot a gradual change in alignment during practice.

5. Find room to turn from your setup

Compare a deep squat with a little less knee bend and a comfortable forward tilt. Notice whether you feel balanced or heavily back on your heels.

For a separate wall rehearsal, stand with your back roughly six inches (15 cm) from a wall. Leave the club aside and fold your arms. Tilt forwards into address without touching the wall, then turn slowly and explore light contact with your trail-side buttock.

The trail side is the right for a right-handed golfer and the left for a left-handed golfer. Keep the turn gentle; move into clear space before using a club.

In clear space, try a slightly closer address without a ball and make a short, slow rehearsal. Notice how your body creates room. Keep the adjustment small, then return to your normal balanced setup before hitting shots.

Early extension is the pelvis moving towards the ball during the downswing. Setup is one area to explore, rather than a complete explanation for every swing.

Step 3. Complete 18 setup routines

Complete 18 full setup routines. Start behind the ball, take your grip, choose the target and walk into address. Check distance, posture and alignment, then make one small rehearsal in clear space.

Step away and reset before the next routine. Keep one useful adjustment in mind, rather than trying to change everything at once. The wall exercise is a separate rehearsal; do your counted routines away from the wall.

If you’re using the Golf Practice Made Fun App, tick one box after each complete routine. Your target is 18 routines completed; the five checks together count once.

You can do the whole task without hitting a ball. At the range, add an easy shot after the routine if you wish. Write one short note about which check helped most.