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Setup

What is the correct golf setup and posture?

Stance, ball position, spine angle and alignment before the club ever moves.

174 lessons ranked by 586 independent recommendations · 35 golfers said it fixed it. How we count

What causes it

Stance width, ball position, spine angle and alignment decide what is possible before the club moves. Poor setups such as standing too far away, a rounded back or aiming left build compensation into the swing. Posture also affects how well you can rotate. Too much knee bend or a rounded upper back limits turn, while standing too tall forces the arms to reach, and either one can show up later as early extension or a loss of balance.

How golfers fix it

Athletic Motion Golf's Pros vs. Ams video is recommended by 25 golfers, 5 of whom say it helped. Their video on how far to stand from the ball has 24. George Gankas' complete guide to golf setup has 16, covering posture and weight distribution, and Athletic Motion's address video has 15. Common fixes:

Common mistakes

Overthinking a stiff, robotic setup is common. Another is copying a tour player's open stance without their mobility. Check your setup on video regularly. Also remember that setup is not fixed; it changes with club length. Drivers need a wider stance and more tilt than wedges, so check each one rather than copying a single position for everything.

Written with AI from the lessons and recommendations above. Not a substitute for a coach.