LETTER FROM THE TEACHING PROFESSIONAL
HOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT POSTURE AND SWING PLANE
Hello everyone ! The heat of the summer is ramping up , and now is the time to start making some changes and start bringing the heat to the golf course when you play . But where should I start my quest for improvement in this game ? Glad you asked , in my humble opinion it starts first with getting your body into the correct posture . When we start in the right posture the club will also be get to the proper plane at the top of the swing .
What is the perfect posture ? Well , the answer to that question is open ended , it depends . Everyone ’ s body type is different , and we will all have different postures . But the key to finding your perfect posture is knowing the relationship between your wingspan from middle fingertip to middle fingertip vs . your height . In biomechanics we live by the statement , “ Always access never guess .” Meaning without knowing someone ’ s wingspan vs . height it ’ s impossible to know for certain what perfect posture is .
Once we know what the wingspan vs . height measurements , we also know what plane the club needs to be slotted in at the top of the backswing to produce a quality shot . Someone with longer wingspan vs . height is going to have a much more erect posture letting the arms swing higher slotting the club on the shoulder plane . Someone with same wingspan vs . height will have a standard posture , slotting the club on the torso plane at the top of the swing . A player with shorter wingspan vs . height will slot the club more on the hip plane . This illustration of Jim Fyurk , Tiger Woods , and Matt Kuchar shows the relationship . Jim Fyurk has 4 inches longer wingspan vs . height , Tiger Woods is the same wingspan vs . height , and Matt Kuchar is shorter wingspan vs . Height . All have different postures producing different backswing planes .
Poor posture that doesn ’ t match up can cause numerous problems to occur in our golf swing . The biggest of the issues being poor contact . For example , a player with longer wingspan vs . height that sets up with a lot of waist bend and spine angle will have a tendency hit behind the ball causing a “ fat ” or heavy strike . On the other side someone with shorter wingspan vs . height that has a more erect posture will tend to top the ball or hit it “ thin ”. So , finding your perfect posture can help produce a quality strike and some great contact .
After measuring the wingspan vs . height know have some information to start to correct our poor posture . As a simple reference if you stand up tall and erect and put arms on thighs , the first step is to add some waist bend and that will let your arms slide down your thighs slightly , then we will flex the knees to have the tip of middle finger touch the top of the knee cap . Someone who has longer arms vs height will not need as much waist bend to reach the top of the knee . Someone with shorter wingspan vs height will have more waist bend and chest will be lower .
With a few corrections to your posture , the club will slot properly at the top of your swing , therefore we are matched up in term of producing a movement pattern that matches the players type of body . In simple terms we will hit the ball better just by being in the right posture ! Stay cool out there and play well !
Ben Johnson
PGA , Teaching Professional
JULY eaglebrooke newsletter 7