Instruction

How your spine angle affects your lie angle

By Golf Etc on May 11, 2009

Last time I talked about how to perfect your posture and spine angle. Would you ever think that your spine angle affects your lie angle… and therefore your accuracy? Very simply, if you address the ball with a curved spine your body will revert to a straight spine at some point during your backswing. The more curved you start, the sooner you “stand up” on the ball to straighten your spine; some people will say that you moved your head. When you change this critical posture position, you also change the plane or path your club head travels on. Once the plane changes, it becomes extremely difficult to return to the exact position at impact that would be correct vis a vis the club’s lie angle. All this extra movement during your swing results in a “toe down” or “heel down” impact position, causing the ball to move right or left, usually with extra sidespin. Now you have another excuse for your crooked hits! Or a simple solution to better accuracy… a straighter spine at address!

By the way, when you are at your relaxed address position, ensure that the toe of the club is up off the ground slightly. This allows the club head, via proper shaft release, to flatten out for a correct impact lie mark. The stronger you swing, the more upright that toe should be. When you set up with the club head flat to the ground you actually need to unnaturally hold your hands up and therefore increase the tension in your arms before you swing! And we know that “tension kills” in golf from the grip tips earlier this month. If you are unsure about your correct lie angle, come by for a Golf Bag Analysis where we check that the lie angles of your clubs are still within OEM tolerances and that they match your dynamic golf swing!

…next week… filling the gap in your short game!

Specials at Golf Etc

Calllaway Golf Special Promotions
Come in before May 31st, and with the purchase of a Callaway FT-iQ, FT-9 or Diablo Driver, recieve a Callaway Diablo Fairway or FT-i Squareway Wood FOR $1!
- and –
With the purchase of a set of X22, X22 Tour or X-Forged (‘09) Irons, and recieve a X-Forged Wedge FREE!