Concentrating on set-up is difficult at first, but pays off big time. Our brains are wired to adapt perfectly to our set-up and pattern of results. However, we seldom set up the same way twice in practice, unless we focus on it.
Unfocused practice means we end up expecting a consistent result while constantly changing our set-up equation to achieve it. Sloppy practice doesn’t make sense. I equate it to a rocking chair. It gives us something to do, but it doesn’t get us anywhere.
Our brains are perfectly wired to meet a goal set by specific intention. However, random practice does not engage the power of our brain to lead and speed improvement. On the contrary, our brain is then set to follow or chase every random result, ad infinitum.
I explained it today to some out-of-town, mid-handicap students. Their issue was contact and, by default, direction and curvature. Their address position was different for each swing and generally closed, so their issue made sense right away. After explaining what I wanted to show them, we began.
I put clubs at right angles to one another on the ground, slightly open, and told them to make changes until they hit their ball at the target FROM EXACTLY THE SAME SET-UP. I suggested a grip change idea to one and path work for the other. They did it in five minutes.
In the beginning, I asked them how uncomfortable it was to give that much attention to their set-up. They suggested it was oppressive. Yeah, no kidding. If you’ve never done it before, it immediately feels like you’re in handcuffs.
But, after five minutes of swinging to avoid the club I placed for ball position, I asked if the presence of that club had started receding to the back of their mind. They laughed at their surprise, and explained how it had done exactly that. Then, they started changing their movement for better and better results. It works like this.
After placing our clubface behind the ball, looking down at our feet and ball position is a visual check. Either our feet and ball are exactly where they need to be, or they’re not. Consequently, this right-brained, visual check alleviates fear, uncertainty, and doubt that undercuts confident, committed golf swings.
Precision, in this area, eliminates half of the confusion about what caused any given result. If we know our set up is good, movement is our problem. Therefore, the right side of our brain communicates our feelings to the left hemisphere for analysis and movement remedies. However, none of this happens until you lock-in your set-up elements precisely.
I recommend you experiment with anything you want EXCEPT your set-up. Change your grip. Alter your movement. Modify anything you need to reach your goal EXCEPT your set-up. Relativity does not breed repeatability. Ultimately, by not concentrating on your set-up, you are guaranteeing that failure, inconsistency, and frustration will dominate your game.
On the happy side, set-up precision is attainable by even our highest handicappers, because we only need eyesight and equilibrium to make it happen. Then, results are filtered through the knowledge that your set-up was not the issue. Eliminating the set-up variables from the improvement process forces us to focus on improving our movement. The Open Stance provides the rest for efficient swing discovery.
Open your stance, and play golf.
John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy
