how to keep your shoulders square in golf swing

Golf Tips: Shoulders Square

• Overview. Golfers who struggle with accuracy should focus on having their shoulders square at impact. Squaring your...
• Slap For Square. This drill to find a square position can be done at home, at the range, or on the course. Take a stance...
• Proper Address. A key to ensure proper shoulder positioning at impact is starting the swing with your...

Full Answer

What do square shoulders have to do with a good golf swing?

You might be wondering what do square shoulders have to do with having a good golf swing. Actually, squaring shoulders is crucial in properly performing swings. Basically, squaring shoulders means that you are positioning your shoulders to be parallel to the target line as your golf club is heading for contact against the ball.

How to get a squared impact in a golf swing?

If you start your swing with the shoulders already squared, then logically, you will have better chances of getting a squared impact. To do this, you will start with the normal golf stance and while doing so, you should check if your shoulders are in a position that is parallel to your target.

Should you close your shoulders at address in your golf swing?

Basically, by closing your shoulders slightly at address, you are going to shorten the turn required to make it up to the top of your backswing. This won't be the right adjustment for all golfers, but it can be perfect for those who have trouble keeping up with their lower body on the way down.

How to build a consistent golf swing?

If you would like to work on building a consistent, repeatable golf swing, starting out with your shoulders square to the target line is a wise choice. Stay connected. During the golf swing, it is your job to 'stay connected' by turning your upper body and lower body at an appropriate rate of speed.

Should your shoulders be square at impact in golf?

Square shoulders at impact are important for shot distance and accuracy. Golfers who struggle with accuracy should focus on having their shoulders square at impact. Squaring your shoulders means that as contact is made with the ball, the shoulders are parallel to the target line.

How do I align my shoulders in my golf swing?

0:092:36Prevent bad shots with proper shoulder alignment - Golf Lessons ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe right hand. So really common when it comes to shoulder alignment simply because that left handMoreThe right hand. So really common when it comes to shoulder alignment simply because that left hand is higher naturally. The left shoulder wants to sink. Further back than the right shoulder.

Should your shoulders be square at address?

GO: For most shots your body, including your shoulders, arms, hips and knees, should be square to your target line. NO GO: Your shoulders should not be open or closed relative to your target line. This causes an inside or outside takeaway path.

How do I keep my shoulders back in the golf swing?

1:312:25Golf Posture Drill - Quick Tip to Get Rid of a Rounded Back ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen we've got the good posture rather than the rounded posture. So pull the shoulders. Back bringMoreThen we've got the good posture rather than the rounded posture. So pull the shoulders. Back bring the club down behind the ball keep that good posture. And start your swing.

Why are my shoulders open at address?

0:105:34Fix Open Shoulders At Golf Address & NEVER SLICE AGAIN - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd the other thing that happens is you'll get too much tilt. So too much tilt this way. And thatMoreAnd the other thing that happens is you'll get too much tilt. So too much tilt this way. And that tends to open those shoulders.

How do you square a golf stance?

Square stanceIn order to adopt a square stance you simply place both feet in a way that the toe line (and even better the heel line) is parallel to the target line.A square stance leaves the loft of the club unaltered.More items...

Should shoulders be open or square at impact?

For a golfer whose left arm is deeper and more across the chest and right arm stays bent longer, the shoulders should be more open at impact. This will help the golfer's swing move in the direction of the target. For this golfer, the arms are moving slower, or closer to the same speed as the right shoulder.

Should your shoulders be back golf swing?

Remember your shoulders return to square to the ball/target line at impact, not open or closed. A good feel and visual is to take your golf stance and hold a club behind your shoulders and turn back and through.

Should the shoulders be rounded at address in golf?

If you let your shoulders round forward, you will put your back into flexion. This might feel comfortable and it might even feel athletic. But it will be wrong. It will destroy the base of your upper body (the shoulders), limit your flexibility on the backswing and cause other things to fall apart in the swing.

Where should shoulders be at address?

2:075:23Golf Swing Tip: Closed Shoulders at Address - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then we gravitate up to it like this with our chest. And it gets our shoulders going way overMoreAnd then we gravitate up to it like this with our chest. And it gets our shoulders going way over here to the left when the reality is so many need to feel more closed.

How do you align your body to the target in golf?

3:245:48THE PERFECT GOLF ALIGNMENT ROUTINE - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipDown. Well now that clubface is going to be preset to the right. The main reason being is when weMoreDown. Well now that clubface is going to be preset to the right. The main reason being is when we walk in and we set our body first. We have a tilted eyeline.

How do you align yourself to target in golf?

For example, when you address the golf ball, have someone gently rest a club or alignment stick between your two shoulders. That line ought to point parallel left of your target, again for a right-handed player. Do the same thing with your hips, on your waist-line, and your forearms.

Why are shoulders squared in golf?

Golf Tips: Shoulders Square. Square shoulders at impact are important for shot distance and accuracy. Golfers who struggle with accuracy should focus on having their shoulders square at impact. Squaring your shoulders means that as contact is made with the ball, the shoulders are parallel to the target line. This is an important aspect of the swing ...

How to find square position in golf?

This drill to find a square position can be done at home, at the range, or on the course. Take a stance and extend your arms with the hands together. The palms should be together and the fingers pointed at the ground. Take the right hand back (for right-handers) like the takeaway in a golf swing. Bring the right hand down and slap the left hand.

What does it mean to square your shoulders?

Squaring your shoulders means that as contact is made with the ball, the shoulders are parallel to the target line. This is an important aspect of the swing and is one reason that many novice golfers battle the slice and hook. Luckily, several drills exist to help golfers get their shoulders square at impact.

How to ensure proper shoulder positioning?

A key to ensure proper shoulder positioning at impact is starting the swing with your shoulders square. When addressing the ball before a shot, check that your shoulders are lined up parallel to the target line.

How to squar a shoulder?

Bring the right hand down and slap the left hand. The hands should meet in front of you for a square impact. If the shoulders are open, the hands will meet too far forward in a position that would cause a slice. Practice this drill to gain a better feeling of squaring the shoulders at impact.

How to use a hitting bag?

If using a hitting bag, focus on having the front arm and club form a straight line down to the golf ball at impact. This will ensure squared shoulders at impact and solid contact.

What do you notice at the top of a golf swing?

Now at the top of the swing, what we’re going to notice here is that the body’s still leaning forward, and at the shoulders have gotten good rotation but they’ve also stayed in their posture. I’ll explain what I mean by this.

What does it mean when your left shoulder is square?

All right, so these shoulders are pretty square there. That means the left shoulder is kind of protracted, or in against the chest. The left shoulder’s going to feel like it’s across your chest as you’re coming down to impact. The right shoulder is also going to feel like it’s kind of cinched in to your chest.

What does it mean when a golfer's right hand is lower than his left hand?

Since his body is slightly tilted away --so you can see his upper body is slightly tilted back away from the target – that’s going to put – and since also his right hand is lower on the club than his left hand – that’s going to give him just a very slight tilt in the shoulders.

What is the right arm of a golfer?

The right arm is nice and in to his body. The hips have rotated open. Now here’s a key point to note when you’re looking at the swing, the difference between the shoulders and the torso. If you look at his shirt buttons or his ribcage, you would see that that’s pointing about 20-30° open.

What does it feel like to stretch out your shoulder?

If you’re looking at it from this way, it feels like it’s stretching out away from the body. If you look at the back of your left shoulder, that’s what’s called your scapula, and that is stretching out away, that shoulder’s protracting or moving away from the target.

What happens when you make contact with a shaft?

As you make contact, the shoulders will cinch together but are slightly open while making contact with forward shaft lean .

Why don't you want to get shoulders level?

We wouldn’t want to get the shoulders too level, because that may mean our upper body’s leaning more toward the target, and going to make it difficult to get loaded up in the backswing, get our weight shift to the right side.

How do shoulders help in golf?

In addition to rotating back and through, your shoulders also help set the target line at address. By getting your golf shoulders at address into just the right position – which is parallel to the target line itself – you should have a far easier time starting your shots right at the target you have picked out.

What is the role of shoulders in golf?

The main role of the shoulders during the golf swing is rotation . They can serve as the main engine of your golf swing – along with your hips – to turn the club back and through. Good golf swings are all about getting enough rotation to build speed and accelerate the club into impact.

Why do my shoulders spin out of my swing?

Golf shoulders spinning out of the swing is a common problem because too many golfers try to use the shoulders themselves to get the downswing started. When this happens, the shoulders turn out of the way too quickly, leaving the club trailing far behind the swing.

What is swing theory?

Modern swing theory focuses largely on the backswing rotation of the shoulders relative to the hips. The Jim McClean, measures the difference (in degrees) between the shoulder turn and hip turn at the top of the swing.

How to address golf swing?

When you set up in your address position prior to a shot, there should be some tilt in your back as you bend over to address the ball. It is crucial that this tilt is maintained throughout the golf swing. Many players make the mistake of ‘standing up’ during the backswing and losing their tilt – when that happens, there is very little that can be done to save the swing. Holding your angle throughout both the backswing and downswing is vital to your success.

Why do you pay attention to your shoulders?

Another reason that paying attention to your shoulders can benefit your swing is because they are relatively simple to move compared to your arms. If you pay more attention to your arms during the swing, your mind could become overwhelmed since there are so many different paths that they can take during the backswing and downswing. By keeping your mind trained on the motion of your shoulders, the swing suddenly seems more simple and easier to complete properly. Clearing your mind is always a good thing on the golf course, and a focus on shoulder rotation can help you accomplish just that.

Why is it important to keep your shoulders closed?

While keeping the shoulders closed, it’s important that you still allow them to rotate freely. Otherwise, your arms will take over the downswing and throw everything out of whack. The shoulders are one of the parts of the body that play an integral role in the success or failure of your golf swing.

What happens when you start your golf swing with your shoulders open?

The first is your shoulders moving out and around instead of down. This causes the club to move away from the ball outside of your target line commonly causing you to slice the ball and lose power. Starting with your shoulders open can also cause a shorter backswing, or a lack of rotation, or for your arms and body to become disconnected as you try to get the club back far enough.

How to get better at golf stance?

If you watch good players practice, they almost always use an alignment rod on the ground to help them. Align your knees, hips, and shoulders. This step is made significantly easier with Swing Align.

What is the most difficult part of golf alignment?

Align your knees, hips, and shoulders. This step is made significantly easier with Swing Align. Shoulder alignment at address is the most difficult part of the golf alignment process. If you are wearing a Swing Align device all you have to do is look down and match the alignment rod across your chest with the alignment rod on the ground.

What does alignment rod on the ground show?

The alignment rod across your upper body will show you where your body line is pointed, and an alignment rod on the ground will show where your lower body is pointed, match the two and you’re in proper alignment and ready to make a good golf swing.

What is proper golf alignment?

Proper golf alignment is the first step to executing a great swing, and to hitting a great golf shot. If you set up with the proper golf alignment, particularly your shoulder alignment at address, you’ve set yourself up for success. If you set up poorly you’ve set yourself up ...

How to set up a golf club?

It’s important that your club face points down the target line you set for yourself. Align the leading edge of the club perpendicular to the rod you placed on the ground.

Why is golf fundamentals important?

All golf swing fundamentals are important. They each have their role to play, and no great swing can exist without them. Because of this it’s hard to put one above the others, with one key exception - proper golf alignment.

When you square your shoulders to the target line, are you naturally going to simplify your swing?

When you set your shoulders square to the target line, you are naturally going to simplify your swing because these two important lines will match up from the start. You don't have to work to bring your shoulders back into position at some point along the way, because you were in a good position right from the start.

How to address golf swing?

Shoulders square to the target line. This is the standard address position which will be taught by most golf instructors. If you go for a golf lesson at your local course, it is likely that the teacher will encourage you to start with your shoulders square to the target line. And that certainly makes a lot of sense. This option is going to simplify your swing, since the shoulders will match up with the intended path of the ball. In other words, you won't have to make any adjustments or corrections along the way to get back on track – you can trust your shoulders to lead you in the right direction. To be honest, this is the setup that every golfer would use, if every golfer had a perfect swing. With technical perfection in the swing itself, there would be no reason to set up open or closed to the line – you would just set up square and swing away. Of course, no golfer has a perfect swing, which is why some resort to setting up in an open or closed position to achieve the results they desire.

What does it mean when your left shoulder is in an open position?

This means that your left shoulder is going to be a little farther from the target line than your right shoulder. With your shoulders in an open position, it's likely that the club is going to go back to the outside of the target line, since your takeaway will tend to mirror the angle of your shoulders. If you would like to hit a fade, ...

What does it mean to be in a closed position?

Here, you are in a closed position, meaning your left shoulder is closer to the target line than your right shoulder. Instead of tending toward an outside takeaway, the club is likely to move to the inside almost immediately upon beginning the swing. This adjustment is common for players who deal with a fade/slice, since taking the club to the inside might help produce an inside-out swing and a draw ball flight. Unfortunately, it is also possible that this set up will make an existing slice even worse. This point surprises some golfers, but it is true. When you take the club too far to the inside on the way back, you may be 'stuck' at the top and left with no choice other than to come 'over the top' during the transition. Such a move can leave you with a nasty slice – one that is even worse than when you were setting up with your shoulders square. If you do play with your shoulders closed, you'll have to be careful that you don't get carried away and leave yourself with a dramatically inside takeaway.

How to work on repeatable golf swing?

Stay connected. During the golf swing, it is your job to 'stay connected' by turning your upper body and lower body at an appropriate rate of speed.

What is the most common mistake made by amateur golfers?

Start closed to improve your takeaway. One of the most common mistakes made by amateur golfers is taking the club back to the outside of the target line. When this happens, the backswing goes too far to the outside, and a slice is the common result.

Why is it important to know your own swing?

With regard to this discussion, knowing your own swing is important as it can help you decide how you should set your shoulders at address. While we established in the previous section that it is a good idea to set your shoulders square to the target line as a 'default' position, that position might not be best for you. It is possible that you will achieve better results by using an open or closed position at address, depending on the technique you use throughout the rest of your swing.