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One of the most important aspects of a good golf swing is the positioning of your shoulders when at address. When they are set up correctly, this can be all the steam you need for the perfect golf swing.

Positioned improperly, however, they can be the trigger to an entire series of bad moves.

Let’s take a common example here: Should you happen to start your address with the shoulders level (parallel to the ground), then the hands begin the swing too far behind the ball.

The results of this will cause you to make unnatural adjustments during the swing in order to get your hands more forward so that you will be in the right hitting position.

But if your shoulders are correctly positioned at the right angle, your hands will naturally flow into the proper position during your swing.

 How To Set Up The Shoulders Correctly 

To get your shoulders set up in the proper position, start by placing your feet first, grab your club, and stand up perfectly straight.

 Now, as you take your normal grip, relax the shoulders. As you place the golf club behind the ball you will notice  how the right shoulder lowers until it is slightly lower than the left shoulder. This is the right position. Just try not to exaggerate it by dropping the shoulder too low.

When it comes to the mastering your golf grip there is one important factor involved that I do not see too many golf enthusiasts talking about: How the thumb should be planted on the shaft.

Do you want to know a common trademark of golfers who have the knack for sending the ball flying with phenomenal distance? It’s the turning of the hips to the left during the downswing, while at the same time extending the right arm through the swing.

Here is a quick drill that can help you accomplish this:

1. Start by teeing up the drive in your normal stance.

2. Now set the ball down off of your left heel (and/or opposite of the left armpit).

3. Without moving your stance, reach down and slide the ball towards your target at approximately the same distance of the grip.

4. Tee up your ball at that very spot, which should be 10 to 12 inches closer to the hole. Your address for the ball should be back where your normal position was at.

5. Now to finally hit the ball you will have to move the hips to the left so your arms will be able to “reach” the ball. This will invariably cause your right arm to extend.

This drill should be practiced at least 30 times before hitting the ball in its normal position. By that time you should have made significant improvement in your distance.

When you hit a “thin” shot in golf, your clubhead is typically making contact with the ball above its equator line. This type of shot is not only embarrassing, but it sends the ball flying off with the loft of only a few feet, if that much.

The type of club you use has an effect on the thin shot made.

For example, a thin shot that is hit with a long iron, middle iron, or wood, will travel at a far less distance than a ball that is properly hit. On the other hand, a thin shot hit with
a short iron or wedge will travel farther than normal after the ball hits the ground and continues to roll.

Thin Shots Can Be A Good Thing

Not all thin shots are considered to be a disaster, especially if hitting from the tee or fairway.  The ball might not travel as far as you would like but it will still advance towards the hole. 

However, if you are facing a situation in which you must clear an area of water or a bunker, for example, then a thin shot is not going to do the trick. The ball will drop right inside the hazard and your game will be ruined.

Ouch, That Hurt! 

A thin shot hit with enough power can also cause some physical pain and discomfort. The club vibrates when this type of shot is made, causing irritation in the hands and wrists.  This is especially true if the shaft of your club is made of steel. You can relate this pain to a mild electrical shock.

How To Prevent The Thin Shot

The thin shot is the exact opposite of the fat shot, obviously, so that means that in most cases, the bottom of your swing happens to be too far forward. Other golfers end up hitting a thin shot because they raise their body just before making impact with the
ball. A third reason why you may be hitting thin shots is due to trying to scoop up the ball into the air by using an iron. To prevent hitting thin shots, you must make a conscious effort to keep your spine straight during the swing. However, avoid
straightening your knees or torso when initiating the downswing.

Next, you should try to place the ball in different positions at address. Work with your clubs and do some testing.  For example, if you have a problem with hitting thin shots using your driver, make an adjustment by teeing the ball up an inch or two back
within your stance.  This will help the clubhead make contact with the ball sooner, which can fix the problem.

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Hit ‘em straight

Ben

Once beginner golfers have spent plenty of time learning the fundamentals of the game and sticking to the basics for a least one year or more, getting their short game skills
down pat, and seeing their scores start to dip down into the 80s, the next step is to consider changing up your golf clubs.

Up until this point you should have been playing with the same set of golf clubs since the beginning stages of your game.

The reason behind this advice is so that your time has been spent figuring out your personal and unique style, of which would be hard to learn by changing golf clubs too often.

Investing In A New Driver

Now that you are a bit more advanced, you should be moving on to new clubs so as not to hold back your progress. Investing into a new driver should be your first consideration. In fact, if you have only been playing for the last 12 months or so, you
may not even have a driver. Many new golfers do just fine by teeing off with a fairway wood because the wood tends to be easier and provide the best accuracy for the beginner.

Whether or not you have gone this entire time without a driver, or are simply upgrading from your old one, expect to pay a good chunk of change. Drivers are not cheap.  In fact, reliable brand-name drivers can cost you $500 or more!

(unless you let me make one for you, of course )

Titanium Clubs

Spending over $500 for a driver may sound ridiculous at this point in time, especially since most of us consider that all our clubs combined should cost $500 or less. But in reality, a good driver is nornally worth the price tag because it is made out of high quality, first-rate material.  Most top-dollar drivers, and other clubs, have heads that are made almost totally from titanium.

Titanium is an amazing metal that is actually stronger than steel, but weighs far less. Titanium is extremely expensive and so is the technology needed to break it down and build it as the head of a driver.

These types of clubs are used by professionals all over the world. Titanium club heads are not only lighter to handle than wood or steel, they are also built larger, which offers a bigger sweet spot on the club face, which as you know gives you a better chance
for the ball to make contact as efficiently as possible.

Again, PLEASE don’t go out and spend $500 for a driver! You can get a great driver with the same top rate materials made for half that amount or less.

Make sure you check out my website at Triangle Custom Clubs to see the type of drivers I can custom make for you.

But to be honest, if you want to stay local and have club maker you trust build a driver for you that’s fine with me - just don’t go out and spend a fortune, OK?

My goal is to help you improve your game without spending a ton of money. No matter where you get your driver, make sure it’s of the best material, custom made to fit your game. Just don’t spend your hard earned money on the name brand clubs. Name brand clubs have to recoup their endorsements to pro golfers and the like but you don’t have to foot that bill. Just fine a local club maker in your area (or check out our website) and save money!
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Hit ‘em straight

Ben