Forgetting this 1 swing factor kills your ability to hit the ball

Welcome to Shaving Strokes, the GOLF.com series where we share the progress, lessons learned and takeaways from novice golfers like you — including the speed bumps and challenges they've faced along the way.

As a middle man, I think a lot as I stand over my golf ball before the shot.

Have I gone through my shooting process before? Check it out. Is my ball position in the correct position based on the shot I am hitting? Check it out. Is my golf swing OK? Where am I headed? Test and be tested three times.

But while all of these things are great, there is one aspect of the swing that is often overlooked – proper golf posture.

According to GOLF Top 100 instructor Shawn Callahan, too many golfers go through all the steps I listed above (and then some!), but they don't have the right form to swing and make first contact with the ball.

“Position is one of the biggest keys to hitting the ball well,” Callahan tells me. “But it's also one of the most overlooked.”

But with the help of Callahan's tip below, you can improve your golf swing and start feeling better shots as a result. Take a look at what he has to say.

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How to find the right golf swing

“When I make a student take a swing lesson, I always look at their swing principles – like their grip, stance, setup and posture,” Callahan said.

One of the most important parts of every golf swing is your golf swing, which Callahan says helps separate consistent golfers from high-flying handicappers.

“Look at any of the top players we watch on TV and you'll see how good they look on set,” he adds. “The spine is tilted, the legs are slightly bent, the body is aligned with the target line. They don't get this technique by accident, they've worked on it, honed it, and made it part of their early shooting technique.”

So what does the perfect golf situation look like? Callahan reverses it below – which will lead to a better shot as a result.

Use the mirror to drive your golf course

“Good posture means you'll get the club in flight easier, and it'll help engage your core muscles to work together, creating both power and speed in the golf swing,” says Callahan.

So the first thing he suggests is getting a mirror or sliding glass door to check your golf swing – everyone has one in their home. Really, anything that shows up should work.

Next, take your setup and mirror down the line – it looks like the golf instructor is standing behind you. Callahan then provides a checklist to go through to make sure you're in the right shape.

“Are your knees too bent, making it look like you're swinging to get to the ball? Is your back too round? Are you bending over from your stomach instead of hanging from your waist? All these factors will create a compensation in your swing that will not work properly,” he said. “But when your posture is good, your take will be much better – without having to cheat to get it in the right position.”

Callahan then shares the best way to get into the right golf swing.

“First, start by standing tall. From there, bend at the hips by pushing your hips back – which creates a tilt at the hips, which is important, and let your arms hang straight down. This is the natural way to find your best posture in the setup,” he says. “You don't want to bend at the stomach or waist, which rounds the back and takes all the lower back muscles out of the swing.

Your position forms 2 angles

“Your posture creates two angles,” Callahan said. “One is created by your legs, which are about 90 degrees, and the other is created by the tilt of your spine to the ball, which is usually 45 degrees.”

By creating these two angles in the golf swing, Callahan says you'll be able to swing around the angle of your spine — the easiest and most natural way to get the club on the right plane.

“Many swing bowlers rotate their legs, which flattens the swing plane and forces the body to work harder to get to the ball and hit it on target,” he says. “But if your golf swing is right, you can bring the club back with your arms and body, allowing the club to be on a bigger plane.”

So remember to make sure you are in good shape before taking your golf swing. It's the biggest key to hitting better shots, and it's not just another afterthought – just one last step before starting your take.

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Nick Dimengo

Golf.com Editor