An article by: Bobby Eldridge on 12-03-2007
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Golf Swing - Setup - The
Chin: Why the Chin Needs to be Up
After you address the golf ball there is a check-list of things you need to go through to make
sure you are ready to take off. I am not going to tell you the position of the chin
(#33) is the most important- however, it ranks up there
for sure. The chin controls what happens to the shoulders in the backswing. If the chin is
down in your chest at address (#32), the shoulders will have a
tendency to pop up in the backswing. The right shoulder will NOT turn out of the way to make
room for the arms to swing around. If you continue to leave your chin down in your chest you
might have some success with the shorter clubs, but the long clubs will be very difficult to
hit. You can get away with the arms swinging up and down with the short clubs, you might not
be so lucky with the longer clubs.
If you are going to make the change you should do it now and make the change with all of the clubs.
It will pay off with crisper iron shots and more solid tee shots.
As you prepare to address the golf ball the knees are slightly flexed, the spine is long, the
shoulders are back and the chin is an extension of the spine. For those of you who wear bifocals or
have played with your chin down in your chest for the past 20 odd years, this is going to be
somewhat of an awkward feeling when you lift your chin up. If you wear bifocals this might be close
to impossible to accomplish. For the rest of you who do not wear bifocals, the party is over, no
excuses, get your chin up.
Golf Setup - How Much to Lift the Chin UpSo now you
want to know how much you should lift your chin up. I have some advice that is not the answer of
all answers, but it is a wonderful starting point. Grip the golf club in your left hand and then
make a fist with your right hand, lift your chin up just enough to get your fist under your chin
and touch your throat (#34). I know this seems a bit generic but it
will give you a great starting point. If you have a tendency to top your shots or hit thin, your
chin might be up too much (#31).
What you can Expect by making this correctionWhen you
start experimenting with this new position you will want to start with a club you like to hit. You
will know right away if the correction is going to help you or not. Give it a chance. If you top a
lot of shots, you have lifted the chin up too much. The first few shots you might want to start
with half a fist so you can ease into it. Keep in mind it is an extension of your spine. You might
have to bend over at the hips another inch or two; this will compliment the chin position.
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