The First Position Trigger!!

One of the most common ways to start your swing, particularly as advanced golfers, is pre-setting your first position. You will see the likes of Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas, Rickie Fowler all pre-setting their first position as a trigger to starting their swing. Starting your swing without any movement of the body or arms is in fact quite rare at the top level. This is because golf, unlike other sports, starts at a stationary position, meaning you need to exert force on an object from a standing start. When you move your body or have a pre-set movement, you will be able to feel your swing as more dynamic and athletic.

Now pre-setting your first position is very popular as once a golfer gets quite advanced, it becomes clear that if this position is correct, the chances are that the swing will become quite consistent and efficient. The first position is defined as when the club reaches parallel to the ground. The goal for this position is to ensure that the clubhead and the hands form a straight line. Ideally you want to have the distance from the butt end of the club to the body remain the same from set-up right through to parallel to the ground. The clubface should also be one to two degrees closed in this position. Lastly there will be slight body turn.

Now once this position becomes very consistent, a flow on effect tends to happen in the swing. This is because in this position, the club has been put in the right spot for the path to remain neutral all the way to impact. This position also means that the club is in front of the chest early in the backswing. Therefore, on the way down, the chances are that the arms will continue to stay in front of the chest right through to impact. Lastly having the distance remain the same from set-up through to first position means the club will have a high probability returning in the correct position.

Now if the first position isn't correct for eg, when the club moves behind the hands too early on the backswing, the tendency will be that compensations will need to be made on the downswing. If the path moves behind the body too early on the backswing, the downswing tends to become more 'over the top' resulting in a slice. If the club moves away from the body too early on the backswing, the path can tend to get too 'in to out' on the downswing resulting in a hook.

If you'd like any further help in understanding the first position or are looking for a trigger for the swing, just contact myself at David Waters Golf located at Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre.