The real root of most swing problems is not your swing

It is my firm belief – and I emphasize the word it is strong – that almost all swing cancers can be traced back to setup errors.

A poor grip, poor positioning, incorrect distance from the ball, incorrect alignment, incorrect ball position – or any combination of these – will hurt even the most talented player. You just can’t build a repeatable, quality golf swing on a shaky foundation.

Can you hit a good shot from a bad setup? That’s right. But can you do it consistently? Not at all. Remember, even a broken clock is good twice a day. Poor setup conditions may allow you to hit a good shot here or there, but in the long run it will block your ceiling and keep your swing inconsistent. If you’re constantly rushing to make adjustments during the swing, chances are the real problem started long before the club ever moves.

This is why I always remind my students that practice should be about levelnot plural. One of the easiest ways to increase the quality of your practice is to put the alignment stick down and go through your full shot practice before each ball you hit. Not sometimes. Each time. Treat the range like a golf course, not a putter. If you couldn’t hit the mark on the course without proper targeting and setup, why would you do it on the range?

So who had the greatest photo shoot of all time? Obviously, Jack Nicklaus. After him, I’d pick Tiger Woods and maybe Raymond Floyd. What made these players special wasn’t just talent – it was discipline. I often tell my students that one of the defining characteristics of top tour players is that they are “boring.” They did the exact same thing before being shot. Same practice. Similar checkpoints. Same dedication.

On the other hand, recreational golfers tend to be more “fun.” One ball they carefully target. The following do not. One swing, they stand tall. Next, they squat. Over time, that conflict becomes impossible to overcome.

If you want to play better golf, become a putter expert – and yes, it’s worth repeating: be a setup expert. Build a pre-recording routine that sounds 100 percent perfect. Build a grip that complements your swing, develop a sporty stance, place the ball in the right direction of the club in your hands and aim with the accuracy of a world-class hitter.

Once those basics are in place, turns become easier, contact improves and consistency follows. A setup doesn’t just start the swing – it defines what can happen when the club starts to swing.

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