This flow chart walks you through the big picture of managing your golf game.

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It helps you identify what your pattern is and what that means, and it makes you go to the range with a plan instead of just reacting to each shot. The key steps to the process are:

• Step 1 - Identify your pattern?
• Step 2 - Train your pattern, or own your pattern?
• Step 3 - Do you have a practice plan?
• Step 4 - Do you have a long term plan?

The purpose of set up is to prepare for what is going to transpire. Our primary focus is to control the Apex or low point of the swing. Where the club if furthest away from us will dictate how solidly a golf ball is struck and in large part how successful we will be in golf. Our set up will differ from an “athletic position” because our intentions are different than other sports. We are not going to need a lot of lateral motion or agility, a mere 6 inches of shift is more than sufficient to play good golf, and the object that we will be striking in resting on the ground. Other than that, we are going to strive for a position that allows for freedom of movement of the spine, hips, shoulders and wrists. The process for getting into a good alignment is fairly easy. We want to bend from the hips, and not collapse the spine. We will have a slight bend from the knees and the arms hanging. The alignment of the body should match the shot that we intend to hit. The grip strength should match the swing but allow for freedom of movement in the wrists. We should also be aware of our ball position and it’s relation to the intended low point of our swing.