How do I know if my posture is correct at address?

Mastering Correct Posture at Address in the Rotary Swing

As Riley "The Rotator," I live for setups that unleash explosive body rotation and hip drive—your posture at address is the foundation for that power! Get this right, and you're primed for short-to-medium backswings loaded with torque, delivering bombs off the tee. Poor posture kills rotation, leaks speed, and turns athletic potential into weak slices. Here's how to nail it, step by step, with biomechanics-backed checks tailored for rotary swing athletes.

Core Elements of Ideal Rotary Posture

Your address position must support aggressive hip and shoulder turns while maintaining dynamic balance. Aim for an athletic, coiled-ready stance—like a baseball slugger or discus thrower about to unleash.

• Spine Angle and Axis: Establish a straight spine axis (from the top of your neck through your tailbone) tilted slightly forward from the hips—about 30-40 degrees. Avoid slouching or standing too upright; this raised swing center enables full 90-degree shoulder rotation against a 45-degree hip turn for maximum torque.
• Weight Distribution: Start with a perfect 50-50 split between your feet. Feel balanced and centered, ready to shift dynamically—no hanging back on your trail side.
• Hip Hinge and Knee Flex: Hinge from the hips (push your tailbone back), flex your knees softly (like sitting on a high stool), and let your arms hang naturally from the shoulders. Your trail hip pushes slightly back and up, keeping the lead hip quiet.
• Alignment: Feet, knees, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target line. For driver, position the ball just inside your lead heel to promote an ascending blow through rotation.
• Arms and Hands: Arms relaxed and hanging, hands ahead of the clubhead at address to set up for rotation squaring the face through impact.

Quick Self-Checks to Verify Your Posture

Test these in front of a mirror or record yourself—feel the athletic readiness for rotation!

1. Mirror Check: Side view: Does your spine look straight but tilted? Can you draw a straight line from earlobe through hip socket to mid-foot? If your head juts forward or butt sticks out, re-hinge.
2. Balance Test: Lift each foot slightly—can you do it easily without toppling? 50-50 weight ensures ground force reaction for power.
3. Rotation Feel: From address, make a mini-backswing. Do your shoulders turn fully while hips resist? No arm lift—pure body turn.
4. Partner Check: Have someone place a hand on your lower back—if it slides in easily, you're too upright. It should feel firm against proper hinge.

Proven Drills to Lock in Rotary Posture

• Alignment Stick Drill: Hold a stick across your chest at address. Rotate to feel proper shoulder turn without changing spine angle—drills home axis stability.
• Split-Grip Drill: Separate hands on the grip (trail hand low, lead high). Rotate chest through "impact"—eliminates hand interference, forcing body-driven posture.
• Feet-Together Step Drill: Start feet together, step lead foot toward target on downswing. Builds hip drive awareness from balanced address.

Common Posture Mistakes and Rotary Fixes

Watch for these rotation-killers:

• Too Upright: Limits shoulder turn—fix with deeper hip hinge.
• Reach or Slouch: Throws off axis—drop arms and re-balance 50-50.
• Open Hips: Leaks torque—close stance slightly for draw-biased rotary power.
• Resulting Miss: Poor posture causes left-side pulls/hooks; proper setup lets hips clear aggressively (belt buckle to target at finish) while chest rotates through the ball.

Key Takeaway: Your Power Foundation

Correct posture at address—straight axis, 50-50 balance, athletic hinge—sets the stage for the rotary swing's explosive speed through body rotation, not arms. Nail this daily with mirrors and drills, and you'll feel the torque build for effortless distance. Commit to this setup, add flexibility work, and watch your drives soar— that's the Rotator way!