Page 30 - Golf World (February 2020)

TOUR INSTRUCTION ★ BUNKER PLAY ★ SWING BASICS ★ DRIVING ★ COURSE MANAGEMENT ★ THE ARCHIVE

LEE WESTWOOD

GET READY FORBETTER IRON PLAY

You’ve heard this from me more than once over the years, but I’ll say it again. You can’t hit solid golf shots without proper
fundamentals. Your posture, ball position and alignment determine your swing shape, your swing path and the direction in which
the ball travels, so it’s important to get it right! Here are five key things I focus on to keep my iron game on track.

CREATE A
SOLID BASE
Ball position is key and it
needs consistency. Flex
your knees so they are
over the laces of your
shoes with your weight
towards the toes. I like a CHECK THE LIE
slightly closed stance The toe of the club should
because it’s something be just off the ground.
I’ve always done. I just This is why fitting is so
like to have my right vital. The clubs should fit
foot drawn back you. If they don’t you’ll
very slightly.
always be making
compensations. GET THE HANG OF IT

Your hands and club should
hang vertically underneath
your shoulders because they
are always going to want to
return to this point. Your
hands should be neither too
near your thighs nor held away
from the legs.

UNDERSTAND YOUR
WRIST ACTION GROOVE THE
TAKEAWAY
How the wrists behave in the swing can I always like to see the club
be confusing since the movement actually parallel to the target line with
takes place while the club is moving. I find the clubhead in this position.
it best to explain and demonstrate when Many golfers open or close the
the club is static. Take your address face in the takeaway. A closed
position and be aware that the wrists
actually work in an up-and-down clubface means it’s effectively
chopping motion. Lift the club up as I have looking directly at the ball for
done here and simply move it into the longer, while fanning means
takeaway position with your upper body. the club face is too open. The
Your hands now have set the club correctly exercise (left) will help.
in the takeaway.

30 Golf World February 2020 | golfworldtop100.com