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A good setup position can go a long way toward more powerful shots.
A good setup position can go a long way toward more powerful shots.
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Several factors determine whether your drives will go long and straight or short and crooked.

Negative things I see with amateurs are starting the ball in the middle of the stance, pointing the grip ahead of their belly button and favoring the front foot at setup.

If you do those things, you’re not alone. But you need to stop if you want to get par-4s and par-5s off to better starts. Try this for a more powerful position at address:

Put your feet together with the ball centered between your shoes.

Slide your right foot back until it’s a little outside your back shoulder.

Tilt your spine toward your back foot and keep your right shoulder and hip lower than your forward shoulder and hip. This will allow you to hit up on the ball to ensure proper launch angle and reduce ball spin.

When shifting from backswing to downswing, move your weight to the forward foot through impact and watch your drives improve.

Eric Lohman, PGA, is the general manager at Monarch Beach in Dana Point. Reach him at elohman@monarchbeachgolf.com.