The right posture sets up your body in the correct position for the swing and proper alignment ensures that you hit the ball straight along the imaginary ball-to-target line.

Body position and alignment of the body are two of the five essentials necessary for a good swing, along with aim of the clubface, grip and ball placement. You need to know these basics and practice them regularly until you don't have to think about them before you make your swing.

Posture

Correct posture is vital. Just watch the top players on TV. Although the world's great golfers may swing the club differently, they all have identical posture at address when they are preparing to strike the ball.

 Before you take up your posture, hold your club in your right hand and place the club head behind the ball, check that you are aiming the club head correctly and take your grip on the club. Use a 6, 7 or 8 iron as these three clubs are all easy to swing.

There are three stages on the path to correct posture. The first is your stance - where you place your feet when you address the ball. The two other stages involve your knees and back.

The right stance

Your feet should be as far apart as your shoulders are wide. In other words you take up a shoulder-width stance. They should also be at a slight outwards angle. The best way to get your feet at the correct angle is to imagine you are standing on the centre of a big clock face. Your right foot should point to 1 o'clock and you’re left to 11 o'clock.

Once your feet are in the right place, lift the club off the ground, and stand upright and at ease, with your legs straight. Now go on to the next stage.

Keeping your legs straight, bend your torso so that you are leaning forwards with your weight on the balls of your feet.

Finally, bend your knees slightly and let your bottom stick out. This should straighten your back. A straight back at the correct angle to the vertical allows your body to rotate properly when you make
your swing. This final stage also moves your body weight back from the balls of your feet to a more central position. You should always be comfortable and balanced when you have correct posture.

Alignment

Correct alignment means lining up your body parallel to the ball-to-target line. This may sound easy, but very few golfers achieve it or realize its importance in making sure the ball goes straight and accurately to the target.

Too many golfers take up what they feel is the ideal grip and posture without understanding the correct alignment procedure. Preparation for a shot is as vital as making the stroke itself.

Ball-to-target line

Before aligning yourself for a shot, you must first re-check your aim so that your clubface is square on to the ball-to-target line. It's essential to remember that your body must be parallel to this line. To help do this, imagine another line running between the tips of your big toes.

This line should run parallel to the ball-to-target line. Your knees, hips and shoulders must also be parallel to this new line running from toe to toe.

It might feel as if your shoulders are aiming left of the target but remember you strike the ball with the clubface. Aligning your shoulders parallel to the ball-to-target line is vital for creating the perfect swing.

Aligning your shoulders so they point at the target is a common fault which makes the club aim too far right. It often occurs when a golfer lines up a shot by looking at the target over the left shoulder. Avoid it by rotating - rather than lifting -your head to check that your clubface is aimed properly. Check your aim several times before you play a stroke that is square to the ball-to-target line.

The correct posture

1: Position of feet

Your feet at address must be the same width apart as your shoulders. They should also point slightly outwards.

2: Lean forward

   Stand at ease with your legs straight then lean forward so that your weight is on the balls of your feet. Place the club head squarely behind the ball.

3: Bend your knees

   Bend your knees and stick your bottom out slightly. This straightens your back. Add the correct grip. The club should rest firmly on the ground.

Practicing aim and alignment

1: View from behind
First, view the shot from behind - it's easier to find the intended line of flight. Pick out a marker such as a divot 3ft (1m) beyond the ball on the target line.

2: Aim the clubface

 Holding the club in your right hand, place the club head on the ground behind the ball and aim it square on to the selected marker.

3: Take a parallel stance

Take a stance parallel to the ball-to-marker line, and grip the club correctly using both hands. Keep the ball central in your stance.
 
Practice this routine regularly until it becomes as natural as walking. Remember, you must always find the correct alignment before you consider playing the shot.


Training alignment

Align your body

Alignment can be surprisingly hard to get right. Your shoulders, especially, must not point at the target but must be parallel to the ball-to-target line.

On track

One tried and tested way to achieve perfect alignment is to imagine a railway track between your ball and the target. The ball and club head are on the far rail, which runs to the base of the target, while the tips of your toes touch the nearside rail. Align your shoulders, hips and knees so that they are parallel to this nearside rail.

Railway formation

You can make the imaginary railway line idea clearer by placing a number of clubs on the ground in railway line formation. Line up your clubface square on to the club furthest away from you, while taking a stance parallel to the near line. Although your feet and body point left of target, they are in fact correctly placed: parallel to the ball-to-target line.