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Use the buttocks as a counterweight and allow the hands to hang from the shoulders.

Most high-handicap golfers have an improper back angle when addressing the ball. The back angle should be approximately 38-50 degrees.

If the back is too upright, the shoulders can’t turn on the proper plane allowing the hands to get ahead of the chest on the backswing, causing shanks and slices.

It is essential to bend at the waist without bowing the back; the back should be arched inward and the head should be up enough to allow the shoulders to turn freely.

Imagine you are sitting on a high stool and bending at the waist. Bend at the waist until you feel the weight on your toes as if you were going to fall forward. Then, push the buttocks out just enough to counterbalance the weight.

A proper back angle will help you enjoy this great game called golf.

Rick Musselman, a golf author and professional, owns Musselman’s Golf in Williamsport.