Golf Swing Tips

There are so many things to think about when you are trying to swing a golf club properly that it can be quite confusing.

Of the many elements in a good golf swing, no single element will determine whether the swing is a good one. Grip is important, but so are stance, posture, swing plane, and other elements. To coordinate everything, it’s best to begin with a deep breath and just let your arms and legs relax a bit. Nervous tension in the arm muscles will interfere with a smooth swing.

For proper stance, your feet should be about shoulder width apart and your legs bent slightly at the knee. Grip the club firmly but not so hard that your arm muscles tense up.

The next thing to think about is the backswing. A controlled backswing will set you up for a good drive. Draw the club back in a smooth motion tracing a fairly circular path with the club head. At the top of your backswing your thumb should be above your right ear. Rotate your torso during the backswing so that your chest faces away from your target, but keep your head down and eyes on the ball.

Now begin the downswing and try to send the club head through the same circular path that you traced in the backswing. In other words keep the same the swing plane. Using the same swing plane on the backswing and the downswing will bring more control to your drive. Allow the natural motion of your body unwinding in the downswing to send the club head through the point of contact with the ball and directly towards the target.
Since the club head is at the end of a long shaft it picks up great speed during the downswing and the force it transfers to the ball is a combination of this speed and the weight of the club head. Controlling all that energy requires that you impose some structure to the swing.

Here are a few more elements to solidify that structure:

Keep your left arm straight as you begin the backswing. Don’t bend your elbow. Allow your left arm to rotate clockwise as you draw the club back. Cock your wrists at a right angle near the top of the backswing. Don’t lift the heel of your left foot off the ground during the backswing, keep it planted on the ground for the most stability.

Start your downswing by rotating your hips and then add your shoulder rotation a moment later. Continue rotating your hips as you swing the club through the ball position and then follow through so that your belt buckle faces the target. Just before you hit the ball, snap your wrists for added power. Rotating your hips quickly as you swing the club with your arms and shoulders increases power and torque. This is the key to hitting a powerful drive.

Follow through after hitting the ball is important. At the end of the swing your chest will turn towards the target and your hands should end up higher than your left shoulder. Your right knee should face the target and your right heel will come up off the ground. Most of your weight will now be on your left foot.

The whole sequence should feel smooth and natural but that, of course, will take some practice.