Reprinted Articles

Golfers should have a mental check list of some of the basic elements of the golf swing before attempting a shot. The golfers body alignment relative to the target is the first basic element. To do this, stand about 5 to 10 feet behind the golf ball. The golf ball should form a straight line with yourself and the intended target. Pick out some targets on the ground to help guide you such as a shadow, tuft of grass, leaf, or whatever you can find. These should be a short distance in front of and behind the golf ball that give you a straight line with you, the golf ball, and the target you are aiming at. As you get into your address position over the golf ball, keep that line on the ground to the target in your site.

Align the club face behind the ball, with the center of the club face on a direct line between the two ground targets you have selected. Grip the club with just enough tension to keep it from slipping in your hands throughout the course of the golf swing. Align your feet on a parallel plane with your ground targets, shoulder width apart, and the knees slightly bent. The front foot should be pointed slightly outward, toward the target, to allow your hips to flow freely through the swing.

Your upper body should tilt a bit toward the ball while keeping good posture. Your arms should hang loosely in front of your body to loosely grip the golf club. Your shoulders should line up parallel with the golf ball to target line and your toes. Your head should tilt down with your eyes on the back of the golf ball where you want the club head to impact it. This part of the golf swing is known as the setup or addressing the ball.

The back swing is step 4 of the golf swing. It is also known as the take away. This will be the start of the meat and potatoes of the golf swing. You want to rhythmically take the golf club back on the same plane of the straight line that your ground targets make. Make sure to keep your back elbow close to your ribs. The front elbow should be straight during the back swing. Your eyes should remain on the back of the golf ball, where you want to strike it with the golf club face. The back swing should inherently bring your chin into your front shoulder. The hips will stay quite and tilted a small amount forward. The front knee should also turn inward. At the height of the back swing, you should allow your wrists to break slightly to get ready for the next step of the golf swing.

The down swing involves bringing the club down toward the ball. You will uncoil your wrists and start shifting your weight toward your front foot. With gravity helping, your down swing is where you can generate force and speed. Never take the club face off of your target line. This defines the swing plane. The club face should strike the back of the ball first, then continue on through the arc of the swing. This will result in the club taking a divot out of the ground, just past where the golf ball initially was sitting. Continue the swing on past the second target you picked out just in front of the golf ball.

Finish the golf swing with a nice, high follow through of the club. Your hips should be turned toward the target. Your weight should have shifted, and should now be firmly on your front foot. Smile and watch the ball fly toward the target.

Tags: Golf