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Golf can be a very frustrating sport if you don’t have a consistent swing to hit the ball straight. Nobody wants to spend five hours on the golf course, because you are looking for your ball half the time. So getting your golf swing basics down to where you can be in control of your ball is extremely important, not only to your score, but to your sanity. Once you have a consistent swing to stay on the fairways your score will drop drastically, no matter how far you can hit it. My hope is that you will pick up at least one tip while going through my website, whether you are just starting out, or if you have been playing golf for a while but are looking to drop a few strokes off your score. So lets get down to the golf swing basics.
Golf Swing Basics: Grip
Your grip is important, but it will not make or break your golf swing. There are 3 basic types of grips that golfers use; the overlapping grip, the ten finger grip, and the interlocking grip. The most important factor in which grip you choose to use is how comfortable the grip is for you. The more comfortable you are when swinging the golf club, the better your swing is going to be. Head over to our page on Golf Grip Tips to find out about the 3 types of grips.
Golf Swing Basics: Stance
Your stance is a very important step in creating a perfect swing and is definitely a golf swing basic that must be mastered. Depending on what club you are using, you will want to line the ball up differently. With short irons you want to be squared up with the ball between your feet. If you are using a long iron you want to have the ball slightly off center towards your front foot. And with drivers you want the ball just inside your front foot. Bend forward slightly, remember that your arms should hang down, you shouldn’t be holding them out. Your weight should be balanced between both feet from side to side and from front to back. Your feet should be shoulder width apart. Now bend at your knees slightly, and move toward the ball until your club is placed behind the ball.
Golf Swing Basics: Backswing
Next we will discuss the golf swing basics in your backswing. This is a very important step in the swing, this is where you will build up your power and also put your club in the best position to control it during your swing. One of the biggest problems people have with their backswing, is that it makes them unbalanced. When you are going through your backswing you need to do so in a smooth motion, while always keeping your body balanced. Your weight will shift to your back foot during the swing, but keep the pressure on the inside part of your back foot so you do not feel like you are going to fall over. As you progress through your backswing you will feel the pressure build up on the back leg. Your weight should still be distributed evenly between the backs and fronts of your feet. When you club reaches the height of your hips, it should be in a straight line with your feet. After passing this point at your hip, you are now going to start rotating your body while still raising the club, at the peak of your backswing your front shoulder should now be behind the ball. Your head should be down and your eyes should never leave the ball.
Golf Swing Basics: Downswing
Your downswing is where all the effort of your grip, stance and backswing come together to hopefully hit the ball accurately with the power you are capable of. A very important note to keep in mind is that a ball hit correctly will travel more accurately and farther than a ball hit with pure power and force. So don’t worry about trying to swing as hard as you can, because your power will come from hitting the ball in the right spot. If you have been following along with our golf swing basics here, then during your backswing your heel of your front foot has probably come off the ground slightly has you have transferred your weight to your back foot. The first step in the downswing is to place this heel back on the ground and shift your knees and hips forward, leaving your upper body where it was. As this lower body shift finishes you are now going to start the club swing. Your right shoulder should have dipped slightly during the lower body shift. You are now ready to rotate your body towards the ball, the faster you rotate, the more power you will create. Remember that your power comes from this rotation, not by trying to swing with your arms as fast as you can. Continue to practice a smooth swing trying to hit the ball squarely with consistency. As you get more comfortable start rotating your body faster until you reach the point where you are not longer comfortable. Finding your max speed without losing your smooth downswing will create your most powerful and accurate hits.
Golf Swing Basics: Follow-through
The follow-through of your swing isn’t of huge importance, because the ball has already been hit. But generally if your follow-through is not balanced or smooth it usually indicates that your swing was not balanced or smooth. You want your weight to end up on your front foot with your back foot lifted with just your toes on the ground. When your swing is complete, you should be standing with complete balance. Your right shoulder continues through, tight to your chin, and your shoulders rotate until your right shoulder is out in front. The club should be wrapped around your body.
