Golf is a game of exaltation and agony. It all depends on knowing how to master even the smallest detail at all times, and always using the correct technique for 9 or 18 holes. And it all starts with your swing. If you're always having an unwanted effect on the ball, can't reach the distances you want with your shots, or if you've never hit a golf ball before, here's how to get the most out of your swing.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Assuming the Correct Body Position
Step 1. Start with your front foot slightly in front of the ball
This way the stick will be located approximately in the center of the body. Your feet should be slightly wider than your shoulders.
- Place the larger clubs (driver or hybrid) closer to the front foot, the smaller ones closer to the center.
- If you are a right-handed player, your left foot should be approximately 30cm closer to the ball hole.
- If you are a left handed player, your right foot will be closest to the hole.
Step 2. Get close enough to the ball to reach with the stick keeping your arms straight but relaxed
Don't get close enough to bend your elbows to make room for the club. At the same time, don't stay so far away that you have to stretch your arms as much as possible. Your upper body should be bent slightly towards the ground, but not too much.
Step 3. Check your alignment
Alignment is the direction your feet and shoulders are pointing. You will need to line up your feet and shoulders so that the imaginary line from back to front shoulder - and back to front foot - points directly at your target.
To check your alignment, assume the shooting stance and place a golf club on the grass between your toes. Take a step back and observe the direction it is pointing in. It should be aimed at the target
Step 4. Bend your knees slightly
Avoid being too stiff and try to adopt an "athletic" position by bending your knees slightly. Try a practice swing with your knees fully extended to see how difficult - and how unnatural - it is to swing a golf club without bending your knees.
- Rest your weight on your toes. While it's harder than balancing on your heels, it's easier to shift your weight forward and then backward as you swing.
- Distribute your weight equally on both feet. Raise your heels slightly in quick succession to be able to tell when your stance is balanced. Even if you will shift your weight during the swing, you will need to start with an even distribution.
Part 2 of 4: Grip
Step 1. Whichever handle you decide to use, hold the club relaxed
A relaxed grip will allow the clubhead to rotate as you swing, improving your accuracy and power. As with many golf moves, the more force you use, the worse the results will be. Try to keep a natural grip.
Step 2. Try the baseball grip
This is a grip very similar to that used by baseball players, hence its name. Note:
for all three of the following tricks, the left hand (of a right-handed player) will be in the same position.
- Place your left hand under the golf club, closing your fingers over it so that they grip it tightly. The stick should rest exactly where the palm meets the fingers; the left thumb should point directly towards the club head.
- Place your right hand under the golf club so that your right little finger touches your left index finger.
- Tighten your grip so that the right palm rests on top of the left thumb. Your right thumb should be pointing slightly to the left of the axis, while your left thumb should be pointing slightly to the right.
Step 3. Test the stacked grip
While there is nothing wrong with the baseball grip, the fingers are basically disconnected from each other. The overlapping grip unites them making them overlap. This grip offers more stability.
Start with your hands in the baseball grip. Instead of holding your right little finger and left index finger next to each other, move your little finger up and place it in the space between your left index and middle fingers or on top of your index finger
Step 4. Test the twisted grip
This grip is probably the one of the three that offers the most stability by interlocking the hands under the club. This grip is the one used by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
To make this hold, start with that baseball. Then, place your left index finger between the little and ring fingers of your right hand, and your right little finger between the index and middle fingers of your left hand. Your right little finger and left index finger will squeeze each other into an "x"
Step 5. Choose the grip that feels most natural
Each hold has its pros and cons, and there are plenty of holds that weren't mentioned - ten finger holds, weak and strong holds, etc. Experiment with holds until your swing feels more natural and until you can correct some of your worst tendencies.
- The braided grip, for example, is commonly recommended for golfers with small hands (such as Nicklaus), while the overlapping grip is more difficult for those without large hands.
- If you are having trouble with the slice effect (the ball is moving left and then a lot to the right if you are right), consider letting go of the weak grip if you are using it.
- If you are having trouble with the hook effect (the ball moves to the right and then a lot to the left if you are right), consider letting go of the strong grip if you are using it.
Part 3 of 4: the Swing
Step 1. Start the loading movement
This part of the movement is where you bring the club from its starting position over your head. Try to rotate your chest as you load, shifting your weight from the front toes to the back. Pay attention to the three distinct stages of uploading:
- Step One: Move your hands back keeping them close to the back leg. Try to keep your front arm straight when doing this. When the club head moves back, the shaft should become almost parallel to the ground.
- Step Two: Keep moving your wrists as you move your arm parallel to the ground. The club should be roughly perpendicular to your left arm (if you are right handed). The club head should point slightly to the outside of the ball.
- Step Three: Rotate your chest further back so that the club head comes slightly behind your hands at the top of the load. Your front arm should bend slightly during the last stage of loading.
Step 2. Start the shooting movement
As you bring the club down, "drag" the club head so that it moves after everything else, and allow the 90 ° angle between forearm and shaft to increase, then quickly close it at the point of impact. This way you will create super high clubhead speed without moving your body too fast and maintaining control.
- Just before impact, try to lock the front arm again so that it is fully extended, as it was at the start of the loading.
- Shift your weight from the back to the front toe. Let the knees move towards the target. Try to keep your front knee bent, especially if you are hitting with a driver.
Step 3. Make sure the shaft is tilted towards the target on impact
This will make the club face more likely to hit the ball perpendicularly, an important aspect of direction control. Don't forget to use your hips to give more force to the blow; don't rely on your hands alone to power the movement.
Step 4. Remember to complete the movement
It doesn't matter how far you bring the club back - to release it correctly, you should complete the forward movement. Your belt buckle should be pointed at the target, the club will be behind you, and your weight will rest on your front foot, with your back foot on your toes. You should be able to comfortably hold this position when watching the ball fly away.
Keep your eyes on the ball during the loading, the shooting movement and the final part after impact. Don't lift your head as soon as you hit the ball to see where it goes; in this way you will only risk not hitting it well. Do not look up until you have completed the final part of the movement
Step 5. Don't try to hit the ball with all your strength
Just as you shouldn't try to crush the bat with your grip, you shouldn't put all the power into your hits. The most important aspect of achieving good distance with good accuracy is technique, and it is more difficult to maintain good technique when you exaggerate with force.
Part 4 of 4: Fixing Common Problems
Step 1. Fix the slice effect
If your shots travel slightly to the left and then firmly to the right (if you are right), try to keep your knees bent while loading. It is natural to try to straighten your back knee when loading, but try to resist your instincts. Don't even let your knee move back; keep it bent and "under" the hip.
Step 2. Fix the hook effect
This effect occurs when the ball travels slightly to the right and then firmly to the left. This happens when the ball has a counterclockwise effect, meaning it has been hit from right to left instead of back to front.
- Try looking at your grip. If you can see more than two knuckles on your left hand when holding the stick, adopt a "weaker" grip and make sure only two are visible.
- Make sure you are not pointing too far to the left. You can try to compensate a little to the right, but you risk making the movement even more incorrect if you compensate too much. Place a golf club on the grass to make sure you are aiming straight at the target.
Step 3. Correct movements that do not allow you to hit the ball perpendicularly
In some cases your shots will be "open" or "closed" and won't reach the distance you want. The most common remedy for this problem is to keep your head down on the ball and your eyes on it throughout the loading.
As you move your head back while loading, you increase the distance between the base of the neck and the bottom of the ball. This makes it harder to hit it in the right spot. Always keep your eyes on the ball and your shots will be more accurate and go further
Advice
- The distance is determined by the speed of the clubhead at the moment of impact, the accuracy of the impact and the angle of attack of the clubhead.
- Direction is controlled by the path of the swing and the clubface angle at the moment of impact.
- Keep looking at the ball again for a split second after hitting it. You will be less likely to look away before hitting her.
- Always keep a good balance.
- Golf is a game, so try to have fun. Remember that the pros have reached their level thanks to hard training. If you dedicate time and effort to practice, you will learn how to hit the fairway like a pro.
- Take video lessons from a professional. These are experts who can help you correct bad habits right from the start.
