How Proper Follow Through Can Improve Your Golf Swing
By Teresa Justine Kelly
The follow through is probably the most overlooked yet essential part of the golf swing. Golfers often think that once their downswing is completed, the golf swing is essentially over, underestimating the fact that the follow through can add distance and direction to your golf shot. A proper follow through means that you have finished your swing in balance. Often, visualizing what the finished swing will look like can influence your takeaway and downswing, improving your golf swing.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
After your takeaway and downswing are complete, shift your weight toward your left heel (for right-handed golfers), keeping the left leg relatively straight, hips facing the target.
Position your right knee against the side of the left leg, bringing the toe of the right foot upwards. The shoelaces of your right foot should be facing your target.
Finish your swing with the club above your left shoulder, just below your neck, elbows relatively level with the shoulders, forming a natural right angle, with your hands beside your left ear.
Balance your finish to ensure that your knees, hips, shoulders and elbows are all facing the target. At the end of your golf swing, you should be balanced on your left leg with your weight shifted to your left side.
Tips & Warnings
Practice the follow through on the driving range without using a backswing. Begin at address and move to the follow through until you find it comfortable to settle the club above your left shoulder in your finish with 90 percent of your weight on your left leg.
A follow through ending with improper balance will result in your golf ball going off line, inconsistent shot making and possibly back injury.
About The Author
Teresa Kelly graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. She was an editor for seven years for several magazines and publishing houses. Kelly is an avid golfer, a well-known children's book and golf author, and is currently the president of Highview Press/Golfing Lady that produces all occasion golf greeting cards.
