Tips to on How to Hit a Golf Ball Straight
By Steve Silverman
Hitting a golf ball where you want it to go is perhaps the number one goal when it comes to being successful at golf. Many golfers dream of hitting a 300-yard drive off the tee or sinking a 30-foot putt that twists and turns, but to enjoy the game over the long haul you need to know how to hit the ball straight. Here are a few tips.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Learn the proper grip of the club. The overlapping grip is the way most players hold their club. With this grip, the small finger of the right hand is placed in the gap between the forefinger and the middle finger of the left hand. The grip should be firm, but not tight.
Line up with your left shoulder square to the target. Then look down at your left foot. It should be even with that left shoulder.
Turn your hips to the right as you bring your club back. Make sure your head does not move and your eyes are on the back of the ball. Bring your hips back to the left and let your hands follow as you prepare to make contact with the ball.
Have your hands come all the way through the ball before moving your head. The natural inclination of any golfer is to pick up his head and admire his shot, but that's not advisable. The longer the golfer can keep his head down, the better chance that solid contact will be made and there will be not mishits.
Go to the driving range and practice your swing. The idea is not to swing hard but to swing smoothly. A slow, even takeaway followed by a well-timed swing will help the golfer hit a straight shot consistently.
Tips & Warnings
Remember to pace yourself. Rushing your swing will usually lead to big mistakes
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.
