Golf Swing Tips and Instructions
By Steve Silverman
Golf is a tricky game because those who try to learn it are not about to stop their education once they learn the grip, stance and swing. As a result, they will try to think through their game and refine it until they get it perfect. That will never happen. As a result, the refinement process often causes more problems than solutions. Therefore, it is best to stay focused on the fundamentals.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Square your body to the target. The left shoulder should be facing the green or the spot in the fairway where you want the ball to go. The left foot should line up under the shoulder. Resist the temptation to tinker with your stance.
Make sure that your grip is not too tight. Most teaching pros advise their students that their grip should be at a five on a scale of one to 10. Making your grip tighter will not help you hit the ball further.
Keep your head down when you swing through the ball. Most golfers have the tendency to pick up their heads upon impact because they want to see the ball fly. This will keep your from hitting the ball where you want to hit the ball. Keep your head down until your arms have hit waist-level on the follow-through.
Tee the ball high when you are using the driver from the tee box. The ball should be at least an inch off the ground. It is difficult to get a ball hit by a driver to fly high, so adjusting its height in the tee area will help you get the most out of your shot.
Go to the driving range to practice your swing. You are not just going to bomb balls and see how far you can hit them. Your goal should be to help you build a repeatable swing. Think about your stance, your grip, your takeaway, your downswing and your follow-through. Try to repeat the same swing when you hit a bucket of golf balls at the driving range.
Tips & Warnings
Keep a smooth, steady swing. Trying to swing faster or harder will not help you gain distance and it will have a negative impact on accuracy.
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.
