Understanding Your Golf Swing
By Steve Silverman
When a new golfer takes up the game, there should be a high level of excitement about getting involved in a great activity that may become the focus of his leisure time. The key to enjoying the game is steady improvement, and that comes from practice and building a strong swing. Golf pros talk about a "one-piece" swing, a "two-piece" swing and the "stack-and-tilt" method. This means little to the golfer who may play once or twice a week and may have the chance to hit one bucket of balls. The new golfer needs to think about things like aim, grip, timing and position.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Stand with your left shoulder facing your target (for a right-handed golfer). Your left foot should be directly underneath your left shoulder and your knees should be slightly bent. Getting in this position will get you aimed correctly.
Grip the club with your left hand about a quarter of an inch below the top of the grip. Put the small finger of your right hand in the gap between your left hand's forefinger and middle finger. Place your thumbs in vertical alignment down the shaft of the club. Hold the club at about a 5.5 on a scale of 1-to-10. That's about the strength of a firm handshake with a business associate.
Walk up to the ball and take one practice swing before you hit it. Do not stand over the ball and contemplate your shot for more than 10 seconds. This will lead to anxiety when you swing. Bring the club back smoothly in your takeaway. Don't jerk the club back or bring it back out of control. Distance and accuracy are based on timing and balance, and trying to accelerate your backswing will lead to a mishit.
Keep your head down throughout the swing process. You need to focus on the back and center portion of the ball when you swing. Moving your head around will cause you to lose focus on the ball. The idea is for your golf swing to make square contact with the ball. You can't do this unless you are looking directly at your target.
Accelerate the speed of your swing as you are about to make contact with the ball. The key to distance is club-head speed at impact. You need to shift your weight from your right side to your left side as you come down into the ball. Once your weight transfer has started, it's OK to accelerate through the ball.
Tips & Warnings
To truly understand your swing, you need to head to the practice range and hit a bucket of 50 balls at least twice a week.
To truly understand your swing, you need to head to the practice range and hit a bucket of 50 balls at least twice a week.
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer who has been covering sports for 28 years. He is the author of "The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" (Triumph Books, Chicago) and two other books on the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
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