Address
Having the proper address won't assure that you will have a strong golf swing, but an incorrect address, almost certainly means that your swing will be flawed. Make sure your left shoulder is facing the target (for a right-handed player). Your left foot needs to be directly below your left shoulder. You should play the ball about midway between your front and back foot and your knees should be flexed in an athletic position.
Backswing
Bring your club back smoothly. There is no need to accelerate your backswing. Golf great Jack Nicklaus says you should have a full and complete backswing in order to get the most powerful and accurate swing possible. When you bring your club back, you should get it to a position where it is parallel to the ground before you start to bring the club back to the ball.
Downswing
Start your downswing by shifting your weight from your back leg to your front. Once your weight has shifted, your hands will come down and through the ball with speed and purpose. Your eyes must remain focused on the back and center portion of the ball. Once you make contact, you need to follow through. This will help you hit the ball straight and far. Nicklaus says your follow-through should be the mirror of your backswing. If it is, your shot should be a good one.
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.
