How to Swing a Golf Club
– Perfect Golf Swing –
This section was designed to give golfers illustrated swing tips on how to swing a golf club, to present the textbook version of “the perfect golf swing”, essentially.
It also provides information on how golfers can deviate from that perfect golf swing and instead veer towards golf swing errors. The information is broken down into the components that make up a golf swing and comparative illustrations are used in order to quickly highlight key differences.
Use these illustrated guides for quick but detailed help on how to improve your golf swing and its many components.
Setup & Address Tips
The address and setup stage of the golf swing involves assuming the correct position before the swing actually starts. There are many elements to consider and overlooking key areas at the start will snowball into issues down the line.
Among other things, the club should rest flat behind the ball. It should be held by the golfer with hands flowing straight down from the shoulders. The knees should be comfortably bent and the upper body tilted forward and straight. The right hand being lower than the left will put the shoulders on an upward slope. The weight is evenly divided between the two feet and rests mostly on the ball of the feet.
Finally, the shaft of the club is angled forward slightly, the clubface is perpendicular to the target and the feet are parallel to the target line.
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Setup & Address Tips
Takeaway Tips
The takeaway portion of the golf swing begins as soon as the club starts moving back and ends when the shaft of the club is parallel to the ground. During that short period of time, several critical moves must happen in order to put the swing on a good track.
Indeed, the club should be taken back square so that the shaft points at the target when it is parallel to the ground. At the same time, the clubface should point down slightly and wrists shouldn’t be allowed to hinge this early in the swing.
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Takeaway Swing Tips
Backswing Tips
The backswing portion of the golf swing begins just as the takeaway ends. It will end itself when the top of the swing is reached. While getting there, several aspects need careful attention.
The left arm should remain straight and the left heel should remain on the ground unless flexibility issues demand otherwise. The right knee should retain its flex and the left knee should point towards the ball. Hips rotate but they do so without sliding back. While the head stays in the box, the weight still flows towards the right foot. This whole process should proceed at a pace that is slower than that of the downswing in order to produce a solid strike at the ball.
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Backswing Tips
Top of the Swing Tips
The top of the golf swing corresponds to the halfway point between the address position and the moment of impact. It represents the position when your hands are highest and the transition point between the backswing and the downswing.
The left wrist should be flat at the top and your spine angle should still resemble the one set at address. The shaft of the club should point towards the target and it should be just shy of parallel to the ground. Your back should face the target and your wrists should be fully hinged.
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Top of the Swing Tips
Downswing Tips
The downswing portion of the golf swing corresponds to the stage immediately following the top of the swing, as the hands and club are brought down towards the impact with the ball.
Your hips should move first by starting to uncoil but they should do so without sliding forward much. They should allow for the smooth weight transition towards the front left foot as your shoulders uncoil in tandem. The hinge in your wrists are kept for as long as possible and your clubhead should follow a path that allows it to be square with the target at impact, the next stage. This whole process should be executed at a noticeably faster pace than the one used to bring the club up.
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Downswing Tips
Impact Tips
The moment of impact is the only point in time when your body – through the golf club – will actually come in contact with the ball or exert any influence on it. Despite the long journey that precedes it, there are still key elements to focus on in order to promote a pure strike at the ball in what should be a straight shot.
Hands should be ahead of the ball at impact. Your spine forward bend should closely match the one set at address still. Your eyes should be trained on the ball and your hips and hands should be facing the target, or well on their way. An impact made with an iron should be made on a downward motion while one made with a wood should be made after the club has reached the lowest point of the swing arc, as the clubhead is rising.
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Impact Swing Tips
Release and Extension Tips
The release and extension sequence of the golf swing occurs after impact with the ball. It corresponds to the phase that precedes the final golf position, i.e., the follow through.
The term extension comes from the fact that both of your arms should be fully extended during the release. Furthermore, your spine angle should be identical to that of the impact position, implying that you should resist the urge to straighten your body. Your forearms and hands, which started to ‘roll’ during the downswing will complete their rotation, with the bottom hand on the club now leading your top hand towards the target.
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Release Swing Tips
Follow Through Tips
Despite taking place after contact with the ball has already been made the way your body is positioned during the follow through will be indicative of the motions that preceded it. And focusing on reaching a desirable follow through position will help you perform the previous golf swing stages correctly.
Among other things, your hands should release naturally after the wrists are allowed to unhinge. Your hands and clubhead should circle back around your body as your body weight is moved towards the left foot. Finally, your hips should be facing the target and you should resist the urge to quit swinging after the club has hit the ball. Instead a full follow through, proud and high is sought.
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Follow Through Swing Tips
Driver Tips
Your driver is built differently than your other golf clubs. Also, it makes contact with the ball while the ball is held up from the ground on a tee. As such, there are key differences between how you hit golf shots using your irons and wedges vs how you hit a drive using your driver.
As far as the address position is concerned, the ball will be located further forward in your stance, in line with the instep of your front foot. This position will allow the driver to ‘hit up on the ball’, as the club is rising from its lowest point of the swing arc.
Since your driver likely features a longer shaft than your other golf clubs, the ball will be located further away from your feet. With your hands addressing the ball forward, your spine angle will be tilted back slightly, with a little more than half of your weight located atop your back foot.
In order to hit the ball far down the fairway, your driver swing will likely be as long as your physical abilities allow. This is in contrast to a wedge shot where precision is preferred over distance. You should also allow your swing plane to be flatter, again in contrast to your wedges and because of the longer club shaft.
