| Anyone who is somewhat serious about golf | | | | your wrists, creating a 90 degree angle between |
| wants to know how to swing a golf club properly. | | | | your left (right for a lefty) forearm and the shaft. |
| After all, if you have a lousy swing, your scores | | | | Your back should point at the target on the |
| will be lousy. | | | | backswing. |
| There are three basic elements to a golf swing: | | | | When swinging down, pull the head of the club so |
| 1.Grip | | | | that it lags behind everything else, and allow the |
| 2.Posture | | | | 90 degree forearm and shaft angle to increase, |
| 3.Backswing, downswing and follow-through | | | | then unwind rapidly through the impact area. You |
| 1. Grip | | | | should swing at about 80 percent of your |
| There are three main ways to grip a club: | | | | maximum on all shots, otherwise, you will off |
| (a). The Overlapping Grip: The little finger of the | | | | balance and hit shots off the heel and toe of your |
| trailing hand is placed between the index and | | | | clubs a lot. |
| middle finger of the lead hand (for right-handed | | | | Make sure to have the shaft leaning forward |
| golfers, the lead hand is the left). The lead hand | | | | toward the target at the moment of impact, this |
| thumb fits along the lifeline of the trailing hand. | | | | will help to have the face of the club face square |
| Most golf pros use this grip. | | | | at impact, an important factor in directional |
| (b). The Interlocking Grip: The little finger of the | | | | control. |
| trailing hand is intertwined with the index finger of | | | | It isn't that important how far back you take the |
| the lead hand. The lead hand thumb fits in the | | | | club because if you have released the club |
| lifeline of the trailing hand. Tiger Woods, Jack | | | | correctly, you will follow through completely. Your |
| Nicklaus and I use this grip. | | | | belt buckle will be facing the target, the club will be |
| (c). The Ten Finger Grip: The little finger of the | | | | behind you, and you will be balanced on your lead |
| trailing hand is placed close to the index finger of | | | | foot with the back foot balanced on its toe. You |
| the lead hand, then the lead hand thumb is | | | | should be able to comfortably hold this finish as |
| covered with the lifeline of the trailing hand. This | | | | you watch the ball fly off right at your target. |
| grip is good for young junior golfers or those with | | | | How far you hit a ball is determined by club head |
| smaller hands. | | | | speed at impact, how well you strike it near the |
| 2. Posture | | | | centre of the face, and the angle of attack of |
| Stand with your back straight, bend your knees | | | | the clubhead, steep or shallow. With a driver, you |
| slightly, bend from the hips, with feet shoulders | | | | want to sweep through the ball and not hit down |
| width apart. Imagine you are sitting on the edge | | | | on it. |
| of a bar stool - that is position you want. | | | | The video below will show you what is important |
| Alignment - when you stand in front of the ball | | | | in order to swing a golf club properly. It also |
| about to swing, your feet, legs, hips and shoulders | | | | covers the various ways you can grip a club. I |
| should be parallel with one another and they | | | | favor the interlocking grip and use it myself - so |
| should be pointing at the target line (what you are | | | | does Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. |
| aiming at). | | | | Keep in mind that especially when you start out in |
| Foot position - your feet should be about shoulder | | | | golf, you should not try and swing like Tiger |
| width for all wood and iron shots. But, for a | | | | Woods with a long backswing and amazing follow |
| driver, the ball position should be opposite to the | | | | through, unless you have incredible flexibility. |
| heel of your left foot (right foot if you are left | | | | If you have a shorter backswing and your follow |
| handed). | | | | through the ball is not totally around your left |
| Ball position - for iron shots, the golf ball should be | | | | shoulder when you finish, don't worry about it. My |
| in the midle of your stance. However, | | | | backswing is short and I have done fine. |
| Balance - your weight should be slightly on the | | | | What does matter is that your arms and whole |
| balls of your feet and not on your heels. | | | | body must feel relaxed during the swing and not |
| Arms and Hands - your arms and hands should be | | | | tense. That is the key. |
| in a relaxed position in front of you. There should | | | | Watch these golf instruction videos: |
| be about one hand width of space between your | | | | PGA Golf Instruction |
| body and your arms that are holding the club. | | | | How to Swing a Golf Club |
| 3. Backswing, Downswing and Follow-Through | | | | Just follow these golf tips and you will be well on |
| Rotate your torso on the back swing, and bend | | | | your way to shooting lower scores. |