If you’ve been following Tiger Woods lately, you know he’s changing his swing again. Making major swing changes for a pro is a huge undertaking. It takes a great deal of work to ingrain the new swing. Most weekend players don’t have the time to do this. Nor do they have the money to have a world-class swing coach give them private golf lessons. If weekend players are going to keep their swings sharp—maintain their golf handicaps—they often must serve as their own swing coaches.
So what do you do if your swing is off? Below are several golf tips covering key stages in your swing. Compare the positions they describe with the positions you achieve in your swing. Correct any that seem off. Keep in mind that while we’ve broken things down in stages, your swing is one still continuous motion Use the golf tips here to get back on track and to help maintain your golf handicap.
Setup:
You must start your swing in balance. Good balance allows you to move freely during your swing. When you’re in balance your weight is in the middle of your feet—both left to right and front to back. Also, the right side is slightly lower than the left and that the back of your shoulders, your kneecap, and your foot line up vertically. Picture a bowler holding a bowling ball poised to start his delivery.
Takeaway:
The parts of your body go back in this order: clubhead, hands, arms shoulders, and hips. As you go back, your right arm stays close to your side. If you stopped just after starting the takeaway, here’s what you would see: The clubhead lines up with your hands and the shaft is just outside the toe line. When the clubhead reaches parallel to the ground, it’s also be parallel to the target line.
Halfway Back:
As your weight continues to move back, the swing’s momentum and the folding of your elbow help hinge the club at a 90-degree angle with your left arm. The left arm is slightly higher than your right arm. The shaft now starts to move around your body while your shoulders are into their rotation and pulling your hips into the swing. You should feel a “loading action” in your right hip.
Top Of The Swing:
At the top, your wrists are fully hinged. Turn your shoulders to complete the backswing. You’re in perfect position to start your downswing. Make sure the clubface is square to the top and the leading edge is parallel to your left forearm. Also, make sure the clubhead’s toe is pointing down to the ground.
Halfway Down:
Begin the downswing with a slight lateral shift to the left. If you stop at this point, your left knee and hip will be over your left foot. This movement causes your arms to drop. Your right elbow is in front of your right hip. And your belt buckle is pointing toward the ball. The clubhead splits the gap between your forearms.
Impact:
At impact, your left side is in a straight line. The hips continue to turn open, so the left hip can clear. The chest is less rotated and facing the ball, which shows the hips are pulling the ball. The ball of your right foot is still on the ground and your left foot flat. Make sure your head remains behind the ball.
Follow-Through:
Both arms are fully extended in the follow-through while the right shoulder is pointing down, not turning level with the left. Your arms are straight and starting to swing back to the inside. They point down the line for a split second before traveling inside. Your spine is angled down. Your right knee is kicking inward, your left leg is straight, and the clubhead is below your hands.
Finish:
Keep the right side moving through the swing. The right side rotates past the left, so that the right shoulder is the closest body part to the target. Momentum carries the hands behind the head and the arms fold softly. You pose for the finish, holding the shaft across your neck.
No matter what your golf handicap, your swing is going to get out of sync at some point. It may even feel at times like you’ve never swung a club before. When that happens, apply the golf tips discussed in this article to correct the swing. It will save strokes and the cost of some golf instruction sessions.
