Help With Your Golf Swing Technique

Golf is one of the most frustrating sports going, one day you can be hitting the ball like Tiger Woods and the next you're slicing it into the trees at every tee shot. For many golfers their biggest problem stems from a bad swing, whilst this is usually associated with new players some experienced golfers still suffer because they have never been taught any other way. Many golfers resolve their swing problems by taking lessons from a Pro but the success of this will depend on the ability of the teacher and the willingness of the pupil.

The following tips are aimed at identifying and resolving the bad habits that exist in many of our golf swings. (All tips are based on a right handed player)

Golf Swing Tip #1: The Grip
The grip is one of the most important aspects of your golf swing. Applying the right grip is essential if you want to be hit the ball longer and straighter. Always try to keep your hands in a neutral position to allow the club face to remain as square as possible during the swing. There are a number of different grips that a golfer can use but listed below are a few of the more common ones:

- The Interlocking Grip - With this grip the index finger of the left hand and the little finger of the right hand combine and interlock to create a grip. This is commonly used by those who have small hands to enable them to keep the hands bonded together during the swing. This grip is popular with golfers because it allows you to create proper leverage for maximum power, however it can result in players holding the club in the base of the fingers of the right hand which can lead to the club face being too closed during the swing.

- The Overlapping Grip - This grip has the little finger of the right hand sitting on top of the index finger and second finger of the left hand. This grip is also know as the Vardon grip and is popular with male golfers because it does require strong wrists and forearms.

- The Baseball Grip - All of the fingers of both hands hold the club with this grip, with the index finger of the left hand and little finger of the right hand touching but not overlapping. This is usually the default grip for most beginners but many golfers will change from using this grip as it can lead to problems as a result of many players having a stronger grip with a particular hand which results in a poor shot.

Golf Swing Tip #2: The Stance
The key to an ideal stance is to have your weight equally balanced. It is important to stay relaxed over the golf ball as any tension will affect the quality of your golf swing so make sure to follow this important golf tip. You want to bend at the hips when addressing the golf balls and also have a slight flex in the knees whilst keeping the spine straight.
Let your arms hang naturally once you bend your hips, avoid extending your arms straight as there should be an angle between the arms and the shaft.

Golf Swing Tip #3: The Backswing
Keep the left arm straight (right handed players) during the backswing and go back as far as you can. The speed at which you move is dictated by you, some people are naturally slower than others so it is important to do what is most comfortable for you.

Golf Swing Tip #4: The Downswing
One of the key elements in the downswing is to keep your head in the same position. Begin your downswing with the hips and keep your head behind the ball until your follow through. Do not use your hands to try to generate more power as all of power in your golf swing will come from the leverage in the angle between the club and your wrists. Try to hold the angle between the clubs and the wrists as much as possible in order to generate maximum power.

Do not rush the downswing as this will usually result in poor shots and inconsistency. You want to have a gradually increasing speed on the downswing and make sure that you have good balance and swing well within yourself. Do not try to muscle the club or swing hard, just make a smooth and controlled movement and you will find that this will help you to hit the ball solidly on a regular basis.

Golf Swing Tip #5: The Follow Through
After impact you want the club to fully release while keeping your head behind the ball. Your head should naturally come up with your right shoulder, so your chin should be over your right shoulder and your head facing the target to complete the follow through.

Always try to remember that golf can be a tiring sport, you will be swinging your club a lot in the day so do not try to whack the ball as hard as you can when you swing as it will only end up in the trees or lake. Stay relaxed and maintain a nice easy swing as the more you think about hitting the ball hard the less you will think about the mechanics of your swing.

I found the above advice to be very valuable when I started playing golf but I still continued to struggle with aspects of my game. Like many I took advice from a Pro but I did not consider it to be worthwhile considering the cost of lessons. I then discovered the Simple Golf Swing System that helped me improve my game, follow this link to find out more.

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