Golf Swing Guide

×÷)» ($ik@ndar) (×v^·· asked:


How to improve consistent swing in golf to aim to a target always?

Robin

Peter L asked:


For putting…i use the method…4 inches back=10 ft roll…and say peanut during the backswing and follow thru with butter…any similar tips for the golf swing? Been getting pretty good results with this….anything similar to this for a full golf swing?

Carl

chino_the_bandito asked:


I’ve always hit all my irons straight this just came out of nowhere. It gets worse the longer the iron gets. I’m still hitting the driver straight but I’m even hooking the fairway woods. Please help…..

Mathew

leadfoot asked:


My hips get so active that my club lags behind.Any thoughts that I could think of during the swing that might keep my lower body more quiet or stable?

Ella

Sean Cochran asked:


The golf swing is arguably one of the most difficult athletic actions to perform. The golf swing requires you to draw the golf club through a long range of motion with proper technique and exact timing.

Any error in swing plane, timing, or sequence will cause your golf swing to suffer, and suffer it will. Unfortunately, the result of your golf swing suffering will be errant shots, poor golf scores, and frustration on the golf course.

Often the amateur is at a lost for why their golf swing results in errant shots. Countless hours are spent at the range in an effort to improve their golf swing. Hundreds or even thousands of dollars are spent on lessons each year, and not to mention the purchasing of new equipment.

It all adds up to a lot of time and money spent on improving the golf swing. Unfortunately, for many amateur golfers their handicaps and score never improve. Leading to the question “why is my golf game not improving?”

If this is you and this question lingers in your mind. The answer to your question could easily be staring right back at you in the mirror. The failure of improvement may have absolutely nothing to do with the driver you are swinging, the teaching pro helping you with your swing, or even your practice routine. It could all do with you! Yes you, the physical body swinging the golf club.

Keep in mind the golf club does not perform the mechanics of the golf swing. Nor do the mechanics of the golf swing execute themselves without you. It is you and your body executing the mechanics of the golf swing. The point to make is your body directly affects the mechanics of the golf swing.

Additionally, the golf swing requires your body to encompass certain physical qualities to execute the mechanics of the golf swing correctly. These physical qualities are certain levels of flexibility, muscular strength, balance, and power. If you are lacking the minimal amounts of flexibility, balance, strength, and power to execute the golf swing correctly. Compensations will occur even before you swing the golf club.

For example, let’s look at your flexibility. The golf swing requires you to draw the golf club through a large range of motion. The backswing requires a full shoulder turn to set the club in the correct slot for the downswing, and the finish position is almost a mirror image of the backswing.

In order to perform these parts of the golf swing correctly, the muscles of your body must be flexible. An inflexible body in which muscles are “tight” creates restrictions in movement. Restrictions in movement in relation to the golf swing will undoubtedly result in limitations pertaining to golf swing. The limitation will impede you from creating a full shoulder turn and balanced finish position. This causes compensations in the mechanics of the golf swing.

The entire body needs to be flexible for the golf swing. Certain muscles more than others are involved in the golf swing, and if these muscles are “tight” they will directly affect your golf swing. One such set of muscles is your hamstrings.

The hamstrings (back side of your upper leg) are often “tight” and cause problems to many people, not just golfers. However, they have a profound effect on the golf swing and it is not a good effect. Hamstrings that are “tight” are in a shortened position. The shortened position of the hamstrings has a direct effect on the position of your hips. Your hips will be “tucked”, directly affecting your posture. This in itself can hamper the ability to place oneself in the correct position at address within the golf swing, not to mention maintaining a proper spine angle during the swing.

Additionally, “tight” hamstrings place an undo amount of stress on the lower back. Large amounts of stress on the lower back cause fatigue, soreness, and increase the possibility of injury. If you are a golfer that has ever experienced lower back pain you know the effect it has on your ability to swing the golf club correctly.

A combination of a postural change and undo amounts of stress on the lower back, just begin to scratch the surface of the effect inflexible muscles can have on the golf swing. “Tight” muscles change the kinematics of the body. As a result, the biomechanics of the golf swing must be altered. These alterations usually lead to compensations in the mechanics of the golf swing resulting in errant shot patterns on the golf course.

And no matter what you do in terms of practice or instruction these alterations will not go away until you address them. Just as you address swing faults, you must address flexibility faults. Flexibility faults can be addressed through golf stretches.

Golf stretches enhance the flexibility of your body in relation to the golf swing. Golf stretches often times return muscles that are “tight” such as the hamstrings to their proper length. This results in the ability of your body to perform the biomechanics of the golf swing correctly. If you are one of many golfers who are not finding their golf swing improving through practice and instruction. Take a moment and look at the body swinging the golf club. This very well may be the root of your golf swing problems. Fix your flexibility faults through golf stretches and find yourself on the road to lower golf scores and more enjoyment in the game of golf.

Sean Cochran

Clifford

g13player asked:


I shot a good round in my estimation (85 at bellair gc in az). on hole 12, a par 3 170 from the white tees, the pin was on the front of the green. i totally killed my 6 iron, but it hooked left on me, and into the bunker. i believe my hands flipped a little on the downswing… any tips?

Clinton

Sean Cochran asked:


How can you develop more power in your golf swing? This is probably a question that all of us want an answer to. Most of us go to great lengths to do whatever it takes to get that “power” into our drives off the tee. I think we probably all have some ideas of where 300-yard drives come from, but I want to give you the answers without any “fluff.”Golf swing power is the result of three specific factors. Two out of the three are much more important, but the third does have a bearing on the outcome of how far you hit that ball.The first and probably most evident of the three is your swing mechanics. I bet you are not surprised by this one.The second one is probably the least recognized of the three, but for many is the “key” to longer drives and the category that is given the least amount of attention. Number two is what we term golf strength. This is defined as how well your body is conditioned (i.e. fitness) to swing a golf club with maximum power. Probably the least understood of the three, and maybe the most needed by golfers in general. We will talk more about this later. Let us move on to number three in regards to power for your drives.Number three is your equipment. Yes, equipment does make a difference in how far you drive the ball. The equipment manufacturers have let this fact be known, and I bet we all have gone to the pro shop probably more than twice to pick up a new driver that claims to give us another 20 yards on every drive. That extra 20 yards might not be down the middle of the fairway, but it will give you an extra 20 yards… could be left, could be right, or could be in the center of the fairway. That all depends on points one and two of this article. Equipment and technological advances have definitely lengthened the distance of our drives. But without better swing mechanics and your body in better golf shape, new technology will not help your game. A bad swing will produce a bad result, regardless of what type of “new” driver you may have just purchased.Swing MechanicsI think all of us are aware of how important the mechanics of a swing are when it comes to driving the ball down the fairway. It is essential, if you are over the top with your swing or come inside too much, you’ll see that dreaded slice or snap hook. The drives will be short, too low, too high, left, right, or a combination of these if you are putting bad swings on the ball.It is essential for a golfer to work on the mechanics of their swing, week in and week out, to improve their game. If it weren’t important why would all these tour players have swing coaches that work with them on a consistent basis? The golf swing is such a finite, mechanically complex movement, that requires constant work to keep it highly efficient and in check.One of the most common mistakes I see amateurs make is probably a lack of instruction. I see amateurs over and over at the driving ranges, week in and week out, pounding balls without any improvement. This, I feel, is a result of one of two things: 1) a lack of instruction or 2) low levels of golf strength. A lack of instruction leads to the development and ingraining of improper swing mechanics. This only results in slices, hooks, topping the ball, and hitting it fat on the course. And we all know that those types of swings lead to frustration and bad rounds of golf. I would suggest to most anyone to find a good instructor and take lessons on a consistent basis. This can only help your game in the long run. Now moving on the second point of how to achieve powerful drives and that is golf strength.Golf Strength (Golf Fitness)Golf strength is a term we use to describe the golf fitness level of an individual pertaining to swinging a club. This is much different than how much you can bench press or squat, which I like to refer to as “weight room strength.” Understand that these two terms, golf strength and weight room strength, are very different. If you do not quite understand the difference, ask yourself one question: How many bodybuilders do you see teeing it up on Tour? The answer to that question is quite obvious, none!It comes down to this idea: the mechanics of a golf swing require specific levels of flexibility, balance, stability, strength, endurance, and power to perform it efficiently. If your body does not have the required capacities of the aforementioned list, then the result will be? Anyone want to guess? Well, let me give you the answer: a less than optimal and less efficient swing than possible. Essentially, your body supports your swing much like a foundation supports the house you build upon it. I am sure that all of you would choose to build a house on a stone foundation rather than a sand foundation, wouldn’t you? I will say that many of you make a different choice when it comes to your golf swing. I quite often see amateurs developing their swing on a “foundation of sand,” not a good thing to do in my book.Regardless of how much time you work on your swing mechanics, if your body does not have the “golf strength” to support your swing, you are limiting your potential. I have seen it numerous times, people practicing at the range who struggle, not because of trying to get better, but because their bodies are limiting what they can do with their swing. Quite often I see people with limited flexibility, poor balance capabilities, and low levels of strength and power. The bottom line is that your mechanics will not get better until you fix the body that swings the club!Up to this point we have discussed the two most important ideas when it comes to power on the golf course. A review of the topics tells us that they are optimal swing mechanics and the proper levels of “golf strength” in the body. One without the other is going to leave you short when it comes to your potential in the game.Again, I probably see point number two, golf strength, being addressed less often than swing mechanics when you get right down to it. The pros are all aware of the importance of golf strength, why not you?EquipmentWe have come to the final point, and that is equipment. I think the majority of golfers are aware of the technological advances that have occurred in golf equipment over the last 20 years. I mean, think about the ’80’s when we were still playing with woods that actually had wood club heads! Imagine that for a moment, and now we are using drivers with space age faces that shoot the ball off of them at warp speed. In addition, we have to mention the advances in terms of golf balls. How manufacturers design golf balls today makes a difference in how far they travel. What a lot of people do not realize is that the USGA has set standards on how “hot” driver faces can be and how “fast” balls can come off the face of drivers. Most clubs are reaching this limit, and anything past these USGA rules becomes illegal to play. So what does that tell us? 1) Club manufacturers have done a great, and I mean great, job in the advancement of technology, and 2) to increase the distance on your drives you are now going to have to turn to points one and two of this article.So what does improving your power really come down to?It comes down to three simple ideas. Number one is improving your golf swing mechanics. Improved mechanics will improve your driving distance. Number two is improving your golf strength. By improving your body as it pertains to the golf swing you will improve your distance off the tee. Finally, equipment does make a difference, if you hit the ball correctly.

Bruce

Elliott S asked:


What is a acupped wrist ina golf swing. And does anyone know wherei can get a picture of adam scott’s grip?

Nellie

Helen Hecker asked:


It’s important to remember, your golf swing is what drives your score; not your clubs or ball. Most golfers don’t know that eighty percent of the world’s golfers have a handicap of 18 or more. When you’re playing golf badly it isn’t a lot of fun.

Overall, you generally want to play golf with confidence. If you’ve hit with your golf driver perfectly once, you can do it every time; the subconscious mind knows the correct number and sequence of muscle contractions and nerve impulses needed, called muscle memory. Visualize where you would like the ball to land, as you swing.

As the body matures, the ability to rotate the upper torso is affected by age, and the hand action can also slow down requiring a slightly stronger grip. Make sure to use the proper technique. At the end of a swing, the weight has shifted almost entirely to the left foot, the body is fully turned to the left and the hands are above the left shoulder with the club hanging down over the players’ back.

Standing over the ball for too long a time and wondering whether you’re going to swing the club correctly can easily result in a skewed shot, or completely missing the ball. Use the muscles in your legs and trunk when you swing. Putting can become a nightmare and a condition called the ‘yips’ has affected not only amateurs but professionals as well; get expert advice and consider a golf swing aid.

Before you swing, make sure you’re relaxed; contract all your muscles tightly for a moment and then relax them. After the ball is hit, the follow-through stage consists of a continued rotation to the left. Ask your golf pro to evaluate your posture while swinging. Swing slowly and steadily using a nice rhythm. Use the basic ‘hitchhiker’ position when you’re working on your backswing.

It’s no secret; most of the professional players actively participate in workouts. You can get rid of shoulder problems with some simple techniques. Don’t underestimate the value of fitness when it comes to your golf swing and your overall golf game.

Keep in mind that with some golf swing aids, you may still need advice or help from an expert. Overall, investing in aids will greatly improve your golf swing and your golf game. There are aids that will help you with swing alignment.

Look for golf swing aids at your local golf course. You can find aids that will help you with your wrist and arm position. There are golf swing aids that act as driving range simulators.

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just starting out, pick just one aid and go to work on your swing. Golf swing aids come in all shapes and sizes including apparel type accessories to correct alignment or a golf club add-on accessory to monitor your swing. Before buying any aid, check with an expert to get an idea of what problem you need to work on first; backlift, momentum of downward thrust or stance for example.

If you’re looking for an aid to improve your stance they’re not hard to find. In any case, stick to just one aid at a time; don’t load up on them.

When you play a round of golf, concentrate on improving your swing, putting or something specific that day; have a plan in mind. If you’ve hit with your golf driver perfectly once, you can do it every time. Now is the time to fix that golf swing forever.

Diana

Helen Hecker asked:


Most golfers aren’t aware of the fact that eighty percent of the world’s golfers have a handicap of 18 or more. Finding ways to improve your golf game, then applying what you’ve learned and practicing diligently, is the best way to get ahead of the game. Did you know the average golfer’s gross score is 107 shots?

Don’t worry about what others think or may say about your swing; work to improve it at your own speed. A common mental error golfers make when driving the ball is to hit it as hard as possible. Approach the game with a positive attitude and repeat affirmations if you can, such as “I play great golf all the time.”

It’s difficult for a golfer to practice hitting shots longer than short pitch shots unless one pays to play golf or pays to practice at a driving range or indoor golf training facility. Putts and short chips are ideally played without much movement of the body, but most other golf shots are played using variants of the full golf swing. Sidespin occurs when the clubface is not aligned perpendicularly to the plane of swing.

Trust your golf club to do the job it was intended to do. At the end of a swing, the weight has shifted almost entirely to the left foot, the body is fully turned to the left and the hands are above the left shoulder with the club hanging down over the players’ back. The backswing is a rotation to the right, consisting of a shifting of the player’s body weight to the right side, a turning of the pelvis and shoulders, lifting of the arms and flexing of the elbows and wrists.

Many golfers who are strongly left-handed in their daily life prefer the right-handed golf swing. Try not to grip the club too tightly. Swing slowly and steadily using a nice rhythm. Use the basic ‘hitchhiker’ position when you’re working on your backswing. The most important thing about the golf swing is the angle and not the strength that’s applied to it.

Golf workouts will change your game forever. Conditioning your golf muscles will reward you with straighter swings. It’s no secret; most of the professional players actively participate in workouts.

If you’re a golfing novice just starting out, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. In any case, stick to just one golf swing aid at a time; don’t load up on them. Golf aids are often for sale at your pro shop or local golf shop.

Keep in mind that with some aids, you may still need advice or help from an expert. There are a number of good golf swing aids on the market today. Sporting goods stores have aids to improve your game.

Golf swing aids can be found online and are often cheaper. Aids come in all shapes and sizes including apparel type accessories to correct alignment or a golf club add-on accessory to monitor your swing. Look for golf swing aids at your local golf course.

There are aids that will help you with swing alignment. Ask an expert, who is not associated with the shop you would buy your golf swing aid from, for advice on the right aid for you.

If you apply both physical and mental workouts, golf swing improvement will be your reward. When you play a round of golf, concentrate on improving your golf swing, putting or something specific that day; have a plan in mind. Invest in a few of the newest golf books and golf ebooks; older golf books may be outdated.

Lisa