Golf is often thought of as a very difficult game to play. In magazines, there are many articles that deal with swing extension, swing plane, width, leg drive, and shoulder plane turn; in fact, so many theories can be quite daunting for a beginner golfer.

However, if a golfer can learn to stand correctly to the ball, many of these complicated moves become automatic.

As in many skills, it is the basics that determine success or failure. Follow these simple tips to improve your golf.

PGA Golf Swing Tips for The Grip

The grip or way the hands are placed on the club is the most important part of the golf swing. The golf swing is a chain reaction of movements that starts off with the grip.

If the grip is wrong, it means the start of the swing, ‘the takeaway,’ will not be executed correctly. This, in turn, causes complications with the wrist cock halfway back and, consequently, the swing plane itself.

  • The left hand must be turned round the grip clockwise enough so that the ‘v’ formed by the thumb and index finger points to the right shoulder.
  • The ‘v’ formed by the thumb and index finger of the right hand must also point to the right shoulder.
  • The thumb of the left hand must be on the right side of the club. It is only in this position that it can contain the weight of the club at the transition from backswing to downswing.
  • The right-hand thumb must sit on the left-hand side of the club to be able to help release the club in a downward direction to avoid missed hits and topping.

These are key points in the grip that are ignored by many golfers in preference to the more exotic and exciting swing components like hip turn and leg drive, late hitting, and plane re-routing.

However, if these simple basics are not in place, the swing becomes increasingly complex.

Tips for the Golf Stance and Aim

Many golfers already know that the feet, hips, and shoulders should be pointing parallel to the target line in the stance; however, many do not appreciate the importance of how the arms should hang from the shoulders,

  • In a good stance, the arms should hang naturally from the shoulders so that a line drawn across the forearms would also point parallel to the target.
  • Many golfers who do not grip the club correctly would find this line distorted and aiming away from the target.
  • It is essential to check this aim. Take up your grip on the club – lift up the arms and make sure you can balance a tray of drinks across your arms.
  • If a tray can be balanced, it means the arms are hanging in a neutral and correct position.
  • If a tray of drinks falls off to the left (in a right-handed swing), the golfer is setting up to fade or slice the ball.
  • If a tray would fall off to the right, then the swing would be too inside to out and would probably result in a hook or draw.

Golf Swing Tips for Ball Position

The ball position should be automatic if the initial stages of the setup are completed correctly. For an iron shot, the ball should be towards the center of the stance.

This enables a downward swing arc at impact, which will help with crisp well, struck iron shots.

For a driver, the ball must be more forward towards the left foot. A good driver contacts the ball as the swing is moving on an upward arc, not only helping elevate the ball into the air but also minimizing backspin.

Above all else, the shoulders must remain unaffected by the ball position and must always remain point parallel to the target.

In many cases, as the ball position moves forward for the driver, the shoulders start to open, promoting an out-to-in swing and a slice. The shoulders must not open and close as the ball position moves back and forward.

Tips Swing Tips for Posture

With a good grip and aim, the basic steps of the setup are in place; however, to encourage really good swing, attention to posture is also important.

  • The back and spine of the golfer must be straight to help promote a full easy shoulder turn.
  • The head and chin must the held high enough up so that the chin does not impede a full shoulder turn. If the chin is held down too much, the shoulders can’t turn, the left arm bends, and the wrists do not automatically hinge the club onto the correct swing plane.
  • To keep swing width for consistent hitting and a connected swing, the shoulders must turn freely, which helps keep the left arm keep straight.

Although these simple setup tips might seem too basic to have an influence on the overall swing, these simple tips are the bedrock of good action – master them and see how the swing starts to evolve into a repeating powerful, trustworthy golf swing.

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