Golfers everywhere try to replicate the "perfect" golf swing to improve their game in leaps and bounds, making shots effortless and very professional. However, one thing to note that there is no such thing as the perfect golf swing as there is only a perfect golf swing for each player. As our bodies were made differently, so should our mentality in swinging a golf club. By adhering to basic principles and practicing everyday, anyone can achieve perfection and hit the ball onto the green every single time.
A lot of golfers suffer from not being able to hit either their drivers or irons right at all, causing slices and other problems with their swing. Some tend to have a “to blame” list: the weather, the slope, too much overtime affecting their game, or that they’re just warming up. One thing that golfers ignore is the fact that basic motions are always the best way to go.
Here are six basic principles that can help you get the mechanics of your golf swing properly.
1. Alignment is crucial in hitting your target square. The fundamental concept behind a proper golf swing is hitting the ball dead center, which means that alignment is the most important basic in a proper golf swing.
2. Make sure that you have a comfortable stance that will let you rotate your body in the most effortless way possible. Think of your spine as an axis and find your center of gravity by pushing your backside out. Once you achieve that comfortable stance, then you should have less problems.
3. Always keep your eyes at what you are trying to hit. This has got to be the most ignored rule as it seems so simple. However, this definitely is the most important rule to keep in mind as you have to see what you are supposed to hit in the first place the actually hit. This is all about common sense, so do it.
4. Be patient and keep your mind concentrated on your goal. Do this by thinking smoothly and having your feet planted firmly on the ground. This is not about what happens next or what you did in the past. This is about the present, and you should always concentrate on what is now to achieve anything significant in the future. This way, you can achieve proper rhythm in your golf swing.
5. A good way of thinking is "sweep" for woods and "pinch" for irons. This may sound strange, but it can help you with your game as these are how clubs are designed. An iron is supposed to pinch the ball off the ground, while a driver is supposed to sweep it off the tee.
6. Humming a rhythm can help you keep your mind away from the golf swing and more on hitting the ball. These two things sound similar, but there is a fundamental difference. Thinking about the golf swing is a complication as it is more about technical aspects of the game, while hitting the ball is just the basic concept that the game is about.
Keeping things simple is the way to go as it helps you concentrate on the details that truly matter without making you panic when you do commit a mistake. Fear and lack of self-esteem are the enemies of a golfer.
Golfers use various training aids to improve their golf swing. Most of these can be purchased from the sporting good store but did you know that there is something you can use at home? Yes there is and this is the cardboard box where your golf clubs came in.
But before you learn how to use that in a driving range, don’t forget to stretch and warm up by hitting 15 balls with your 5 or 7 iron or wood.
Once your body is warmed up, set it up. To do that, put the cardboard box lengthwise towards the target because the objective of this aid is to let you hit the ball without hitting the box. This should be 5 to 6 inches away from the ball. If you don’t know how to do it, ask someone from the range to help.
To start, make a few practice swings and let the club brush softly against the ground without hitting the box. When you are ready put a ball and then fire away. Each time you hit the ball, try not to hit the box. If you do, just reset the box to its original position and try not to hit it again.
If you are able to hit a few balls without hitting the box consecutively, move the ball at least half an inch closer to the box. Once the distance between the club and box is about 1 to 2 inches, increase your swing speed to what you do usually.
For those who are able to do it, this means that your swing is within the zone. If not, this means that your swing is on the outside and this could have happened before or after impact. This can happen because you are not holding the club properly or your clubface is not aimed properly. Whichever the case, it is best to consult a professional who can analyze the situation and tell you the best course of action.
Should you be able to hit the ball without coming into contact with the box then it is time to remove it and then practice swinging without the aid. If your shots are going outside again, put it back so you can recall how this is done.
There are other golf swings aids aside from the box to help you improve your golf swing and you will have to shell out more than $10 just to use it.
The nice thing about the box is that it won’t hurt your pocket because should this be damaged and have a lot of holes. You can throw it away and then find a box with similar specifications so you can continue practicing your golf swings. One alternative is a soft, long and circular foam that is used as a pool toy.
Speed and hand positioning are important to prevent your golf swing from going outside. Keep in mind that a biomechanically correct golf swing path is not inside out or the opposite. It is also not going down a straight path. It is a movement from inside to inside and once you get it, you will be able to have the correct technique to make this ball fly into the air and land near the hole.
Developing the perfect golf swing takes time and tons of practice. It also pays to take note of how pro golfers execute their winning swings. By taking note of the following tips and taking time to work them out, you will surely be enjoying tournament successes in no time.
1. Ask any pro golfer, and he or she will tell you that the power it takes to get that ball flying does not come from the arms alone. Use your entire body to achieve maximum power. If you are used to fueling the golf club with your arms, wrist and hands, then you might struggle at first trying to employ the rest of your body. Practice hitting the ball with using your torso and legs. Once you get the hang of swinging the club with your entire body, you will notice that you are sending that ball flying with more consistency and accuracy.
2. Swivel your shoulders perfectly each time you do a backswing. Your right forearm should be parallel to your spine and your left wrist is flat. To ensure you are doing it the right way, your elbows and arms should form a triangle. Make sure you got this effective position pat at the top of your swing – you are guaranteed a perfectly solid hit, and a more accurate one.
3. Many amateurs fail at making a solid hit because of two reasons. First, the right way of pivoting the wrist is done too late during the backswing because the takeaway is likely to be too low to the ground. Second, achieving a bad posture by swinging the club too far during the backswing, thinking this is the right way to gain power. However, taking note of a few things will help eradicate these flaws. Make sure a 45-degree angle exists between your left arm and the shaft of the club at setup. Your hands should remain as close to the ground as possible during the takeaway, while moving the head of the club upwards rapidly. Notice how your left arm is parallel to the ground and the shaft is perpendicular to it? This is about enough to prevent you from swinging your arms too far at the backswing; thus, putting off bad posture and reverse pivot.
4. Golf is an outdoor game, so it’s best of you are able to practice chipping outdoors. However, one is tempted to hit chips indoors from time to time. You can perfect your chipping with the help of a wooden rod or a busted club shaft. Get the hang of your chipping technique – just make sure that your left wrist remains solid as the club passes through the area of impact. The rod or shaft you are using will hit your left side should your left wrist give way during the impact. Practice is the key to mastering your chipping.
5. From time to time, even pro golfers get caught red handed losing flex in their back legs as they try for distance. Inconsistent swings constantly take the success out of any game of golf. It’s best if you can view your posture in a full-length mirror when you practice your swings from time to time. Start with the setup position, hold it then look at the mirror. Do the backswing, hold it and observe your posture. This will help you determine your postural flaws during your golf swing.
After hitting the ball as close to the hole as possible, it is just a matter of putting so you can move on to the next one. While this may sound easy given the short distance, there are still some who have a hard time. To help you out, here are 4 golf swing drills you can try.
The first is the one handed drill. You do this by practice putting ten balls using only your training hand. This drill lets you focus on the palm of your hand as it moves towards the cup.
Next, practice putting using your target hand. The emphasis here is for you to concentrate on your back hand moving towards the cup.
When you do this drill using either hand, be conscious of the toe of your putter in the follow through. Should this turn away from the cup or point toward it, this means you are turning your hand. So you know you are doing it right, the face of the putter should be square to the cup.
Another drill is to practice putting with one eye. Some golfers do this because it stops them from lifting their head prematurely. If you have played this game often, you can even try putting with your eyes closed.
But won’t closing your eyes make it harder for you to see where the ball is going? Yes but research has shown that when you try to putt with your eyes open, there is interference with the brain/muscle control system. By closing your eyes, you are relying more on your hands to guide the ball into the hole. And how will you know if the ball goes in? By simply using your sense of hearing.
To do this, you have to practice first putting first with your eyes open at a range of 10 to 50 feet from the hole. After putting these balls with your eyes open, do the same thing this time with your eyes closed. If the ball goes in the hole, you know that sink the ball with your eyes closed.
Another eyes closed technique involves dropping some balls to the ground and just putting them. The objective here is simply to let you feel how the stroke flows back and forth. Do the same thing also with your eyes open. Now that you know the difference, try to incorporate that when you are putting the balls into the hole.
The last golf swing drill is called the alignment drill. To do this, you lay two clubs on the green about six inches apart and make sure that they are parallel to each other. Now putt the ball to see if your stroke is aligned at impact and steady on the back and forward stroke. Do this several times and if you get tired, take a break and rest for a while before resuming the drill.
Practicing some golf swing putting drills like those mentioned will surely help you improve on your game. Who knows? You might even win when you are playing 18 holes with friends. If you can do that at short distances, the only thing to practice on now is your long game because this is just as important as the short game.