The Basic Golf Swing

By: John A.Theo, Sr. on 04/20/09 12:37 PM

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In as many times as you've heard it, like in most sports, knowing your basics in golf is still the best way, if you want to play it right. First of all, the V-Grip (Vardon) is the most important basic of all of the correct grips. It sets up everything in your swing, and if you don't have the right grip, you'll fight with your golf swing most of your life. It affects the take away, the back swing, and how the club swings on the plane, and ultimately affects how the ball is impacted after follow-through.

Next, your posture is very important. It allows the club to swing on a better plane, and allows you to keep your balance throughout the entire swing. First, set your feet so you are comfortable. They should be no wider than your shoulders for the longest club. Then, bend your knees and also bend your upper body forward, keeping it relatively straight. Your buttocks will feel like its outward, and it should. This allowed the club to swing much easier around your body.

Once you put your grip in place correctly, let your arms hang naturally. There is no set height on how the hands hang because the length of golfers arms are all different, as well as the torso. Just get comfortable, and make sure that your feet are set parallel to the ball, like a set of railroad tracks. Another important factor is that your shoulders should closely match your feet. If you do not do this, then you will be fighting another problem, which is direction of the ball. By matching your shoulders and feet, you are allowing your body to hit the ball where you are aiming. It is just like shooting a gun, where you are aiming directly at your target. The exception to this rule is short-pitch shots and bunker shots, as those types of shots require a slightly modified swing for those shots.

Now, we can get to the key part of the swing, which is the back swing. Make sure your hands and arms start together as you start back. Focus on the right half of the ball, because most right handed golfers are right eye dominant, and it's easier to swing the club back on the correct swing plane. For left handed players, you will want to focus on the left half of the ball. Make sure as you keep swinging the club back that you start cocking your wrist on the way up. This sets the club face square at the top of the swing. While you are doing this, keep focusing on your left shoulder, which should be pointing toward the ball. This should all be happening during the back swing. Try not to force your shoulders to turn. If you have your hands and arms positioned correctly, your shoulders will rotate automatically, without you having to force it. This is very key, as most people have a tendency to push their shoulders, which knocks them off their swing plane.

Once your back swing is complete, your swing will be inside, even though it might not feel like it. When taking it back to much inside, this means you are taking the club below your shoulder instead of above your shoulder. Other golfers exaggerate the inside out theory, which gets them into more trouble. It is important to think of the swing as an up and down swing.

There are so many things to think about regarding your down swing. It can be overwhelming for any golfer. You have to remember your weight shift, balance, hip turn, keeping your left arm straight (if you are right handed), keeping your wrist cocked, keeping your head still, etc. In order to achieve all of this, if you swing the club back correctly, remember on the down swing to focus on returning your right shoulder back to the ball where the left shoulder stopped (for right handed players), thus maintaining the correct swing plane, or return the hands to the ball at the same place you address them. This eliminates all of the other thoughts coming down to the ball. Your follow through will be the result of your back swing. You should always see your local PGA Professional for guidance.