Master Golf Basics - The Swing

OK. The last article dealt with the stance and addressing the ball. Now we finally get moving. Your balls on the first tee, youve checked your grip and taken up a relaxed stance with knees flexed and back bent slightly forward from the waist and youre ready to drive the ball out of sight, right up the centre of the fairway.

The first part of the swing is the takeaway. No were not stopping for a Chinese! Jeez, we only just got started!

Keeping your eye on the ball and your arms as straight as you can, start to draw the club backwards, keeping the head of the club close to the ground for the first 12 - 18 inches. Now, your shoulders should start to turn to your right. Continue to take the club backwards and upwards, your left knee moving to the right to allow your hips and shoulders to turn further to your right.

During this rotation, your weight will transfer from being equally distributed on both legs at address onto the right leg and inside of the right foot.

Keep your left arm as straight as possible without locking the elbow and as the backswing continues your right arm will start to bend upwards.

When you reach the top of the backswing your shoulders and upper body should have turned a full 90 degrees so that your back is facing the target. As you approached the top of your swing your hips should have started to move back to the ball.

The transition from backswing to downswing should be virtually imperceptible.

The hips start the downswing, pulling your hands, arms and club back down towards the ball. Pull your arms down as if pulling on a rope. During the downswing your head should stay behind the ball and your left leg should stiffen to become a firm base for you to swing against.

A vital point to keep in mind is that the shot does not finish upon impact with the ball. You must hit through the ball as though trying to hit another ball hanging in front of you as you swing through.

When the shot is finished you should be facing the target with the club having travelled through c.180 degrees.

Develop your swing on the driving range and, if you can afford it, a few lessons from your local professional will be well worth the expense.

Heres a tip if youre having difficulty keeping your left arm straight during the backswing. Cut off the top and bottom of a large soft drink plastic bottle and place it over the offending arm. That should keep it straight! I dont know where I picked that little tip up from so I cant give credit for it. And it would perhaps be better not to use this when you are actually playing on a course!

Lester Mann has written numerous articles with tips to help you improve your basic golf skills. Others can be seen at http://www.MasterGolfBasics.com

Lester Mann writes golf-related articles, intended to aid amateur golfers to master the basic skills needed to play a competent round of golf so they may enjoy their game the better.