6 Basics of Golf Swing
First of all, let’s get it straight. Every golf swing is the perfect golf swing, and there is no right or wrong way. Every golf swing has its own unique rhythm and movement, and every golfer has a different way to swing a club.
Use the proper grip
The golf swing you have to master has many intricate aspects and you will find different schools of teaching that often contradict one another.
To keep it simple, the key for you is to stay focus on some basic aspects of the golf swing and this involves proper grip and posture.
Our post today will explain it all. We have gone through an extensive research and study to put together this article to make your golf swing a breeze.
Why do you need to have the correct grip in golf?
Because in the game of golf, the grip is everything! If you’re gripping a golf club, there shouldn’t be any space between your hand and the golf club. If there is some space between you and the grip of the club, this is not the proper grip.
Your grip is the foundation of the golf swing and it helps you to achieve a consistent swing throughout the game. All professional golfers use the correct golf grip and you should too.
A good grip will hold the club tightly thereby eliminating excess movement and mishits.
A proper grip will also help you to swing the golf club freely at the right pace and in the correct direction.
Choose Your Grip
There are two basic golf grips but they differ in style.
Choose the right one for you:
Fix the slice
If you are a beginner, the first golf tip is to avoid anything that could spoil your game.
Everyone starts with a slice. It is something that you can easily control. You just need to learn how to hit the ball using your wrists. At first, use just your hands to control the club’s swing.
Practice this move for three days in a row. Then, you need to drive the ball. It will improve your game and you will be able to quickly fix your slice.
Once you are able to drive the ball straight using just your wrists, follow the guide below.
Fix the hook
In your backswing:
Seeing a slice or a hook is common with many players, particularly the new golfers. These swings all have flaws that need to be fixed in order to have a decent game.
The pitch and a slice is the fault of the grip; while the hook is caused by an issue with the swing setup.
With the slice, the swing gets to your right a little too much and results in the ball flying leftwards for a bit. Similarly, a hook results in a ball that goes to the left and is set up by the swing starting to the right.
To fix the hook or slice, you must understand the right positioning of your grip and the set up of the swing.
The backswing should be to the left. For having an effective backswing, the hands should be straight above the handle at the top. Keeping the hands too low puts more pressure on the hands and wears you out faster.
With the swing set up, practice making your backswing and turning so that you face the target while at the top of your backswing.
These two errors are caused by incorrect changes at the top or at impact so ensure that your wrists are perfectly stable through the swing.
While the wrist action is not as important as it is with the Hands in, the right wrist position will be the crucial component of a better shot.
Perfect the draw shot
The golf draw shot is made when a curve is applied to the ball. It is a shot with a long flight and a low trajectory that usually hits the fairway.
The draw is achieved by imparting underspin, and this requires a proper grip, stance, and swing path.
The draw shot is needed when you have a dogleg or an area on the right hand side of the golf course. In order to improve the draw, you should keep your clubface directly at impact.
Also, you should visualize the shot before you make it happen. When making the visual imagery, you should have a clear view of the ball’s flight; picking the right club for the shot is also essential.
Caution is advised when making a draw shot. Most golfers can’t pull off a successful draw shot due to the fact that they aim their shot to the right, even though they are trying to hit to the left.
This is because beginners compensate for all the movement they see while viewing the shot. Always keep in mind that line movement goes on from right to left, and that you should pull back the club during the backswing.
On the downswing, it’s advisable to exaggerate a little bit to make sure that the hands open up enough to make the draw possible.
Execute the fade shot properly
A fade shot is achieved by bringing the club head slightly upward and backward as the club head approaches the golf ball.
The ball is then hit with a downward force and a slight backspin so the ball goes to the left instead of the ball going straight ahead.
When starting off, most golfers use excessive upper body movements in order to get the desired fade, but there is a much better and simpler way to execute this shot.
You should have your hands inclined like a cat ready to pounce.
Your arms should move in the direction of the tilted hands.
The ball should never go more than two inches to your left behind your normal ball flight.
The distance you get for the fade shot is slightly longer than the distance you get when making a full shot.
There is no alternative to practice
When it comes to perfecting the golf swing.
Combined with the right club and proper guide, golf gear helps you execute accurate and pure swings. The material and design of your golf club affects how your ball reacts in the air and on the ground.
If you are new in the golfing game, the task of finding the most appropriate equipment for your game can be frustrating.
That is why I’ve made your job easy for you by creating this comprehensive guide.
What is Swing Plane?
The swing plane is the path that the club takes in the whole swing. It is the plane formed by the club face and the centre of the longest point of the club shaft.
A correct swing plane involves hitting down on the ball using the entire body to swing along a smooth path. The swing plane will find you set stance points and a takeaway point that will set up the correct club face angle from impact through to the finish position.
Look at the three diagrams below that show the swing plane positions for each of the three primary golf swings. You will notice that they all swing along a smooth plane with the club head staying in front of the swing line. This is an EASY plus!
You will also notice that the swing planes are increasing in angle through impact. This means that as your swing moves along the back swing, it gradually moves up, increasing the plane angle. When the club face strikes the ball, this is when you turn the face open to square the club face, again with the club head staying in front of the swing line. This positive move will then trend strongly toward the end of the swing.
Note: The swing plane concept is used to indicate that the plane of the swing (the club head path) changes throughout the swing. The average plane angle is considered to be that of the back swing.
History of the swing plane
Many early teachers taught that the club must be kept on your line as a necessity for developing a good swing.
Something called the swing plane was thought necessary, along with what is now considered a poor grip, since it naturally keeps the club on that plane.
The faulty grip was blamed for causing the hook by reason of keeping the club back of the hands, and the swing plane was assumed to help avoid the hook by keeping the club on a higher and more shallow plane.
With the prominent advocates for these three fundamentals, there were essays galore, accompanied with pictures to prove that the men who won in the late eighties, early nineties changed their positions.
It was claimed that they no longer had to hook the ball, because they were not averse to using the modern, scientific-grip, the swing plane and the overlapping grip.
Types of Swing Plane in Golf
The golf swing plane is always the same on any shot in golf — a full roll. As your club moves back and through in the swing, the sole of the club faces upward as if you were looking at it from underneath.
Here is a diagram of a golf swing plane.
Slice Plane
A slice is a powerful swing in which the club (the trailing edge of the club face) points to the left of the target and the ball goes short and to the right when you hit it. The slice plane occurs when the club face is open at the moment of impact, pointing to the left relative to the target, and the leading edge, therefore, hits the ball first. The slicing potential depends on the loft of the club, so that a low-lofted shot is more likely to result in a slice.
Draw Plane
A draw is a powerful swing in which the club (the trailing edge of the club face) points to the right of the target and the ball goes long and to the right when you hit it. The draw plane occurs when the club face is closed at the moment of impact, pointing to the right relative to the target, and the leading edge, therefore, hits the ball first. The draw potential depends on the loft of the club, so that a very high-lofted shot is more likely to result in a draw.
Golf swing type 1. The single plane golf swing
While there are individuals who can successfully hit two completely dissimilar clubs off of the same stance, for most golfers, they need to change the angles of the upper body and club head to create different types of shots.
Here is the tip. A golfer must completely position the golf club into the correct plane and swing it back and forward to create a smooth swing which generates maximum club head speed. In other words, the golfer must not allow the club head to come above the belt level and make a transition into the downswing plane.
This is called the single plane swing. The limiting factor in terms of the plane of the swing is their ability to smoothly transition from the top of the backswing to the downswing plane without leaving the plane of the backswing as the club moves downward towards the ball.
The proper way to get into this kind of swing plane requires the golfer to begin with thinking of the golf club head in the golf swing as one unit and keeping the head and the hands as one unit.
This is a basic swing that is very effective for golfers that have a fast swing or are just beginning to play golf.
Golf swing tips: The height factor
Many golfers who have shorter clubs, especially the irons, often find it hard to get the ball in the air. And hitting shorter drives frustrates them even more.
Golf swing type 2 – The two plane swing
The second major swing type is the two plane swing. This is where the movement pattern is restricted to rotating only (P2).
We can understand both these swing types with the help of the kinematic diagram. For the first plane swing, imagine the Swing Plane Angle (PA3) is generally moving downward through the swing plane (PA2) as the swing finishes. For the second plane swing, imagine Swing Plane Angle (PA3) is generally moving upward through the swing plane (PA2) as the swing finishes.
Next we need to understand how each player is likely to make the transition from the backswing to the downswing.
In the first swing type, the golfer’s Center of Gravity (COG) travels towards the target during the backswing. As the player’s shoulders begin to rotate through the ball, the COG will move down towards the swing plane (PA2) as shown in the diagram below.
For the second swing type, the COG may not move towards the target as much during the backswing. This is to allow the player’s shoulders to start the downswing by rotating up towards the Swing Plane (PA1) as shown in the diagram below.
Golf swing tips: how to learn the two plane swing faster
There are two planes in the golf swing; the down plane and the up plane. This is probably the last thing new golfers are likely to be aware of, and therefore is the last thing they will practice.
Frequently, the two plane golf swing is also the toughest for golfers to master because it is very hard to check their cup on the ball when they are practicing this swing.
It is only when they receive some useful golf swing tips that they can fully comprehend the concept of the two plane swing. And it is only when they reach this stage that they can put their knowledge into practice, start enjoying the game and make some improvement to their swing.
In this section, we will discuss the two plane swing in greater detail, the problems that occur when executing this swing, why the two plane swing can often lead to frustration, and some useful tips to overcome these issues.
Since this is a beginner’s page, we will try to avoid the golf swing jargon as much as possible.
How To Swing a Golf Club: Perfect Golf Swing with golf swing aids
The golf swing s role is to propel the shot towards the target. It is through the swing that ball s initial speed is increased. The golf swing is a very technical move. It’s one of the most technical shots to achieve in any sport.
It has been proven through research that the most efficient golf swing is the one in which power is generated from the lower body muscles. The specific muscle groups involved in the power-generation aspect of the golf swing include the Quadriceps, Gluteus maximus (buttocks). The Gluteus medius, and the Serratus and Oblique muscles.
The most important muscles involved in maintaining balance and stability in the golf swing are found in the lower back. This is the Multifidus, Posterior Oblique, and Habiliments.
The back muscles make the golf swing s movement easier and their correct use may be the difference between a shot hit by a professional and a shot hit by a beginner.
2 things to consider for golf swing
The golf swing basics, which is basically the concept of the golf swing, will determine how much power you can achieve on a golf drive. This guide will have the basics which you need to learn as a golfer.
The first thing to consider is the golf grip and the posture of the body. A proper grip is also really important as it will help balance your swing. If you have the proper grip when you hit a ball, it will surely make it easier for you to hit it.
The second thing to consider is the way to maintain a consistent body posture. This is what will improve your consistency and the way to make great swings.
Step 1. Perfect your Setup with Alignment pro
The golf stance is something many golfers have problems with. My own improvement in my game was marked after I fixed this.
So firstly if you want to be effective in your golf swing, you need to have the correct stance.
There are golfing professionals who can do all sorts of drills and use fancy equipment to aid you, but I think the best thing to do is to use your own body weight and balance, rather than equipment.
The best way to perfect your balance is to close your eyes and imagine a thin and straight line that runs from your back to your front foot. I’m not talking about your ball flight line, which is when you’re looking at the ball, I’m talking about where you are looking to place your ball.
I always tell my players to close their eyes and visualise this line that runs straight from their back to their front foot.
It is very important that the weight is evenly distributed between these two parts of your body as it is impossible for the head of your club to remain behind the ball if the body weight is not coordinated.
You will have the correct stance if you can make that line up, keep your eye on that line and balance perfectly on it.
Step 2. Tour striker smart ball for balanced away movement
The first thing you’ll notice about the Tour Striker Smart Ball is that it’s red. It’s a non-adjustable ball, so keep that in mind before you buy it.
But that’s not all you should know about it.
Step 3. Shift the club Halfway back
To Your Right (Right hand on the grip, the left arm extended to your right with your left hand hanging in the void…and keep the clubface parallel to your back).
It can take a while to stick to the proper swing path. But if you are consistent and keep at it till you get it down, I promise you’ll get what you always wanted—”a Perfect Golf Swing!
Hitting a ball with the perfect swing is no kid’s play. You must practice it every day even on a bad day and make a routine out of it even if it means you’re not that inspired.
The point is to not get frustrated because of the time it takes to perfect the perfect golf swing. The only way to do it is to alter your brain for the job by keeping it in that rhythm of doing it every day, perfecting it and getting better every day.
You can do it productively at the end of every day. Brush up on your skills for 30 minutes, at least and you’ll be surprised how much you can gain in a short period of time.
The more you practice at the right hours, when you’re fresh, the more you’ll see the changes in your swing.
Step 4. Mastering the top of Backswing with the hanger training aid
Tongue in: You might be surprised that I’m including an instruction that’s usually introduced after several months of lessons at golf club.
The reason why I’m putting it so early is that so many beginners scoop the ball off the ground, reaching too far with their hands (hips are way out behind the ball).
Most of that top-of-swing scoop is caused by a straightening of the right arm, which is common when you lack hip rotation.
That’s when a hanger training aid comes in. It forces you to stay in good hands-up-tongue-closed position throughout the backswing.
In the picture you see how the hanger fits on the club and how to swing properly with it.
It’s important that your putter, wedge and driver are all fitted with hangers.
When I notice a beginner starting to reach or get off-plane, I hand him a hanger, especially if he’s a right-handed golfer.
Step 5. Go halfway down
To your left and press the head of the club into the ground, just beside your left foot and slightly ahead of it. The putter head should be facing the hole.
The driver and three wood are the easiest clubs to handle and thus can take on this position. You sweep it back and now that your left foot is placed, it is time to tip the club away from you.
Remember that the left foot, the wrists, and arms are all locked in position, and your right side is rolling harder away from you. The most important thing to remember about getting out of the bunker is to be quick.
Step 6. Develop a consistent impact with the flat plate
This tip has taken me many years to master, but I am glad I did. Sometimes, when the club face has closed at impact, a putt squirms and catches the left lip a bit off line while it is following the general path down the hole. Why does this happen?
You’ve already established why keeping the club face square to the ball is so important to avoid a slice or hook on the down swing, but what about a slight variation in that path, which leaves the putt miraculously sliding down the right lip?
To see if you are guilty of the above, study your impact area. If you have horrendous mis-hits, chances are you could be guilty of this.
Here is why: When you first square the face at impact, it will be almost parallel to the ground. But if you land in the first couple of inches of rough and the flat impact area does not connect with the flat plate of the flat lie, it can cause you to face into the rough, and thus the club face will not be square to the ground.
A left to right putt will then break left to right on the face of the putt, not from the angle of the club face at impact, but from the angle it is at now at the time of contact.
Step 7. Swift follow through to maintain golf plane
This step is vital to developing proper swing sequencing. It is the final act in the golf swing motion, and it is just as important as the backswing and downswing are.
During the follow-through, the entire length of the golf club shaft must stay behind the line connecting your shoulders, hips and the ball.
This is the only way you can know for sure that your swing plane is in balance.
If you follow through behind the target line, you’ll be able to know if your swing plane is pushed or pulled off plane. Corrections can be made at any time to get the ball airborne and coming back to you.
Step 8. A perfect finish converts to a perfect swing
If you are a golfer, then you would like to master a perfect golf swing. It’s an ideal golf swing that consists of a straight back, a straight right arm, a straight left arm, and a perfectly straight left leg. If these conditions are not present then it is not a perfect golf swing.
Moreover, if you are following a perfect piano swing then you need to implement some basics that would bring full effects to your game.
For both beginners and professionals, the perfect golf swing is tricky. While you can search the Internet for videos of professional golfers and professionals then you will miss out on a lot of small details that the professionals and the experts will follow.
Here, we are going to discuss a few practical steps that you can follow to master your golf swing.
If you are a beginner and you are on the cusp of learning the perfect golf swing then you need to take some steps instinctively. You need to remember that the basics of a perfect golf swing technique will bring a lot of power and perfection to your game.
Before you start learning perfect golf swing, you need to look at some of the things that come along with it.