The basics of a good golf swing are less complicated than people might think. In this article I am going to touch on four vital aspects of the set up which you need to get right before you even strike the ball if you want to get the basics of a good golf swing.
With the right set up you can "squeeze the trigger" knowing that your basics are correct and all you have to do is concentrate on your swing thoughts.
A pre shot routine does more than ensure you are correctly set up, it takes a lot of tension out of your body. Because you have a solid pre shot set up routine many of the concerns that would normally worry you have already been taken care of. All you have to do once set up is concentrate on and execute your swing thoughts.
I call the pre shot set up my GASP checklist:
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G stands for GRIP. Possibly one of the most important aspects of any golf swing is the grip - it is also one of the most overlooked and often the first place where bad old habits sneak in again. Yet it is the easiest to fix. There are hundreds of places where you can get advice on the correct grip either via the Internet, books or (better still) a golf coach. If your grip is wrong and needs attention spend your evenings gripping and re-gripping the club until your hands naturally grip the club correctly.
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A stands for Alignment. Or Aiming correctly. A lot of players aim their "toe line" to the target instead of aiming the ball towards the target. Again this is a very easy one to fix and is best done with a friend. Simply ask them to stand behind you and tell you where they think you are aiming. Practice getting the correct alignment by placing two golf clubs on the ground, parallel to one another about three feet apart. The first of these lines (the one closest to you) is your "toe line" while the other is the "ball to target" line. Place your toes behind the "toe line" and your club at ninety degrees next to the other one as if there was a ball there and you were addressing it. Step out and repeat starting from behind the "target line" until it starts to feel right.
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S stands for Stance. I am continually amazed at how many people are off-balance - the most common being stretching at address to reach the ball. If you are not properly balanced it is a simple matter for someone to come and push you over. You will move or fall if you are incorrectly balanced. To get the correct stance, think of any other sport where you need to be well-balanced and ready to move either left or right in an instant. A goal keeper facing a penalty comes to mind, or a tennis player about to return a service. That is the stance you want to imitate.
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P stands for Posture. Bad posture can be the result of stretching for the ball, bending over too much at the waist or bending the knees so that you look like you are squatting. The basics of a good golf swing requires that you are comfortable in a fairly upright position with your hands hanging comfortably down from your shoulders. Take a good look at all the pros and you will see that they are all very comfortable at address. The incorrect posture will result in you having to make all sorts of adjustments during your swing to make up for a bad set up. The best way to see what your posture looks like is to get a friend to photograph you. You may find your problem right there.
Getting the basics of a good golf swing right may be all you need for your golf to improve quite dramatically. Don't always assume there is something wrong with your equipment. New clubs cost a small fortune and to be honest in most cases are not warranted. Having said that there is nothing better than getting new clubs! So if you feel you deserve them then please feel free to spoil yourself.
Remember the above steps all take place before you have even started your swing and are simple fixes that are easy to check and implement.
With the basics of a good golf swing you will find that playing a variety of shots - such as the draw, a fade or a power fade - all become a lot easier.
I hope this article has been of some help to you in checking your swing to see if you have the basics of a good golf swing or if it needs a bit of work.
