The Best Way To Learn The Golf Swing

When most people are taught how to play golf and swing a golf club, the focus tends to be too much on using the arms to swing the club. In fact, new golfers, and even experienced golfers, should focus most of their attention on how to move the body properly in the golf swing.

This focus on the arms in the golf swing is occasionally referred to as the "arm swing" illusion. New golfers, when they try to mimic a PGA tour player's swing, feel that in order to generate power, they must swing the club with the arms and hands to the point where the golf club is parallel to the ground at the top of the swing. Many good golfers achieve this, and some may even swing the club to the point where the club is pointing toward the ground at the top of their back swing. Phil Mickelson and John Daly are examples of professionals with swings like this.

What most golfers don't realize is that Mickelson and Daly are getting the club into this position because of tremendous flexibility that allows them to turn their shoulders and hips much more than the average golfer. However, there are plenty of golfers who can generate just as much power without swinging the club as far as Daly and Mickelson. J.B. Holmes is a perfect example of a golfer who generates tremendous power mainly from the ground up.

When learning how to play golf, prospective golfers should focus on the body movements rather than on the arm swing. The golf swing is a rotational action that actually does not require the arms to get much above the shoulders in the back swing. In fact, one of the all time greats, Ben Hogan is an example of this, yet he also was capable of generating significant power in spite of only being about 5'7 and 140 pounds.

A golfer must learn how to create leverage in their golf swing. This is done through the proper sequencing of the swing, and a combination of proper turn and weight shift. For instance, in the back swing, the golfer must turn the shoulders and hips without the weight swaying over the back foot. In fact, the weight should turn INTO the back leg, so that it acts as a brace. The golfer can create more leverage by turning the shoulders about twice as much as they turn the hips. When the golfer can master these positions in the swing WITHOUT using a golf club, then with the club in hand, they can focus on creating a wide back swing.

When the golfer achieves the proper sequencing and positioning in the back swing, all they then need to do is unwind all that leverage and torque by starting the down swing with their lower body first. Most golfers have a tendency to start the down swing with the shoulders and arms, and they end of losing any leverage that they may have created. This leverage and torque can be properly maximized if the golfer is able to start the down swing with the lower body before the shoulders are actually done turning in the back swing.

If you struggle with your golf game and you are unable to shoot scores in the 70s, or you are a raw beginner, go to a qualified teaching professional who understands how the body is supposed to move in the golf swing. Learn these movements before you worry about incorporating the arms into your swing. Once you do this, you will learn how to swing with far more control and power.