Golf Swing Elements

Golfers should have a mental check list of some of the basic elements of the golf swing before attempting a shot. The golfers body alignment relative to the target is the first basic element. To do this, stand about 5 to 10 feet behind the golf ball. The golf ball should form a straight line with yourself and the intended target. Pick out some targets on the ground to help guide you such as a shadow, tuft of grass, leaf, or whatever you can find. These should be a short distance in front of and behind the golf ball that give you a straight line with you, the golf ball, and the target you are aiming at. As you get into your address position over the golf ball, keep that line on the ground to the target in your site.

Now that your body is aligned, the club face needs to be aligned. To do this, place the center of the club face on a straight line between the 2 targets on the ground you picked out in front and behind the golf ball. Your grip on the golf club should be loose and relaxed. The golf club should fit in your fingers more than the palm of your hand. Your feet should be lined up parallel to the line your golf ball makes in its alignment toward your target. Your stance should be athletic, knees slightly bent, balanced and comfortable. Your front foot should be rotated a bit outward toward the target. This will allow your hips to rotate easily throughout the swing.

Your upper body should tilt a bit toward the ball while keeping good posture. Your arms should hang loosely in front of your body to loosely grip the golf club. Your shoulders should line up parallel with the golf ball to target line and your toes. Your head should tilt down with your eyes on the back of the golf ball where you want the club head to impact it. This part of the golf swing is known as the setup or addressing the ball.

You are ready to begin the golf swing. Keeping your back elbow tucked as closely to your ribs as possible, slowly take the club back on a straight line along the plane of the ground targets. Keep your front elbow locked throughout the back swing and never take your eyes off the ball. This motion should naturally tuck your chin into your front shoulder. Hips should remain still and slightly tilted, while the front knee will turn inward. At the apex of the back swing, allow your wrists to break slightly.

The down swing involves bringing the club down toward the ball. You will uncoil your wrists and start shifting your weight toward your front foot. With gravity helping, your down swing is where you can generate force and speed. Never take the club face off of your target line. This defines the swing plane. The club face should strike the back of the ball first, then continue on through the arc of the swing. This will result in the club taking a divot out of the ground, just past where the golf ball initially was sitting. Continue the swing on past the second target you picked out just in front of the golf ball.

The finish will generate a bit more distance if done properly. Follow through the golf swing with a high follow through of the golf club. Your rotation of the hips should have turned them directly toward your target. Since your weight will shift, it should now be squarely on your front leg. You should now be seeing your golf ball soaring toward your target in a nice arcing trajectory.