Ask any golfer, seasoned vet, or beginner, and they’ll tell you that the golf swing is probably one of the most frustrating parts of the game of golf.
Those who take the game seriously are out on the course constantly modifying their swing to get more distance or to correct problems like a slice or a hook.
When you boil it down to the basics, the golf swing is just a matter of mechanics and putting body motions together in the right way to be consistent.
But, experienced golfers know this is easier said than done.
Avid golfers are always on the lookout for tips to make their golf game better so that they can crush their competition and earn some bragging rights.
No matter how you slice it, golf isn’t an easy sport to master, if it were, we’d have countless people out there competing on the pro circuit.
The folks who love the game know that the more information you have regarding the swing, course management, putting, etc., the more chance you have of playing better.
That’s why smart golfers will take golf tips from almost anyone who’s willing to offer them because they understand that one tweak could greatly improve their game and take it to the next level.
Just like with any sport, you must start with the fundamentals and continue improving on the basics even when you’ve mastered them.
Today, you’re going to learn the basics of a good golf swing, how to set up, putting tips, and the importance of wearing good golf shoes.
Let’s get started…
The Basics of a Good Golf Swing
- Your stance should be about shoulder width apart and your feet should be pointing slightly out – but not too much!
- Let your arms hang naturally down from your body and place the club behind the ball. If your shoulders hunch or you have tension in your arms, you are probably too close to the ball. Stand back a little bit.
- Place about 70 percent of your body weight on your back leg.
- Straighten your spine and have a bit of bend in your knees.
- Keep your eyes on the ball during your entire swing.
- Grip the club as if you are holding a small, delicate bird. You want to keep the bird in your hands, but you don’t want to crush it either. That’s how you should hold your club.
- A good golf swing will be a fluid, easy motion with your shoulders turning slightly in the backswing and your follow-through complete.
- Make sure you keep your feet planted and slow down in your backswing. Most problems with a golf swing are caused by swinging too quickly in the back swing and then not accelerating through the ball.
- You will want to hit the ball in the “sweet spot” or the center of the club. Hitting it anyplace else will cause your ball to travel in directions that you really don’t want it to go in.
- Then grip it and rip it!
Tips for General Setup
- Position your body so it’s parallel with the target line.
- Your feet should be shoulder-width apart.
- With short irons, put the ball in the center of your stance.
- Middle irons should have the ball placed one ball toward the target side from the center.
- For long irons and fairway woods, place the ball two ball lengths toward the target from the center.
- The ball should be three ball lengths toward the target from the center.
- Balance your weight on the balls of your feet.
- Bend your knees slightly and keep your spine straight.
- Move your body from the hips and make it a smooth, fluent motion.
Keep your eyes on the ball until well after you complete your follow-through swing.
If you don’t do this, you will have a tendency to stand up on the ball, which will cause you to top the ball.
Do this with all shots. Look at the back of the ball and don’t take your eyes off of it until it’s natural to look and see where the ball has gone.
Putting Tips
- Visualize the path your ball will travel so that it will go into the hole.
- Read the green and take into account any dips that may cause your ball to change its direction. Then you can compensate with your aim.
- The putting swing is a smooth, pendulum-like action with no wrist break. You will swing with your shoulders and should always keep your head down.
- Be sure you put enough speed on the ball so that you will actually make it to the hole. There’s nothing worse than coming up short on a putt. These lead to three-putt disasters and can be very frustrating!
A Good Golf Swing Begins With the Best Shoes
Many golfers don’t give much thought to their golf shoes. After all, they’re just footwear, right?
No, that’s wrong!
Actually, your golf shoes can make the difference between a good golf swing and a great golf swing.
You will also want to pick a golf shoe that is healthy for you and your feet.
I bet you’ve never really thought about how to pick a healthy golf shoe.
There’s no reason to feel bad because many golfers haven’t either.
First and foremost, take your time when shopping for golf shoes.
Put them on and walk around in them to make sure they feel good on your feet and that you can move about without any restraints or discomfort.
If you feel something inside the shoe that’s poking or pressing against your toes, do not settle for those because you’ll regret your purchase decision the moment you step onto the golf course.
Feet do expand, so when you go shopping for your golf shoes, do so after walking for about 20 minutes or so.
It’s for this reason specifically that it’s better to shop for golf shoes or any shoes for that matter in the afternoon rather than in the morning.
When you shop for your golf shoes, you should wear the style of socks that you would normally wear on the golf course.
This way, you’ll know in advance that you will be comfortable on the golf course while wearing your golf shoes and not have to worry about discomfort during your backswing.
There are all types of golf shoes available these days. No longer are you restricted to an oxford-style?
Manufacturers are now making golf sandals, golf boots, and even golf shoes that really resemble tennis shoes.
The cleats on these types of shoes can be quite different, so be sure that when you buy a golf shoe, it’s going to give you the results that you are looking for, especially in the comfort department.
Depending on your budget, you will be able to find golf shoes in all sorts of different price ranges.
The general rule of thumb is that you should buy the best pair of golf shoes that you can possibly afford.
If you go for the cheapest pair, you will probably have to replace them within a short period of time.
However, if you can afford the extra twenty dollars, go ahead and upgrade just a bit and have them last just a bit longer.
Golf shoes may not be first and foremost on your mind when you are thinking about what you need to be a good golfer, but the right pair of golf shoes can really make a difference in your golf game.
You want to be comfortable, you want to have stability, but most of all, you want to look good – now don’t you?
Seriously, though, find a good pair of golf shoes and then put them to use on the links.
Then see how much they make a difference when you are swinging your club on the first tee!
Let’s wrap this up…
Conclusion
Learning to swing a golf club takes years of practice as any avid golfer will tell you.
There are a hundred things to know and they all have to be working in exactly the right ways at exactly the right time to have a good, consistent golf swing.
Sometimes this just doesn’t happen, but when it does, it certainly is a great feeling!
Golf is such a mental game that requires extreme focus.
Benefits of Playing Golf:
- Relieves Stress and Anxiety
- Great for Relaxing and Enjoying Nature
- Improves Physical Fitness
- Enhances Your Mental Well-Being
- Let’s you connect with others (personally & professionally)
- Allows you to work on mastering the game
It could be beneficial to take a lesson or two on the golf swing from a pro trainer or even watch the way the pros do it on television.
There are numerous resources that exist on the Internet that can help you with your golf swing, so always look for information and take as much advice from experienced golfers as you can get.
Keep in the forefront of your mind that no matter how much information you collect, the only way to improve your golf game is through consistent practice.
There’s just no way around this fact.
Remember, practice makes perfect.
Take any tips and constructive criticism on your golf game that you can get and then try them out to see if they work.
We always use the phrase “Practice Makes Perfect” when in reality there’s no such thing as achieving perfection, which makes that goal a huge motivator to get better.
So, if you want to take your golf game to the next level, you have to improve your golf swing.
Just get out there on the course, have some fun, pay attention to each swing, and over time you’ll naturally get better.
Good luck with improving your golf swing!
Download Our Free E-book!
