Learn All About The Correct Golf Swing Mechanics Before Playing!

Golf Fundamentals Simplified. Learning the Mechanics of a Good Golf Swing. Nothing gives a golfer more pleasure than playing a round of golf where everything seems so effortless.  In order to get too that stage in golfing ability it is necessary to learn the key fundamentals of the golf swing. The swing can be divided into eight stages:

1. Stance
2. The Grip
3. Address
4. Backswing
5. Downswing
6. Impact
7. Follow through
8. Finish

To achieve a good mental picture of how these individual stages work together they can be classified into distinct functions:

• Preparation
• Grip
• Stance
• Address
• Execution
• Backswing
• Downswing
• Impact
• Follow through
• Finish

Thinking of the functions involved in the above listed order will simplify the application of mechanics in actual play.  It will clarify the player’s approach because it reduces the number of things which he has to think about at one time and centers the attention on major functions instead of minor details.

Grip. It’s the most important function of  preparation for a good golf swing.  There are many different types of grips. Being able to hold onto a golf club correctly is essential.  These three are the most common.

1. Overlapping – the pinkie overlaps your left index finger, hooking around the joint located just below your index knuckle that bends the finger. This grip is known  as the Vardon.
2. Interlocking - weaves the right pinkie and the left index as they wrap round one another.
3. Baseball or ten finger grip - uses the full right hand on the grip and is suitable for a high percentage of women because their hands are smaller.

Intended Purpose: To permit free and uniform hand action throughout the swing.  In order to insure solid contact of the club head with the ball.

Stance. In any sport you must have balance.  In golf it’s the second most important preparation of a good golf swing.  There are many different variations of addressing the golf ball.

1. Square Stance – both feet are equal distant from an imaginary line, which would be parallel to the intended line of flight.
2. Open Stance – the left foot is slightly withdrawn from an imaginary line which would be parallel to the intended line of flight.
3. Closed Stance – the left foot is placed nearer to an imaginary line which would be parallel to the intended line of flight than the right foot.
4. Narrow Stance – the feet are placed close together.
5. Wide Stance - the feet are placed wide apart.

Intended Purpose. Type of stance taken should provide good balance,  be comfortable,  and provide firm footing. It should permit an easy shift of weight onto the hind leg.

Address. This is the final stage of preparation.

Manner of address:

1. Stand opposite the ball with feet at the right angles to the intended line of flight. It is recommend to slightly flare the toes out..
2. Bend the body slightly forward by allowing your hips to do this as it produces counter balance – the weight of your upper body is balanced by the weight of lower body behind you.
3. Let your knees bend your body backward (sit on the shelve) your knees should be flexed over your shoelaces and your rear should stick out. Women have a hard time with this position. Don’t crouch. Think more of sinking into the position.
4. Let your hands hang naturally in front of the body.
5. Keep the grip firm but not tight.
6. Place the club face on the ground, immediately behind the ball and at right angles to the intended line of flight. Have the center of the club face directly behind the ball.
7. Start the backswing soon after the club head has been placed behind the ball. Waggle the club head to relax the hands.

Location of the ball:

Distance of the body from the ball.  The center of the club head designates the approximate spot where the ball is located. It should feel natural and not stretching to reach the ball. As the clubs get shorter stand closer to the ball.

Relation of ball to the body.   The location of the ball with shortest irons is slightly right of center and moves forward as the club gets longer the ball moves forward.  With a Driver or fairway woods the ball should be in a line just inside the left heel.

The following steps need to be performed in executing any golf swing.  In order to improve your golf swing you need to break down the mechanics of your golf swing. You need to analysis and understand the flaws in your golf swing before you can improve.

Backswing. This is the starting point of being able to store the energy that will power your golf swing through the ball.  It’s the kinetics in physics. The mechanics that deals with the actions of forces in producing or changing the motion of masses.

Types of backswing:

1. Flat arc used when executing shots which require distance.
2. Semi-flat arc used when executing shots which require a combination of distance and loft.
3. Upright arc used when executing shots which require loft.

Intended purpose: The purpose of the backswing is to get the hands and other parts of the body in a position to supply a sufficient amount of power to propel the ball a required distance.  These are called arcs they are determined by the width of the stance and the amount of body turn.

Method of taking the backswing:

1. Start the backswing with the hips turning to the right until the back faces the target.  This should be done smartly with the left hand dominating. The club should move off the ball low and slow.
2. The left shoulder turns to the right until it drops under the chin.
3. The weight shifts to the inside of the right foot.
4. Keep the hands and wrists fully extended in the same position as they were at address until at least the halfway position in the backswing.
5. Gradually hinge the wrists until they are fully cocked at the end of the backswing about shoulder high depending on the player’s flexibility. It is desirable to have the left arm straight and extended.
6. Don’t loosen the grip at the top of the backswing.
7. The left knee should move right behind the ball.
8. This backswing motion should be one continuous rhythmic action.
9. The transition to the downswing will take place automatically.

Downswing.

Method of performing the downswing:

1. Keep the head and shoulders behind the swing.
2. Keep the hands and wrists in their same original position as at the end of the backswing until impact at which time the wrists straighten out.
3. Keep the arms in close to the body – connected.
4. As the weight shifts toward the left side the hips should move first then the shoulders to the left then the arms and hands.
5. Thrust the right knee to the left – push off the inside of the right foot.

Intended purpose: To uncock the wrists a split second before impact which will increase the club head speed to the maximum producing longer straighter shots.

Impact

Method of achieving:

1. Keep the head in its same original position.
2. Make sure that the right shoulder comes down and under the chin.
3. Keep hands moving fast without any attempt to add force or to steer the clubhead or create other interference.
4. Keep the wrists in a straight-out position. Avoid the tendency to get the club head ahead of hands at impact.
5. At impact the left arm is kept straight and the right arm is slightly bent.
6. Turn loose and let go.

Follow through.

Method of accomplishing:

1. Keep the head in its original position until the finish.
2. Keep hands moving fast and outward.
3. Keep wrists in their straightened-out position until near the finish, when they bend forward.
4. The hips continue to turn to the left , the right knee bends inward and the right heel raises.

Finish. The finish constitutes the function of indicating the degree of correctness with which the swing has been executed.

Method:

1. The head has turned to follow the ball flight.
2. The body has turned around towards the line of flight.
3. Most of the weight has shifted to the left leg.
4. The weight is supported mostly by the left heel and the outside portion of the ball of the left foot.
5. The right leg has relaxed with the knee bent forward and the heel upright.
6. The hands are opposite to and slightly above the left shoulder, with arms and wrists relaxed.
7. The club shaft is behind the head , parallel to the shoulders and with the ground. The toe of the club is pointing towards the ground. A state of relaxation and balance exists at the finish.
8. The swing must be smooth and rhythmic. Avoid over swinging. Good timing will often deliver the most distance.