Golf - The Anatomy Of The Perfect Swing
January 4th, 2007
When it comes to your golf swing there is a lot to think about including your stance, grip, back-swing and down-swing, so let’s just take it one step at a time.
There’s no one thing which determines whether or not you have a good golf swing. Your stance, grip, back-swing and everything else is important and the secret is to get them all working together in concert. So, take a good deep breath, relax, let the tension go from your arms and let’s get started.
Stand with your heels about shoulder width apart and get comfortable. Take a firm grip on the club, but don’t squeeze the life out of it. The secret is to grip the club firmly enough so that you can control it, but no more.
Let’s break the golf swing down into its three main components - the back-swing, the down-swing and the swing-plane.
The swing-plane is essentially a large circle which is parallel to the line to your target. As you are standing at right angles to this line ready to take your swing, imagine a large round table standing on its edge directly in front of you with a diameter of perhaps eight feet or so. As you practice your swing your object should be to keep the club head following the line traced by the rim of this table. In other words, at all times, the club head should remain in a plane that is directly in line with your target.
For your backswing your aim is to take the club back in a smooth arc until your thumb and knuckle are just above your right ear. On the down-swing you simply wish to retrace the path of the back-swing down until the club head contacts the ball. On your down-swing you will of course have the benefit of gravity to help you and you should take advantage of this and let your natural body motion carry the club head through the ball’s position and on towards the target.
Now of course all of this is quite simple in theory but not quite so simple in practice, so here are a few hints to help you achieve that smooth and forceful swing.
One your back-swing keep your left elbow straight and take the club straight back and up. At the start of your back-swing let your left arm rolls slightly clockwise and be sure that your wrists are cocked at a 90° angle by the time your left arm comes parallel to the ground. Throughout your back-swing keep your feet firmly on the ground to act as an anchor.
When you start your down-swing be careful not to start the swing with your shoulders but to start your down-swing with your lower body. As the club comes down turn your waist towards the target moving your hips as fast and as powerfully as you can, being careful to remain in control.
At the bottom of the down-swing your wrists will snap and as you continue to follow through your shoulders will move from being parallel to the target line to being perpendicular to it. Throughout the swing your weight should be gradually transferred so that, by the time you’ve finished, your weight is on your left foot.
Throughout your down-swing and follow through it’s important to remember that your swing should come from your hips and a waist and not from your shoulders.
As a final check, in your finishing position your weight should be balanced on your front hip, your back toe should be on the ground, your hands should be up above your front shoulder and your chest, your back knee should be facing the hole and your ball should be heading straight down your target line to the hole.
Author: Donald Saunders
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