Golf Swing Basics: A golf swing basics lesson should address the four basic grips that are essential to a solid golf swing. The first step is how to hold a golf club. While it is not as important as other fundamentals, the grip is the starting point for nearly any swing misstep. How well you grip your club is a crucial part of hitting better golf shots, and the type of grip you use can greatly effect your shot location and flight path. Here are some basic golf swing basics:
How to Hold a Golf Club – Basic Golf Swing Basics First, what is the proper grip for your golf club? In general most golfers use a neutral grip, where the club is held between your chin and right shoulder. This provides an “unnatural” setup position, meaning that the club and hands do not point towards the target at address. The second most common method of holding a club is to use a firm grip, with the club’s shaft slightly higher than the top of the backswing. Both these methods result in improper setup and poor follow through.
How to Stand With the Approach – Basic Golf Swing Basics When practicing your approach, most golfers will stand with their feet apart. This encourages an open face in order to maximize the power behind the ball and opens up the shoulders and hips for ideal balance and stability. This basic golf swing basics tip focuses on standing with the right posture.
How to Walk With the Walk – Basic Golf Swing Basics A well-balanced golf stance and a proper walk are essential to the success of each swing. Walk with your left foot forward, but not past your hip (this causes a shifting of balance and movement) and your right heel should be flat on the ground. Also, make sure your left knee rolls inward while your right keeps the same width as it was when you took your stance. All of these elements will help you achieve a solid, balanced golf swing.
How to Approach and Change the Grip – Basic Golf Swing Basics It is important for every golfer to understand the importance of changing the club grip. As you probably know by now, the most common mistake beginner golfers make is holding the club too tightly, or too loosely. Both of these problems cause inconsistent swing action and significantly reduce power. The following golf swing basics tip will help you learn how to hold the club more efficiently.
The takeaway is where many new golfers begin their swing. To practice your takeaway, take a club behind you and slowly come up from an upright position to your body’s parallel alignment. As you bring the club back down to contact the ball, feel the momentum carry the club head to the inside of your front foot. Make sure you don’t move your hands during this part of the setup, and feel the resistance of your body as you bring the club back to contact the ball.
Now that you’ve practiced the takeaway, let’s take a look at some golf swing basics for improving your short game. When practicing backswing action, imagine that the golf club is traveling down the path in front of you and that you are the target. You will want to turn your torso towards the target while still keeping your shoulders squared with your target. As you reach the top of your backswing, you will turn your hips and start your forward movement. The idea is to create lag as you hit the golf ball, allowing you more room to create consistent contact with the ball.
Finally, you can practice golf swing basics by avoiding slicing the ball. If you slice the ball, imagine that your club face is slightly open when you hit the ball. When you aim your club face correctly, the ball will fly straight and true. Again, you will want to use your aiming exercises to train yourself to square your club face every time, and to make sure you have maximum speed when you transfer your weight from your left foot to your right, resulting in a longer golf drive.