Learning how to swing the golf club correctly is a process that may take most golfers years to perfect. Even professional golfers work regularly to hone their swing. Beginners may be intimidated by the thought of the work needed to build a repeatable swing, but there are several tips that can help a beginner improve their game.
Relax Your Neck and Shoulders
One of the keys to having an effective swing is relaxing your neck and shoulder muscles. Tension in those areas will keep you from swinging the club smoothly and effectively. Golfers need to make a full circle with their swing when they take the club back and then bring it forward. If there is tension in the neck and shoulders, that circle will get cut off and you won't be able to generate the proper club head speed. That will cut down on your distance and your accuracy.
Keep Your Left Arm Straight
The golf club will drive the ball for distance and accuracy when it is used correctly by the golfer. In order to use it correctly, keep your the elbow straight on the arm closest to the target--the left arm if you are a right-handed golfer--when you make impact with the ball. Your arms serve as levers in your swing and if you keep your left arm straight the club head will generate maximum speed in the hitting zone and help the ball fly straight. Bend your left elbow and the ball will fly off course and it won't generate distance.
Grip the Club Firmly
While you don't want to have any tension in your swing, you want to hold the club firmly enough so that the club head does not wobble when it impacts the golf ball. Grip the club at about a "6" on a scale of 1 to 10. That's about the same as a firm handshake with a new business associate. If you grip it tighter than that, you will lose your ability to take a full swing. Grip it looser than that and the ball may dribble away, resulting in a wasted shot.
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