A day with nothing to do but play nine holes of golf sounds like a dream to many, but that dream can turn into a nightmare if the game doesn't go as well as the hype. A correct golf swing is imperative to a successful game of golf, at least in terms of scoring. And a golf swing isn't simply throwing a club around, there's a science and a method to the correct swing. There are factors at every step that start before what most consider the "swing" itself.
Stance
A correct golf swing starts with a good stance. Feet should be about shoulder width apart to give balance on both during the swing. The knees should be bent slightly. Think about locking the knees and then relaxing them with a slight bend. Bent knees also help with keeping the swing in your upper body and hips. The back should remain straight. Bend from the hips, not the shoulders.
Grip
How to grip the golf club is important to perfect a golf swing. The grip on the club shouldn't be too tight, which results in a slice, or too loose, which results in a hook. Think about a medium grip. There are three common grip types. The baseball grip has the right hand resting by the side of the left hand's index finger. The interlock grip has the right hand's pinkie finger intertwined with the index finger of the left hand. The overlap grip has the pinkie of the right hand resting in the groove between the index and middle fingers of the left hand. The club is held in the fingers, not the palm of the hand and the wrist should be relaxed.
Set Up
After completing the grip, the ball needs to be addressed squarely for a correct golf swing. Extend the arms so that the club is in front and make sure the elbows bow out slightly and that the leading edge of the club is square. Don't alter the angle of the club and arms but lower the head of the club to the ground behind the ball. The club should be roughly in the middle between the feet. This position allows for the proper distance to stand away from the ball no matter what type of golf club is being used.
Pivot and Swing
The pivot of swing is how the body moves from head to toe but doesn't include the hands and arms and loads the energy needed for a correct golf swing. The swing is actually two parts: the back-swing and the down-swing or forward swing. The back-swing sees the club go up in to the air and the down-swing is when the club comes down to hit the ball. The back-swing is slow and smooth and done using the hips and arms, not the shoulders, waist or knees. The hips shift weight toward the right foot while the left shoulder points down. The right hip, right foot and head should be in a vertical line. The down-swing starts at the end of the back-swing keeping the same angle. It starts with the hips pulling the arm down which pulls the club down.
Impact
When impacting the ball, about 90 percent of the weight is on the left foot. The left arm is straight and the right arm is slightly bent. The hands should still be in front of the ball. The club should be square to the ball as it moves toward it.
Follow Through
In follow through, the head should come up naturally over the right shoulder with the chin over the shoulder and the head facing the target. The upper body is what is rotating and should continue until the swing is completed. The follow through is thought of as swinging the club through the ball, not just at the ball.
Conclusion
All these items combined will help a golfer find the correct swing. Each part should be practiced and then put together. Taken on their own, the parts are only parts, not a complete swing that starts well before the club hits the ball. A correct golf swing using these steps properly means that the ball has a greater likelihood of going where the golfer aims.
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