Hitting a golf ball properly is perhaps one of the most deceptive processes in the sporting world. While hitting a ball with a club may seem easy on first sight, you are required to focus on body kinetics, mental clarity, hole strategy and breathing techniques, all in a matter of seconds, to hit a good shot. Improving the individual aspects of your swing is necessary to bring it together as a cohesive and effective unit.
Step 1
Hold the club in front of you with your dominant arm and set it behind the ball so the center of the club face lines up with the center of the ball. The toe of the club should be facing slightly up, while the heel is flat on the ground.
Step 2
Align your foot closest to the hole in a perpendicular line with the ball. Spread your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and bend your knees. Keep your back straight and lean forward at the hips to address your club.
Step 3
Hold the club at the base of the grip with the hand that is closest to the hole. The handle should rest in the fingertips, not in the palm. Wrap your other hand firmly around the club so the index finger of your leading hand and the pinky finger of your other hand butt up against one another. Lay your thumbs straight down the shaft of the club. Adjust your footing forward or backward so your arms hang loose from your shoulders while you hold the club.
Step 4
Breathe slowly and steadily. Clear your mind of all distractions. Try to slow your heart rate down. One study carried out in Sweden and published in Sports Medicine in 2009 linked a lower heart rate and a calm mind with golfers achieving their "optimal performance state."
Step 5
Shift your weight to your back foot as you begin your backswing. According to the Cure a Slice website, "The role that your weight shift plays in your golf swing is enormous," so pay close attention to this aspect of your shot. Most of your weight will come onto your back foot when you reach the peak of your backswing.
Step 6
Arc the club straight back in the vertical plane of the ball as you shift your weight. Allow your back elbow to bend and try to keep your leading arm as straight as possible as you bring the club back toward your head. Rotate your shoulders as the club comes back so your leading shoulder is in line with your head and leading foot.
Step 7
Twist your hips forward toward the course and begin transferring your weight to your front foot. At the same time, bring the club down on the same arc that you brought it back on. Exaggerate the forward weight transfer until you are comfortable with this motion.
Step 8
Ensure your back elbow is pointing toward the ball when you make contact. The club grip will be slightly ahead of the club face at the moment of impact. Transfer the rest of your weight through the shot and finish rotating your hips so they are parallel with your target. Allow the club to finish swinging forward around your body and finish behind your back.
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