The golf swing is a complex set of movements involving all the major joints and muscles of the body. It usually takes years of consistent practice and learning to understand fully the complexity of the golf swing. Understanding the individual components of your golf swing will allow you to develop a consistent swing and even correct your own mistakes.
Setup
The setup phase of the golf swing sets the stability and base of support of the body for the entire swing. Therefore, understanding proper setup and address is crucial to maintaining balance and producing power during your swing. Start with your feet flat on the ground, slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Rest the club head just behind the ball with elbows extended. Your hips and knees should be slightly bent.
Backswing
The backswing, or takeaway phase, produces rotational forces in the body, which are then stored for power production in the downswing. This controlled rotation of the hips, trunk, shoulders, arms and, finally, the club place the body in a twisted position. This position is optimal for producing force and club speed to strike the ball. Weight should shift to the back leg, while the front foot remains on the ground. Flexibility of the hip and spine are critical to this phase.
Downswing
The downswing releases all of the force that was generated and stored during the backswing phase. The end result of this phase of the swing is the release of force from the body, through the club, and into the golf ball. The hips--followed by the trunk, shoulders, arms and club--typically initiate the downswing. The golfer's head should remain in a relatively fixed position throughout the entire golf swing, while maintaining sight of the golf ball.
Follow Through
After you make contact with the ball, your swing goes into the follow-through phase. This is the finishing phase of the swing, where control and form is emphasized. All the power and rotary forces generated in the previous stages comes to a controlled stop, usually with a high finish with shoulders and head facing the shot. At this point, the weight has shifted to the front foot, and the back foot may be up on the toes.
Different Swings
As you play more golf and take more swings, it will become evident that there are different types of swings for different golf shots. For example, the swing used for a driver is different than the swing for a sand shot. Even though these swings are different and have different outcomes, the general phases remain the same.
References
- Brandon B, Pearce PZ. Training to Prevent Golf Injury. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2009;8(3):142-146.
- PGA Golf Instruction: Fundamentals
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