Swinging a golf club properly is one of the toughest motions in all of sports. Many top golf instructors refer to the golf swing as an entire package of the hands, arms, upper body, torso and lower body working together in perfect harmony. Looking at the golf swing as a system will help achieve dramatic results on the course.
Proper Fundamentals
The importance of proper fundamentals to the golf swing as a system functioning properly cannot be understated. Just like with any system, if the golf swing starts out in poor or incorrect positions, the results will be just as poor or incorrect. Golfers need to pay attention to fundamentals like grip -- both Vs formed by the thumb and forefinger should point to the right shoulder -- and ball position -- the ball should never be placed outside the width of the breastbone -- before beginning the system.
Takeaway
Viewing the golf swing a system helps simplify some of the toughest motions. Golfers should start the system by addressing the ball, then moving the club away with a one-piece takeaway. The shoulders should start the back swing, followed by the arms, then the hands and finally the club head. Doing this will allow the club to move properly with the body, and will simplify the takeaway so the club can be placed on plane at the top of the swing.
Coil and Release
The swing system calls for a load of all the weight on the right side of the golfer's body, and a corresponding shift of that weight to the left side during the down swing. Golfers should load their weight back and extend their arms to the sky, trying to create a tremendous amount of extension and coil. This will provide for greater distance and club head speed. On the down swing, golfers should accelerate through the golf ball.
System Finish
When approaching impact, golfers using the swing system will have cleared their hips out of the way and will have begun the weight transfer to the left side. The goal of the down swing is to return the hands at impact back where they started, and to square the club face while hitting on a path that comes down right onto the back of the golf ball. Following this system will produce longer, straighter golf shots.
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