[ad_1]

Basics of a Golf Swing

Although you would assume that the basics of a golf swing only include specifics such as your grip, posture and alignment, there are actually many other things to consider each time you hit a ball. Yes, you do need to line up the right way to your target and the ball, have a proper posture and learn how to hold the club, but essentially, these things are only going to get you so far.

Commit to Your Shot

Have you ever noticed how you just have this feeling that you're going to have a bad shot even before you make contact? Could it be that second-guessing yourself is really what's ruining your shot? Some say that golf is 90 percent mental and while that figure may be high, there is certainly something to say about committing mentally to your shot.

You do not need to take 10 practice swings. Line yourself up, take one or two swings at the most, commit to your shot and take it. The longer you prepare for your shot, the greater the chance you have of a mental battle happening in your head that will have a negative effect on your swing.

Stretch Before You Play

According to Adam Smith, Salisbury Country Club's PGA Director of Instruction, you should be warm up your body and stretching out certain muscles before you practice or play. Warmed up muscles mean greater flexibility which translates to a larger range of motion, resulting in a better swing. He recommends at least doing a few jumping jacks, leg kicks and torso rotations before you play, but you should also make stretching part of your daily routine at home to really see results.

Visualize Your Target

It is no surprise that golf becomes a much easier game when it's played from the fairway so keeping your ball on an ideal playing platform should be your goal. Sometimes aiming for the fairway is just too broad, leaving too much room for error.

To practice visualizing your target, go ahead and place a tee about 10 feet in front of your ball, in line with your target. Now you'll make sure that your lower body and shoulders are lined up properly to the ball and then use that tee as a guideline for the head of your club. Just like anything else in life, short-term goals are easier to focus on than long-term ones.

Striking the Ball

Striking the ball accurately is a huge concern with many golfers. Sure, you may get a good solid hit in there occasionally but would not it be nice to hit the ball right every time?

Maintaining posture is key here. A lot of players get to the top of their backswing and then adjust their posture for whatever reason. All this does is make it harder to address the ball. Chances are, if you have someone record you and then you can watch it back, you'll see exactly where you break your posture. Two other things to evaluate are where you're straightening your arm on the golf swing and keeping your eye on the ball.

Many players, especially new ones, become so engrossed in only focusing on the ball that they forget to focus on their swing as well. There needs to be a balance of both. You need to keep your eye on the ball but at the same time, it should really become just a blur because your swing is happening so fast. If you're solely focusing on the ball, your swing will be slower and will lack power and accuracy. Find your harmonic balance and you'll find your perfect swing.

[ad_2]

Source by David Penske

Filed under: Post