Golf is a pretty sophisticated yet fun game. There isn’t much running around or panting, but it still requires strength, power, and excellent use of one’s posture and senses.
When you think of playing golf, you need to start with the very basic learnings. Sure, you may invest in a popular golf club, get yourself registered with the most expensive golf coach, and invest a big chunk of your bucks into high-quality, premium-grade golfing equipment. If you’re particularly ostentatious, you may even think of asking your golf mates to chip in for a secondhand caddy!
However, here’s the catch: everything you invest in your golfing interest is essentially useless until you learn how to deliver the perfect swing. Sure, a caddy may help you relax. An expensive club can last longer, and club membership will help you move ahead in the sport. But at the core of it all, the only thing that matters is your delivery of the swing.
The way you shoot your shot in any challenge that you come across plays a central role in your success. And it’s pretty much a no-brainer, but it’s still wise to state this: as a beginner, mastering the fundamentals of golf can be extremely confusing.
You have to start somewhat, though, don’t you?
So here’s a brief, all-rounded guide to the fundamentals of delivering a golf swing:
Parts of a Golf Club Swing
You may see a golf club delivery as one smooth move, but it actually takes relentless practice and lots of techniques to establish that one signature move. In actuality, you can break down the delivery of a golf swing into three separate parts, each with its own vitality and methods. Let’s explore these ones by one to understand all that goes into an ideal golf shot!
The Pre-Swing
The pre-swing is where you prepare yourself, accumulate strength, rectify your posture, and plan your aim. This has further three parts:
The Grip
Your sole contact with your club is through your hands, and it’s also your hands through which you will channel your strength and speed. Therefore, you need to pay special attention to your grip of the club.
- First, pick the hand you’ll place first on the club. This is usually the opposite of your dominant hand, so a left-handed person may hold from their right hand and vice versa.
- Place the tip of your pointer finger on the club, then close your fingers around the club so that it reaches the base of your pinkie finger.
- Next, wrap the fingers with your thumb of the same hand.
- With your other hand, cover the thumb of the first one using your pinkie finger and thumb so that both of your thumbs and pointer fingers make parallel V’s with each other.
- Next, make sure that the club is mostly in your fingers and not too much in your palms.
- Finally, consider the strength of your grip. If it’s too loose, then the club may easily fly out of your hand during the swing. If it’s too tight, then you’ll strain your tendons and risk injury.
The Posture
Next up is your posture. Your height and weight add a considerable difference to your characteristic way of golfing, but here are some staple techniques to help you attain the best posture.
- Unlike other sports, golf doesn’t focus too much on your knee-bend. Instead, try to keep your knees as minimally bent as possible.
- Your torso is the key part where you’ll form a bend. The bend shouldn’t make you appear slouchy, nor should it be too restrictive. Just bend your torso till the end of the club reaches the ball.
- As for your backbone, you need to keep it as straight as possible so that your overly-bent posture doesn’t make it difficult for you to make a hit.
- Lastly, let your arms loose so that they can swing around easily.
The Aim
The aim is your positioning of the target. Ideally, you should place your clubface right in front of the ball and make sure it’s in line with the target.
Next, place your body parallel to the position of your striking hand and target line.
Third, map the path of the ball to the target. If you find any landmark in between the two, it could work as a secondary target!
The Swing
The actual swing has two parts:
The Backswing
In this step, you gather your strength to hit the ball with your clubface.
- Hold the club horizontally and bring the backside of the club to your waist.
- Raise the club parallel to your head.
- Next, twist your body around your spine so that you channel your strength from your larger muscles unanimously into your hands.
- Finally, rest the club so that it’s hovering just above your shoulders.
The Transition
The transition, also known as the downswing, is when you hit the ball with the club.
- The first change in your backswing position should be in your hips. Rotate them back to normal position at the start of the backswing.
- Next, unravel your torso, your chest, and the rest of your upper body.
- Bring the club down while keeping your elbows near your body until you’ve delivered the full impact.
- Hit the ball from under to send it as far, high, and straight as possible.
The Follow-Through
After your clubface makes the impact, you have to keep up the swing and carry it forwards, almost like a pendulum. This will ensure that you come full circle with the swing you’ve delivered, and you’ll also avoid spending energy on abruptly stopping the movement!
In Summary
Once you’re clear on these fundamentals of golf swings, your path ahead may not be as bumpy. Besides creating your signature styles, you may also be able to master other speciality shots!
