Golf Swings

Did you know that golf is a five-century old game that originated in Scotland? Since the goal is to play as few shots as possible in every round, it is the all-important stroke that decides the outcome in a golf match - get it right and you literally go places. So what gets you a good swing? That one’s a bit like trying to describe how you stay afloat when you’re swimming. You’ve got it to get it yourself through practice. However, there are a few tips that can be given to get that stroke right. A lot depends on how you hold the club; how you position yourself and the motions you perform while bringing the club down. To put it in a nutshell, it’s the grip, the stance, the steps and the swing that matter. Here are a few brief hints on how you can improve all this.

First the grip. You can choose one of three standard grips – the overlapping grip, baseball golf grip, and the interlocking golf grip.

In the overlapping grip, the little finger of the right hand is placed over the index finger of the left hand. In the baseball golf grip, the index finger of the left hand just meets the little finger of the right hand but does not go over it. In the interlocking golf grip, the index finger of the left hand is interlocked with the little finger of the right hand.

The kind of grip that you choose will depend on your physique. A person with a strong grip can opt for the first type, while persons with weak arms can opt for the second type. Persons with short arms will find the third type more suited to them.

Make sure to also check your golf club. Does it have a slippery grip or too hard a grip? If it does, get it fixed.

Remember, grip is just one of the factors. Getting the grip right doesn’t guarantee you great swings, but getting the grip wrong will almost certainly guarantee a flop.

Now that you’ve got the grip right let’s take a look at your stance. Start with a bad stance and you’re going to end up with a bad swing. The secret to a good stance lies in being relaxed and balancing your weight between both your legs evenly. The feet should be kept apart approximately by one shoulder width. Place your front foot ahead of the ball and bend slightly at the knees keeping your back straight. Finally, bend forward slightly from the waist. Put your weight on the balls of your feet rather than on the toes or the heels with the weight equally distributed between the two feet. Be relaxed.

Finally, the swing. Most golf shots involve the full swing, which includes a backswing, a downswing and follow through. There are, of course, other types of swings that are less frequently used that will also have to be mastered by you, but let’s start with the most important one.

The back swing is really a preparation for the downswing, a kind of winding up for the action. You are taking the club to a position from where you’re going to get the necessary force and momentum to affect the downswing. It’s more important to get your arms in the proper position rather than to manage the backswing itself. Swing your hand backwards till the club is parallel to the ground and then cock your wrists up at right angles to the ground. The wrist work, cocking them to 90⁰, is going to give you the right power and control for your swing. Now you’re set for the great swing forward.

When you take the golf club backwards, your body is going to turn a little to the right so that the shoulders are at an angle to the target line. Bring down the club in a natural and forceful downswing, and follow through by taking it right up. At the end of the downswing, the body is turned in the opposite direction – to the left with the hands above the shoulder and the club pushed to the back. These directions are for a right-handed player. For a left-handed player they would be exactly the opposite.

It is very important to get the swinging motion right. You will find it easier to practice first with a softer ball such as a tennis ball. The key to getting it all right is, of course, practice, practice and practice. Happy Golfing!