How To Improve Your Golf Swing

Every golfer has advice to provide on how to perfect a golf swing, but unless they’re an instructor, it’s hard to say if the tips and tricks they offer even work. Surprisingly, you’ll find a lot don’t. In putting together this tutorial on how to perfect your golf swing, we wanted to provide immediate, actionable advice that can be used to help zero in on weaknesses and improve on them and build a base of knowledge that you can use when you’re embarking on your next game.

As you learn, adjust, practice, and play, here are a few of the best ways to improve your golf swing.

Hold and Grip Your Club Correctly

Your golf grip is a major determinant in how your golf club is positioned at impact. It guides how straight the golf shot is. There are many golf grips, i.e. ten-finger grip, overlapping grip, interlocking grip, etc. Decide on what golf grip technique is best for you and perfect it.

In addition, you should find a suitable golf club that feels comfortable in your grip. The used golf club collection at GolfAvenue may interest you, providing many versatile options.

Don’t Grip Your Golf Club Too Tightly

Most pro golfers will tell you to relax your grip. This maximizes club head speed and will deliver a clean strike in your swing. Many golfers grip too tightly on swings, and that causes a swing to lose power. Work to find that sweet spot for grip pressure that allows you to hold a golf club lightly without losing control.

Have a Target for Every Shot

Pick out a specific target to aim at for every shot you hit. A target will make it, so you’ll likely stay committed to swinging at that precise point. It eliminates indecision. For an approach shot, this is easy. For a shot off of the tee, it can be hard. The more specific the target, the better. In time, you’ll see how well this works and gain more confidence behind every swing.

Your Left-Hand Sets The Direction

Use the back of the left hand to control your club face and shot direction. When you point the back of your left hand to the left of your target, you can better close the club face and draw the ball. When you point it to the right of your target, you can better open the club face through impact, helping to fade the ball.

Don’t Rush Your Golf Swing

You’re not trying to swing as hard and as fast as possible. Take your time with the swing. The best golfers allow the speed to develop gradually and accelerate down to the ball until there’s an impact.

Examine Your Transition

The transition is when you start your downswing. Many beginners rush through the transition, moving from backswing to forward swing because they want to hurry the hit. A faulty transition can cause all sorts of golf swing problems.

The next time you go to the driving range, take time at the top of your swing, start with an extra-slow transition, and make sure it’s not inappropriately speeding up.

Calm Your Hands During Takeaway

Many players use their hands more during the takeaway part of the swing. The result is a club off-plane as the backswing finishes. To keep your club in an optimal position all the way through, keep your hands out of the takeaway.

Let your shoulders do the work. In the simplest terms, the correct takeaway approach if you’re a right-handed player is to turn your left shoulder away from the target and keep your wrists quiet and stable through the backswing.

Refine Your Posture and Stance

If you struggle to strike the middle of the golf club, that’s a common issue with poor stance. Posture should be relaxed in an athletic, balanced stance.

Your body should be able to rotate freely without losing balance throughout the swing. Balance is key. Feel the weight through the mid-point of your feet and let your arms hang under the shoulders.

Strike Down on Iron Shots

To get the ball up, the best golfers use striking down on the ball with their iron, allowing the golf club loft to do the hard work for them. Golf irons are designed to be applied in this way. A golf iron strike-down is more reliable than picking the ball clean off the turf.

Watch the Club Strike the Ball

When you’re swinging through to impact, look down and see if the club hit the back of the ball. If you’re watching, you’re more likely to make solid contact, essential to perfecting your swing and lowering your score.

Play to Your Golf Swing Strengths

Don’t try shots you can’t consistently execute. It’s too easy to get caught up in ego. Always play to your strengths. Of course, you can work on weaknesses during practice, but be smart when involved in a game. Choose the right golf club and avoid the less reliable shots.

Be Cautious About Friends’ Advice

If your golf swing is working for you and getting the results you want, you don’t need to take a friend’s advice, “Your technique is wrong. Here’s how to do it right.”

Master your swing, not theirs. If what you’re doing works and the performance is there, you don’t need to improve on it and overthinking it will only impede you.