As a beginner, you might find golf an intimidating sport. You should start with the right equipment, including the best golf irons for high handicappers and top golf drivers for high handicappers. Not to mention, you will also need to learn the basic techniques, and one of the most important is the right swing.
Swinging a golf club may seem straightforward when you see others doing so. Nonetheless, once it is time to do it yourself, you will realize that it is complicated. To help you master the right swinging techniques, read on and learn from the tips we’ll share.
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Why Is It Important to Swing a Golf Club Properly?
The swing is important in golf because it affects the movement of the ball. If you do it without energy, then the ball won’t move to the desired spot. Nonetheless, do it too much, and the ball will travel farther than what you need it to.
Aside from its impact on the trajectory of the golf ball, doing the swing the right way is also crucial for your comfort. Your body can be prone to strain if you do not know the right techniques. Not to mention, it can even be a cause of injury.
How to Swing a Golf Club for Beginners
Should you swing a golf club like a baseball bat[how to swing a golf club like a baseball bat]? How should you hold the golf club when swinging? We’ll answer your questions below and teach you the basic techniques when swinging.
Learn the Right Grip
Among others, one of the first things that you need to learn is the proper grip. This will let you swing the golf club effectively while providing you with better control of where the ball will head.
You can choose from different types of grips, and one of the most common is a baseball grip. As the name implies, you will hold it like a baseball bat. Put your left hand under the golf club. Curve your fingers around the golf club for a secure grip. The golf club should rest on where your fingers meet your palm. Point straight to the direction of the clubhead. Next, work on your right hand, with your right pink finger touching the left index finger. At this point, the right hand should be slightly below the left portion of the golf club. Make the grip tighter and prepare to swing.
If you want to learn how to grip a golf club like Tiger Woods, then you will need to master he interlocking grip. As the name implies, you can do this by interlocking your left index and right pinky fingers, putting them in an X position.
Master the Proper Stance
Swinging a golf club for beginners also requires mastery of the stance. The way you stand will have an impact on your swing, especially with regards to how you can control the golf club as it moves.
Start by positioning your foot just ahead of the golf ball. At this position, the golf club will rest in the middle of your body. Meanwhile, your feet should be slightly shoulder-width apart. If you are holding a big club, such as a driver or hybrid, it should be near your front foot while smaller golf clubs like irons should be somewhere in the center of your stance.
Speaking of stance, another thing that you will need to learn is checking your alignment, which is the direction at which you are pointing your feet and shoulders. They should point to the target or the hole, which will make it easy to swing in the right direction.
More so, you will also need to slightly bend your knees when it is time to swing. If your knees are too straight and stiff, then the swing will feel unnatural. By bending the knees lightly, you will feel that the swing is easier. While bending your knees, see to it as well that you are distributing your weight properly.
Master Your Swing Sequence
Any beginner who wants to learn how to swing the right way should know the correct sequence. Every sequence requires a different approach and when you learn how to do them properly, you can improve your swing.
Takeaway
The takeaway will be the first part of your swing sequence. It is the beginning of the swing and will end once the golf club is already parallel to the ground. This is crucial as it will largely impact the next parts of the swing.
During the takeaway, one of the most important is that the shaft should be pointing directly at the target. Meanwhile, the clubface should be slightly aiming at the ground. Plus, you should not hinge your wrist yet. Your hands should stay in front of your chest.
Backswing
After the takeaway, the next part of the swing is known as the backswing. As the name implies, this is the point when the golf club swings to the back and ends to the point where it reaches the top of the golf swing.
Keep your left arm straight throughout the backswing. The left heel should remain on the ground. Meanwhile, your right knee should be slightly bent, making it more flexible. As for the left knee, it should be pointing to the direction of the golf ball that you are hitting. Your hips should also be gradually rotating as you complete the backswing. Lastly, your weight must transfer from your back to the right foot.
Top Swing
The name alone should already give you an idea of what the top swing is. You will need a fully-hinged wrist during the top swing. During the duration of this part of the swing, your left wrist must remain flat. Meanwhile, the shaft should be pointing towards the target even when the golf club is at the top. Your spine angle should remain constant while swinging to maintain the right direction of the golf club.
Downswing
As you cap off the top swing, the next part is the downswing. You will be bringing your hands down, and this will end with the golf club hitting the golf ball. As you go through the downswing, your wrists should stay hinged.
Next, uncoil your hips, which is the reversing action after the downswing. This will be followed by the shoulder and arms. As you move your hips, it should still be in line with your body. Moving too much will change the direction of the golf club and affect the swing. The clubhead should follow the movement of your hip. This will then be followed by the transferring of weight to your left foot. As for the speed, the downswing should be faster than the backswing.
Don’t Forget the Follow-Through
One mistake that most beginners commit is that they do not follow-through after their downswing. This will happen after the release of the golf club when the ball is hit. A critical element of the follow-through is that the golf club should stay behind your head. Meanwhile, most of your weight should be in front your body. Your back heel should be raised in the air, provided that you are right-handed. More so, your chest should be facing the target and your body must maintain its balance throughout.
Conclusion
Every beginner should learn the basics of swinging a golf club. When done right, it has a huge influence on the outcome of your game. As noted above, it will include a variety of elements, including the right grip, proper stance, and mastery of the swing sequence. From the top swing to the follow-through, every step requires careful thought, making sure that you position your body accordingly. Such will not only let you assume full control of the golf club, but it will also help you stay comfortable throughout the game.