Basic Golf Swing Philosophy

There is not only one way to swing a golf club, but you must have a way. The key to playing consistent golf is to have some core fundamentals that guide your approach. I believe that even if you are a raw beginner and not an advanced player it is important to have some basic understanding of swing technique. This is my approach towards instruction and I hope that it helps you in your approach towards learning to improve your own golf game.

Learn the arc of the swing to become more consistent. I believe that there is a more simple motion of the golf swing that most people don’t naturally understand. The game can be counter-intuitive and often it’s a game of opposites. The target line is the imaginary aim line that extends through the ball to the target. It becomes important to learn to aim your club in relation to this imaginary target line and then set up your body alignment to the club. Now the swinging of the club must not stay on this target line, but it must be allowed to move on an arc during the swing. The club moves gradually from the inside of target line to the line and back to the inside of target line. If people become aware of this arc motion of the swing, the concepts and angles of the golf swing begin to make more sense. The path of the golf club throughout the swing should basically be on a circular plane around the body. If you swing the club too upright your swing would take the shape of a Ferris Wheel. If swing the club too flat or low around the body your swing would take the shape of a Merry-go-round. There is not an exact plane that everyone needs to swing on. There is a range of angles that are okay. Some very successful players have swings that are a little flatter than other players that are a little steeper. Both of these players have swings that may match their body types and work for them. There are players who become too steep or too flat. With these extreme angles it makes it difficult to compensate for and leads to inconsistency.

Properly diagnose your tendencies and take instruction based on your swing type and body type. Shorter players will often stand taller and further from the ball which will tend to make there swings naturally lower or flatter around there body. Taller players may tend to get closer to the ball and bend over the ball more which will often make their swings more up and down or vertical. If the taller player and the shorter player try to swing on the exact same planes it might work for one and not the other based on what their bodies will allow. It becomes important for you to begin to basically understand what your swing shape is and what it should be like. This is where taking some lessons from a qualified teacher becomes very important. Your grip, alignment, stance and posture are important fundamentals that a good teacher can help you with during instruction. Swing tendencies have an impact on what tips you need to listen to.

Take lessons and improve your game. Obviously I’m biased because I am a PGA Class A golf professional and I teach full-time. It is important to learn from a qualified instructor who can teach you the proper fundamentals and help you properly diagnose your swing tendencies. Once you understand your own swing tendencies then you can read golf magazines or watch some golf videos and wade through some of the swing tips or lessons that have no relevance to your swing and stick to those tips that will help you with your own personal swing needs.