Performing a Full Golf Swing

To begin executing the proper golf swing, your feet must be shoulder width apart. When gripping the club, place the club in the joints of your left fingers with the thumb pointing down the center or slightly to the right of the shaft. (This is written for the right-handed golfer, all left-handers must reverse everything). Place the pinky of the right hand in between the index and middle fingers of your left. Do not grip the club any tighter than you would a baby bird.

The next step is the placement of the ball with respect to your stance. Firstly, with mid range irons the ball should be placed in the center. With high irons and wedges, the ball should be toward your right foot. With low irons and woods, the ball should be towards your left foot or the front of your stance. Secondly, the ball must be placed at the correct distance with respect to how far it is from your body. Your knees should be slightly bent and your arms should be pointing nearly strait down. The club should be at an angle in which the head is flat on the ground.

The back swing is the part of the swing that many golfers struggle with. First, keep your right elbow close to your right side the entire time. Second, your left arm should be practically straight. This rule is not that strict, some bending is acceptable. Next, the turning of your body can best be done by imagining a rod down your spine from your pelvis to the back of your head. You must rotate your body around this imaginary rod. When rotating, start with your shoulder, not waist. Your waist will move slightly following your shoulders. During this process, your head should move very little. It should certainly not move up and down. Fourth, the path that the club follows in your back swing is called the swing arc. This swing arc should be about 45° with respect to the vertical. The fifth step is at the top. Here you must “cock” your wrists and point the club at the target. This isn’t as important as the “cocking” of the wrists. Many golfers do not execute a full golf swing and the club does not point at the target. This is acceptable.

A final check is to look at what your legs are doing. Both knees should be bent. The right knee should be pointing forward, while the left knee should be pointing slightly to the right and be slightly in front of the right knee.

The final part of the full golf swing is the down swing. The most crucial part of this is to pull with your left arm, and not push through with your right. Golf is a left-handed game. The angle of your swing plane you kept on your back swing should still be kept on your down swing. Finally, “un-cock” your wrists right before you strike the ball. Keep your eye on the ball through impact. The follow through should feel natural and your chest should be facing the target.