How to Swing a Golf Club

So you're standing there with the club in your hands and you've got the overlapping grip down pat. The ball's teed up, you take your stance and get ready to swing. Now what? Without a basic understanding of golf swing mechanics you'll probably top the ball or miss it altogether. Learning to swing a golf club involves working through the four stages of the swing: the backswing, the downswing, impact and follow-through.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Backswing

1. Bring the club smoothly away from the ball by rotating your body and moving your arms upward. Keep your front arm straight while allowing the elbow on your back arm to bend to about a 90 degree angle.

2. Concentrate on keeping your head level as your arms and club rotate around your body. Keep both feet on the ground even though your weight should slightly shift in the direction of the swing.

3. Cock your hands as you move the club upward so that the back of your front hand is facing away from you.

Downswing

1. Begin the downswing by moving your legs and hips forward, transferring your weight toward the target.

2. Move the club forward along the same path it followed in the backswing. This should be a smooth, swift motion.

3. Allow your weight, body and arms to create the motion of the downswing and don't be tempted to pull the club with your hands.

Impact

1. Shift your weight onto the outer edge of your forward foot and the inner edge of your back foot.

2. Keep the club in a straight line with your forward arm.

3. Turn your hands and wrists so that the back of your forward hand is facing the target. This should also mean that your club face is pointed toward the target.

4. Strike the ball quickly.

Follow-through

1. Continue to move the club forward, rotating the wrists so that the palm of your front hand faces away from you.

2. Bring the club all the way around so that the head of the club is behind you.

3. Finish with your back foot lifted slightly off the ground with all of your weight on your front leg. Your body should be facing the target.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice just the backswing by taking the club back, stopping at the top of your swing and checking the position of your hands, feet and club. Your back should be facing the target at the top of your backswing.

• It might help to imagine this part of the swing as winding up like a spring.

• Now imagine that the spring you coiled is unwinding.

• It seems obvious, but keep your eyes on the ball! Many folks are tempted to look up at impact.

• Maintain a fluid motion all the way through from the backswing to the follow-through. Don't be tempted to pull up after impact, it will ruin your shot.

• Although the golf swing may look like the arms are doing all the work, it's really the rotation of the body and the shifting of weight that creates the power behind the swing.

Resources

• Watch this video to see the perfect swing from set-up to follow-through.
• Golf Digest