The best golf swing tips are simple, easy to follow, and can have a major impact on your swing. If you’ve been devoting several hours a week at the range trying to perfect your swing with no luck, then it can be more a matter of you failing to use the proper body mechanics when you swing. Usually, this type of error is easy to fix and once corrected, it can have a major positive impact on your swing.
The best golf swing tips will focus on proper body mechanics such as:
- Keeping the clubhead outside of the hands
- Keeping the elbows close together during the transition
- Focusing on keeping your knees in constant contact on the finish
Even if your body mechanics are just slightly off when you swing, it can have a huge impact on the quality of your swing. But with just a few minor adjustments you’ll find that you’re swinging farther, your body is moving smoothly through the motions, and your golf game is better than it’s ever been.
Keep reading to find out how you can make simple changes to your swing that can instantly improve range and power.
Table of Contents
Takeaway: Hands and Clubhead
The biggest problem beginners tend to have with the takeaway is failing to make that connection between the clubhead and hands. If you normally watch golf games on TV, then you may have noticed that when it comes to club direction, there’s really isn’t much consistency. A golfer may swing way outside or inside, while others will fall somewhere in between. But during this time each golfer is able to take impressive shots. This tells us that the direction of the club isn’t the issue.
If you watch these pros as they play then you’ll notice that they consistently keep the clubhead outside of the hands. When we say keep the clubhead outside of the hands, we mean that the clubhead remains only slightly placed away from the body than the hands are. The clubhead is inside once it’s closer to the body and has passed through the plane of the hands.
The next time you’re practicing your swing, pay attention to where the clubhead is placed in relation to your hands when you’re swinging away from the ball. When the club shaft should be almost parallel to the ground. This is considered the best checkpoint. If it’s outside your hands at that point then you’re in the right position for a transition. However, if you have hinged your wrists causing the clubhead to go inside the hands, then you won’t be able to hit the type of solid shot you’re actually capable of.
Transitions
Transition refers to the process from the takeaway to the top of a swing. The chicken wing is a common mistake that beginners often make in this phase. Chicken wing is a term used to describe a player who finishes with their elbows separated deeply. This mistake is usually the result of a mistake that occurs during the transition, even though it’s much easier to spot in the finish.
Most players are in the habit of letting their elbows separate when they move from the takeaway to the top of a swing. Basically, this mistake is almost instinctual and something the body is pulled to do, especially in golfers who are not very flexible. The issue here is that once the elbows have separated, it can limit the player’s rotation, creating a very steep angle for the club. This can seriously hurt your swing.
In order to get rid of this habit for good, picture your elbows moving closer together during the transition to the top of the swing. Allow it to feel like you’re almost squeezing your elbows toward each other. While it may feel unnatural, this position will bring you closer to the type of form you’re after.
We recommend practicing this technique for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes before you start hitting balls at the range or right before a round of golf. Once you’ve trained your elbows to remain closer together, you’ll have successfully set up your swing for a strong finish.
Finish
This last golf tip will come in handy for players who have trouble with balance, tempo, and rhythm. When you finish your swing, you need to be in balance. If you want to ensure you’re balanced on the finish, make sure your knees touch. If you focus on your knees when you’re in the swing then the rest of your swing will fall into place.
But because a good golf swing is everything, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed with all the techniques you need to follow for a solid swing, such as the proper setup and rotation to transition and lag. But something so simple as keeping your knees in constant contact can make your body follow all of the proper body mechanics for a good golf swing.
How to Correctly Hold a Golf Club
Did you know how you grip a club can also affect your swing? How a club is gripped matters because it can improve your ball striking, give you more control over your swing, and can make you a more consistent player on the course. At first, using the proper grip may feel uncomfortable, but it’s still important to practice this technique in order to improve your game.
If you want to develop your grip, first, make sure that your left hand is placed at the top of the club with approximately half an inch of the club showing at the top of your grip. The left thumb should be pointing down, with your right hand on top. Interlock your right pinky finger with your left index finger. The key to a good grip is one that’s not tight enough that it effects your mobility, however, it should be firm enough to keep the club securely in place when you swing. If you’re not sure your hands are positioned correctly, then you can find clubs that feature molded grips. These clubs are designed to teach you how to place your hands correctly for the best grip.
Related Questions
What Golf Range Finder Can Help Me to Accurately Gauge Flag Distance?
Since golf range finders have become popular in the golfing community, there’s no shortage of new, tech-heavy models that all claim that they’re not only the most accurate range finders on the market, but that they can also help to essentially teach you how to learn to accurately eyeball the distance from flag to flag. While not all models are created equal, the Bushnell Tour V4 golf range finder is one of the leading models on the market for a number of reasons. Considered highly accurate and easy to use, this model also comes with the Jolt Technology feature that will immediately alert you once you’ve locked onto a flag successfully. If you’re looking for a model that can save you time on the course and one that will really help to improve your ability to eyeball flag distance, then you can’t go wrong with this model from Bushnell. If you’re not sure what type of range finder can help to improve your golf game, or you’d like to learn more about range finder features and technology, make sure you visit our golf range finder buyer’s guide.
What Can I Do If I’m Struggling with My Stance?
Body mechanics are everything in golf, and often, using the right techniques is much easier than it sounds. But with practice, patience, and consistency, you’ll find that you can improve your stance and swing technique over time.
In order to use the correct golf stance your rear foot should remain at a right angle to the target line, with the front foot angled slightly outward. The knees should not be bent but flexed lightly, with your body weight evenly spread between your heels and toes. If this sounds complicated, don’t worry. Every golfer struggles to use the correct stance in the beginning. If you need some extra help with your golf posture and stance, then click here to read our article on golf posture exercises where you’ll find some great tips that can teach you how to instantly improve your stance the next time you play a round of golf.
Final Thoughts
Out of all the best golf swing tips, it’s amazing to learn that just a few small adjustments to your swing can make such a major difference. Don’t be disappointed if your game doesn’t improve dramatically overnight. Learning how to use the proper techniques for your swing, stance, and grip is a matter of teaching your brain how to do this automatically, and this can only be accomplished with regular practice sessions.
But, if you’ve been practicing for several weeks and you still feel as though you’re not hitting the type of shots that you’re capable of, step back and think about your swing and ask yourself if you’re keeping your clubhead outside of your hands, if you’re keeping your elbows close together during the transition, and whether or not you’re in balance with your knees touching on the finish.
