Many beginners fail to pay much attention to perfecting their follow-through, focusing instead on their backswing. This is a big rookie mistake since analyzing follow-through can tell a golfer a lot about their technique and why they may not be achieving the hits they go for. The finish is essentially one of the most powerful diagnostic tools and one that will help a player to identify where they’re going wrong with their swing. This guide will go over some of the basics of this technique, so you can finish strong and correct any issues in other parts of your swing.
The Perfect Technique
Follow through should mirror the golfer’s backswing and should finish with their weight shifted and distributed properly, on their leading side. Unfortunately, golfers who don’t use the proper technique often lose control of their club or stumble at the finish of a great swing. Using the best irons and the proper swing posture will be crucial.
The right technique and finish will leave a golfer feeling more confident in their hit. Whether you’re practicing driving fundamentals or using a wedge or hybrid, you always want to look like a pro.
If you’ve been struggling with this technique, I’ve outlined some key features that can help you correct your follow-through.
The Beginner
If you’re totally new to the game of golf, I’ll begin with the basics and break down what this technique is.
In golf, there are different parts to a swing:
- Backswing
- Impact
- Follow through/finish
The backswing is the part of the swing that involves moving the club away from the ball at around waist height.
The impact is the part of the swing where the golfer builds momentum and centripetal force. This will begin from the top of the backswing, up until the club makes contact with the ball.
The finish is basically the grand finale of a swing and it’s the point after the golfer has already hit the ball. Maintaining the correct joint/spine alignment and posture is critical during this stage of the swing, to prevent injury.
If you’ve seen someone send their club sky-high or lose their balance after they’ve taken a swing, then they aren’t using the correct technique for a solid finish. The right finish isn’t only a testament to a great swing, it can also keep the golfer in great shape for several years on the course.
A Proper Finish
Many beginners mistakenly believe that the finish doesn’t matter since it’s the point of a swing in which the ball has already left the green, but they couldn’t be more wrong.
A proper finish is critical if a player wants to avoid an injury and they want to feel more confident in their swing.
While golf isn’t a contact sport, many golfers end up sustaining injuries during a game. This is often due to poor swing techniques, which can place strain on the body.
Understanding the mechanics of a solid swing can help a golfer to ensure the ball goes flying in the desired angle and allows the player to pick up momentum.
While the finish won’t exactly affect the golfer’s hit, it’s still the by-product of their technique, which is why it’s essential that the golfer pay attention to how they finish a swing if they want to improve as a player.
A perfect finish is the result of a great swing. The fact that a golfer has implemented great technique can be a nice confidence boost, and they’ll look good doing it.
The right technique and posture will not only help them avoid an injury, but it can also provide the golfer with a more powerful swing. The finish is the true teller of whether or not the golfer used the best method.
The key features of the perfect finish include the following:
- Pivoting
- Leading leg position
- Position of the right foot
- Weight shift
Pivot
It’s crucial for the golfer to move their body in a natural and healthy way if they want to enjoy playing golf for years to come. The pivot is an essential movement in a swing that can ensure a natural and healthy posture without putting any unnecessary strain on the joints. The perfect swing requires the golfer to pivot their hips around their left hip joint. This allows them to shift their weight through to a finish that’s balanced.
As they pivot, they will need to keep their upper body tight, allowing the legs to do all the work. This is where the power behind a swing comes from.
When a golfer focuses on the pivot in their legs and hips, they’ll find that it’s much easier to maintain a good golf grip and enjoy a more powerful swing.
Leading Leg Position
Most of the golfer’s power in their swing will come from their legs, which is why the position of their legs in the pivot is crucial. For most golfers, the left leg is the leading leg. Throughout the duration of a swing, the left leg must be stacked or aligned, with the left hip joint. This means that the knee and ankle should be in a straight line, also referred to as neutral alignment. This is the safest alignment to avoid injury and it’s also a very powerful position. As the golfer rotates, they’ll be able to post up against their leading leg to create plenty of force.
Position of the Right Foot
For most golfer’s the back leg will be the right foot. This foot should be facing straight towards the target, with the majority of the body resting on the leading foot instead of the right foot in the finish.
Weight Shift
For a proper finish, weight shift will be key. From the backswing to the finish, most of the golfer’s weight should rest on the leading leg.
As the hips rotate, posting up against the leading leg, the golfer creates plenty of leverage from the ground. This results in their right leg almost coming off the green in their follow-through.
Once a golfer knows how to shift their weight properly, they won’t have to think about the position of their feet since the correct posture will happen naturally.
Improper Finish
A twisted upper body is a major sign of an improper finish and a sloppy swing. With a perfect swing, the shoulders should end up facing towards the target. If the body is unnaturally twisted, the swing will be much less powerful. This can cause a serious injury later down the line.
Arm Position
The position of the wrists and arms is often overlooked in the finish. The arms should not bear most of the burden here. Instead, they should remain mostly passive throughout the swing, with the majority of the force coming from the legs.
Mirroring the Backswing
The finish should mirror the backswing in many ways. For both the finish and the backswing, the arms will be extended directly in front of the chest at some point. The best golf swing delivers a consistent and seamless motion in order to pick up more power. It’s not until the finish of the swing that the golfer’s arms will start to fold at the elbows. Keeping a locked, but relaxed posture in the arms during the swing delivers more power.
Final Thoughts
At the end of a swing, the body should come to a balanced finish. The majority of the golfer’s weight should be on the left leg, with the hips naturally aligned and the belt buckle and chest stacked and facing forward. The arms will finish on the left side of the body, naturally, with the elbows folded at chest-height. If you’re struggling with the quality of your follow-through, then recording yourself the next time you play can be a big help. This will allow you to examine your movements, so you can easily identify the points where you need to improve throughout the entirety of your swing. Additionally, following the tips I’ve included here and practicing them each time you take a swing can ensure you end with a finish that’s powerful, clean, and well-balanced.
