Golf is a game that takes minutes to learn and years to master, or for some of us, a lifetime. It is a simple sport in that you take a variety of clubs and hit a ball in as few shots as possible to get in a hole. However, that is where the simplicity ends. Some days you turn up and your swing is perfect, the ball goes in the direction you want it to. Other days you try and hit the ball and clear a foot of grass instead. This is because the approach to the sport is like most others, it requires impeccable discipline, technique, and training. Follow our advice and your swing might be a little more consistent.
The first thing to get right is the stance. Before you even consider how to hold and move the club you must know how to stand. You should have your feet shoulder-width apart (assuming it is a mid-iron shot). It is key to ensure that your feet, your knees, and your hips are all aligned parallel to the target. That basically means that your body should be at a right angle to the green. This is particularly important for the right foot as when you swing you want the weight to come through the inside of your foot and then to push away with your follow-through. You can leave your left a little more open to allow your body to open easily with the follow-through.
Bend your knees slightly so that you are not too rigid and lean forward a little towards the ball. This should allow your arms to fall naturally in front of your body. Imagine standing normally and falling forward, your arms naturally come in front of you to equal your center of gravity.
Now take a hold of the club. Let’s assume you are right-handed here but if you are left-handed, simply reverse the instructions. Be mindful too, even some right-handed people prefer to play sports with alternative hands and vice versa, so see what is comfortable for you. Your left thumb should be either in the middle of the shaft or on the right side. NEVER on the left side. If you leave it on the left side you won’t have a good hold of the club. This is a common beginner mistake as it does feel quite comfortable.
In order to decide what is better for you, the middle or right side of the shaft, play around with both options and see what works. To determine where to start though, simply stand straight up with your arms by your side. What way does your thumb naturally fall? If it is hanging a little to the right then that tells you what you need to know.
Take your right hand and match the direction the palm of your hand is facing to the direction the club is facing. Spread your fingers wide and place your right hand on top of your left thumb and wrap the rest of your hand around the shaft. It is important that your hands are joined as one in this way. Some golfers use a strange interlocking finger technique but this is not very comfortable for those who lack experience with grip. Play around a lot with your grip as this is the secret to playing good golf. So many golfers assume they have a natural grip but have never given it much thought. Slight tweaks can mean a lot of difference.
The most important thing though is to relax. A stiff grip will never fly straight. You must have a relaxed approach to golf or your shots will end up in the bushes even more. This is what happens to the pros when they get stressed and it is what happens to the amateurs too. Relax, follow-through, and enjoy.
The secrets to a good golf swing
