How to Improve Your Golf Swing

A consistent golf swing is the goal of everyone that plays, whether you’re a PGA professional or a weekend warrior. There are many aspects to a fundamentally sound golf swing, but 4 of the most important are the take away, shoulder turn, grip and balance. If you want to improve your swing, there are several exercises that you can use to help develop these particular aspects.

Taking the Club Away from the Ball

The back swing is the start of any golf swing, so proper mechanics during this stage is essential. The key is to take the club away on a straight line so the club head remains square on impact  You can practice this at any local driving range using a very simple drill. First, take 2 of your longer clubs—such as the 3 and 4 irons—and lay them on the ground parallel from each other, about 8 inches apart. This will give you a visual reference when taking the club head away from the ball. The idea is to keep the club head between the shafts of the club. Practice taking the club away and coming through on a straight line by first going at half speed, then increasing the speed as you gain more confidence.

Making a Proper Shoulder Turn

After you’ve perfected the motion of taking the club back on a straight line, the next step is to make a proper shoulder turn. A great way to practice the proper range of motion is to use a glove under your armpit to force you to make a proper movements. If you’re right-handed, then place the glove under your right armpit. The goal is to keep the glove in place through the entire backswing. This will force you to hold your elbow in tight and while making a good shoulder turn. 

Maintaining Proper Balance

Proper balance is another important key to an excellent golf swing. Improper balance will cause you to slice or hook the ball, and will make it extremely difficult to maintain a consistent golf swing. The next time you’re at the driving range, try this exercise to help improve your balance: After you’ve addressed the ball, place all of your weight on your front foot. Next, raise the heel of your back foot so that your toe barely touches the ground. It will feel uncomfortable at first, but it will prevent you from keeping your weight on your back foot during your swing.

Maintain a Proper Grip

Although often overlooked, maintaining a proper grip is an extremely important part of a good golf swing. A good strong grip is crucial to generating power and keeping the ball on a straight flight path. You can be sure your grip is correct by checking the position of your right hand. When gripping the club, the crease between your thumb and index finger should point in line with the shaft of the club. A relaxed grip will eventually cause you to develop bad habits in your swing to compensate for the incorrect grip. Most often, this will cause you to slice or hook the ball.