Sure, being an ace at each step of the golf swing is fantastic. But, in the end, you’ve got to put it all together into one smooth swing.
Having spent a big chunk of my hours honing this golf swing sequence, I’m excited to spill the beans on the fantastic way to take your club from the beginning right through to the finish.
So, here’s the guide on nailing that proper golf swing sequence.
1. Setup & Address
Now, when it comes to the setup, there are a few key elements that you must pay attention to:
Grip
`When you’re setting up, it’s crucial to make sure your hands are positioned above the club correctly, so the club’s face is nice and square.
You want most of your grip to be in your fingers. If you let the club sit too deep in your hands, you’re going to get your hands too tangled up in the swing.
Posture
While you’re setting up, stand tall and keep that head up high. Slouching and having your head down low can mess with your balance and can throw your swing plane off course.
Stance
The trick is to have your feet at a comfortable shoulder-width distance from each other and the ball.
Alignment
Golfers usually don’t align themselves directly facing the target when they make their swing., so it can take some practice to grasp the concept of parallel alignment.
Ball Position
Ensure that the placement of the golf ball matches both the type of shot you’re aiming for and your stance.
For instance, when you’re using a driver, the ball should be positioned more to the left foot, while with the wedge, it should shift more toward the other foot.
2. Takeaway
You should rely more on your larger body muscles and less on your wrists and hands.
Another crucial point is to manage the pace of your club’s initial movement, making it few of the slowest phases of a golf swing.
3. Backswing
During the backswing, you’ve got to ensure both your body and arms are in sync. Your hips and shoulders doing the turning work will propel the clubs to the peak of your backswing where it should be aligned to the field and pointing toward the target for the ideal position.
One more thing to watch for is your arms in the backswing. They shouldn’t be all over the place. They need to work together with your bigger body muscles.
4. Transition
Now, this is the phase in your golf swing where the club changes direction, going from up to down.
During this transition phase, it’s kind of like your muscle memory needs to kick in. It’s about getting that club to drop into just the right spot so it can head towards the impact position.
If you’ve got a one-plane swing, this part is usually smoother. But if you’re rocking a two-plane swing, you’ve got to adjust a bit.
5. Downswing
This is where you want to amp up the speed and ensure your club is on the right path.
If your club face is out of place or your swing plane is wonky, trying to fix it during the downswing is often too little, too late.
To set the stage for a great downswing, you need to nail the setup, takeaway, and transition. When you hit that downswing, it’s all about feeling like you’re throwing the club right at your target.
What’s gonna happen is your body is going to turn, and those big muscles will take charge, pulling the club into the perfect impact position.
So, your weight needs to shift from your right side back towards the left. As you inch closer to the golf ball, imagine your belt buckle rotating and turning toward the golf ball and, eventually, the target.
6. Impact
At this position, your left hand should be nice and straight, your body and head slightly behind the ball, and you’re shifting your weight over to your left body.
Your hands should be a bit ahead of the ball, and the club head should be square to your target. To really maximize distance and performance, your club shaft needs to be right on track as you make contact.
Keep in mind that the impact position can vary a bit depending on the club and the shot you’re taking. But the basic swing sequence stays pretty consistent.
Driver: The Upswing
Now, when you’re teeing off with a driver, the goal is to avoid taking a divot or hitting the ground. You want that driver to smoothly glide through the ball, not come crashing down on it.
See, drivers have less loft and spring, so you don’t want to be hitting them with a downward strike. That’s why you tee the ball up way at the front of your stance as it helps the club move upward through impact.
Irons, Fairway Shots, Wedges: The Downswing Impact
Here, the golf club isn’t just sliding through the ball; it’s moving down and through the ball.
The Sand Shots: Behind The Ball
In this, ask for some sand first, and then strike the ball.
Since it’s all about making the ball pop out of the sand and land gently on the green. But if you hit the ball before the sand, it’s going to go way too far, probably rolling right across the green.
7. Follow Through
Just like in other sports, golf needs a follow-through. The game doesn’t stop at impact, it’s crucial to keep it flowing.
In a proper follow-through, your shoulders and hips finish their turn, and the club keeps following the target line. As you turn, the club swings up, almost reaching your left ear (for right-handed golfers).
A good follow-through means you’re in balance; most of your weight is on the front foot, and when you wrap it up, you’re standing tall, steady, and facing your target. It’s all about muscle memory and nailing that proper downswing.
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