A. The Quest



Everyone who starts playing golf eventually realizes that the swing is "where it's at." Those who have refined their swings are the ones who often end up with the best scores. It's not rocket science. It's like anything else: hard work & practice will rule the day every time.

In order to make every swing count, you need to combine various elements of skill & concentration. When combined, a graceful swing drives the ball with the perfect amount of loft & distance it needs to reach its target.

It should be one big fluid motion.

And, you should almost feel the ball, club, & body becoming one in the process.

B. A Touch Of Grace

Once you have initiated your swing & the club has started its descent toward the ball, it should be done as gracefully as possible.

Beginner golfers often whip their club as hard as they can during the beginning of their downswing. This will sometimes result in improper weight shifting & a misaligned contact with the ball. As a result, balance & power are sometimes lost.

Remember, great shots are made with precision & grace, not by raw force....

C. Just The Right Balance

Balance is essential in all sports, and golf is no exception. To perform effectively, athletes need to have good balance, especially during crucial moments of the game.

In golf, balance plays an important role during every swing you take. It affects the accuracy & power of every shot. Getting it right is a necessity.

When a player has not centered their balance & shifts their weight from foot to foot, their tempo can get thrown off. The clubhead just doesn't hit the ball with the desired angle needed to make it a great shot. (The next time you play, take a look around. You'll notice some players who seem to almost fall over after their swing. This is case in point of lack of balance control.)

The key to stopping weight shift (and thereby losing your balance) is to rotate your body around a SINGLE axis point. In other words, your golf swing should be more rotational than lateral.

Keep this in mind to help you maintain control of your body & it's balance. In turn, this will help you hit the ball with precise accuracy & just the right amount of power...pow!

When you practice at the driving range, it's a lot of fun hitting the ball as far as you can. In fact, I like driving balls on the range a lot more than I like playing the game itself (but don't tell anyone!).

However, you can improve other skills besides distance when you are on the range. One skill that can be improved is your balance.

Instead of a forceful, choppy feeling, you want your swing to be even & fluid-like. Developing good balance will help you do just that. And, the driving range is the perfect "no pressure" zone to do so.

You can improve your balance by taking practice swings & hitting shots with your feet placed squarely together. It will probably feel awkward at first, but you will learn a lot by swinging the club with your feet together.

Having a tight base like this will also help you develop a better sense for the weight & power of your clubhead.

D. What To Fix First

Getting a great golf swing takes the combined effort of many variables including tempo, control, grace, & balance. If you are a beginner golfer or need major improvements, don't try to fix everything at once.

Working on your swing takes patience & focus. Focus on one element at a time!

The best way to move up the golf skills ladder is to take one element of your swing & concentrate on it until it is top-notch.

Then move on to other areas of improvement that need touching up.