9 Golf Swing Instructions That You Can Use On Your Way to Being a Pro

A golf swing can either make or break your game. More than anything, in fact, this is the most important part of any golf game - more than the clubs, the ball, even the course. It is your swing that will determine the height, speed, and distance of the ball, along with the direction.

If you've never played golf before, then one of the first things you should learn is how to swing a golf club. Below is a short guide on how to do it right.

1. Know your grip

Your hands are the only part of your body that should come into contact with a golf club. Keep a firm grip, but allow room for a flexible hold.

2. Mind your knees and legs

A great swing does not begin with the hands nor the wrists. You'll need your trunk and muscles for that. It is quite common for beginners to try to hit the ball using only muscle power from the arms and wrists, but this will not make for a consistent swing.

A good golf swing is the result of good rhythm, timing and balance. Try to practice swinging the club with your feet about 6 inches apart. This may seem too close for comfort, but this will help you keep a better balance, even when you go back to using your regular stance.

3. Don't aim for the ball

Of course you ought to, but try to imagine hitting a spot about 8 inches next to the ball, before it. Hit this spot first and continue the swing to hit the ball. This fluid movement will train you to 'extend' your swing and therefore its power.

4. The backswing technique

The backswing should be made with a smooth, single motion. To get an ideal backswing, hold the club firmly but don't grip it too hard. From your stance with the grip at about waist high, slowly lift the club until it is parallel to the ground. Keep your weight on your heels and try to keep your front elbow straight and your back elbow bent at about 90 degrees.

Try to maintain a rhythm when you perform the backswing. You might be tempted to swing quickly to hit the ball as hard as you can, but try to incorporate a slight pause at the top of the backswing before you begin the downswing.

5. The downswing technique

A good downswing begins not in the arms but in the legs and hips. To perform the downswing, start at the top of the backswing and then shift your weight by moving the knees forward, then the thighs and hips in the direction of your target. This will transfer your body weight from the back to your front foot.

6. The impact and follow through

When your clubhead hits the ball, your arms and your club should be in a straight line. The back knee should be bent slightly inward and the heel of your back foot slightly raised. The club's grip (the part that you're holding) should be pointing towards your target spot and the clubhead should be behind you.

7. Don't fight the breeze

If you're a beginner golfer, your first thought at swinging when there's a breeze is to try to whack that ball as hard as you could to give it more acceleration. Experienced golfers know that it's better to "swing with ease into the breeze". Swing easy so the ball doesn't rise and land a short distance away, wasting your effort.

8. Go for lessons

Don't try to play with the big guys yet if you've just decided to play golf yesterday. Start with driving range and practice. Get lots of it. Take a few lessons from people at the range and then go out and try a 9-hole course before you aim for the 18-hole. Unless you're a prodigy, start with small steps and progress gradually.

9. And lastly, practice, practice, and practice

Your golf swing cannot be perfected overnight. It will take months of practices and plays and hundreds or thousands of swings before you learn how much force to use, when to use it, and so on. Your body must be in tune with your mind with every swing. After all, golf is a game that's part skill, part mental.

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