We have now covered six of the seven steps in My Seven Step Swing Check List, The Grip, The Set Up , The Waggle, The Backswing , Tempo, The Downswing and now the last step, but especially not the least in importance, is the Follow Thru or Finish. All the steps are important but if the follow thru is not done correctly it can negate the proper execution of the other steps of the swing. As the downswing is approaching impact with the golf ball make sure the acceleration of the club remains constant. This will be accomplished with acquiring a good tempo with your golf swing. Also on the downswing, as discussed in the last writing, continue the path of the club through the ball on a slight inside to out path and aim at the one o’clock spot as suggested. As you continue thru the hitting zone after impact keep the club as low as possible on this line and head should remain behind the ball. The hips should continue opening to the target ,( about 3/4 or more at this point ) and the weight should continue to shift onto your left side. If the follow thru is executed correctly the club and your arms will form a line pointing at or slightly right of the target line and both will be near parallel to the ground as your right shoulder starts to pass under your chin. The hands should pronate (turn over) to the left just after the club passes thru the impact zone. If you turn the hands over too quickly you may hook or draw the ball too for left and not achieve the result you were looking for. This is the part of the swing that takes practice and experience to master. Once you get the timing down you will almost always be successful if you execute the rest of the steps correctly. TIP : If you are consistently slicing the ball to the right side you may want to consciously turn your hands over to the left as you reach impact, which should help correct this problem. Another cause of slicing the ball to the right is not finishing the swing by staying on your right side and not letting the right foot come up onto the toe ( See info noted below regarding swing finish ). Note: This post is directed to the right handed golfer and should be reversed for the left handed player
As your swing continues and your right shoulder is passing under your chin the head can start to come up but the spine angle should remain intact as long as possible as you finish the swing. Your hips should now be almost fully open and perpindicular to and facing your intended target. NOTE : Another key move at this part of the swing, that is lacking in most beginners and even some seasoned players, is that they stay on their right foot and never finish the golf swing. This means that the weight shift was never completed and the hips never rotated properly, thus causing lack of both distance and accuracy.
The proper execution of the follow thru would include the right foot pivoting up onto the toe ( which would mean that the weight transfer from right to left was complete ) , the torso would be facing the target and the entire body would form some resemblance to a reverse C if you viewed it from a side perspective. The club would be wrapped around your neck and shoulders and this pose should be maintained until the ball lands in the fairway or on the green. Holding this position will help promote the proper swing finish by making it part of your muscle memory which will translate to a more accurate and repetitive finish to your golf swing.
Now that you’ve mastered The Grip, Set Up, Waggle, Backswing and Tempo the next move should be a piece of cake. In fact, you can let gravity and tempo do most of the work for this part of the swing. Your club is back, left shoulder under your chin, head upright, weight shift to right side, wrists are hinged back with club pointing down the target line and your back is facing the target – you’re ready to pull the trigger. Before you start the Downswing, let’s touch on one last item, “Relax”.
My trigger method for starting the downswing is twofold. I start to throw my left hip toward the target while pulling down on the club in a very relaxed manner allowing gravity and the acceleration of your tempo to do the work. The club and back end of the grip will be pointing at the golf ball. As you swing down the hips will shift laterally left and open to 45 o or more through impact. The key is to keep your head behind the ball so the coil of your shoulder and upper body combined with the hinging of your wrists can be timed for releasing the club at the proper time thru the impact area. This will allow maximum power and accuracy. This is the part of the Downswing that overlaps the last step of the golf swing, “The Follow Thru”.
As your club is released and approaches the impact area, the wrists should be unhinging and the weight should continue to shift from the right to the left side to prepare for the Swing Finish or Follow Thru as I like to call it. The left side should remain firm just before and thru the impact of the club head with the golf ball while the head remains behind the ball. As I am looking down at the ball when the club head is approaching impact I look at the inside corner of the ball and try to keep a slight inside to out swing path by concentrating on hitting that inside part of the ball and aiming at one o’clock. I find that this will allow the club to drop into the power slot more readily and ultimately result in more distance and accuracy. Note: The information noted above is based on the assumption that the golfer is right handed. Please reverse for left handed golfers ( Right hip will be moving toward target ).
We have addressed The Grip, The Set-Up, The Waggle, The Backswing and before we proceed any further with the remaining steps to the actual golf swing, I feel this is an important time to discuss Tempo. Tempo is not a single part of the swing but it should be an integral and important part of your entire swing. It is the smooth rhythmic method of timing your pace of swing so that your body works in concert with the club to achieve the most distance, control and accuracy that your ability will allow. Good Tempo will also help promote a consistency in your swing which will in turn result in consistently better ball striking thus greater scoring capabilities. As in Music, Tempo is the beat, the speed and timing whereby your instrument is in sync with the other instruments. Also, as required in music, you have to acquire a feel for the rhythm of your swing. It can be as simple as counting one on the backswing and two for the downswing and Follow Thru ( Steps 6&7 ) to create the right beat for you. I can tell you from experience that some days my swing Tempo is working better than others and the results on those days can be dramatic. Tempo requires a feel that you must experience before you can really understand the greater potential for a consistently better, more powerful all around golf swing. One important swing key with all steps of the golf swing and an integral part of a good Tempo is to ? Yes, “Relax”.
A good Tempo may be difficult to achieve at first but it will come with practice. There are some training aids that can help a golfer to learn Tempo. One is called “Swing Tempo” and is endorsed by Hale Irwin and Frank Nobilo, two excellent PGA professionals. You can go on line to www.swingtempo.com or call 1(800)708 3676. Another tempo trainer is called Swing Speed Radar and can be found at www.swingspeedradar.com and the cost is approximately $130.00 to $150. If you are having problems achieving that key ingredient in your swing either one of these devices should help. Happy Golfing To All !
Now that you’ve taken your Grip, performed your Set Up Routine and The Waggle you’re ready for action.
Before we start the backswing a few reminders or tips – 1. When you tee the golf ball, especially for use with the driver be sure to set it at the proper height. Note: The rule of thumb is the ball should sit approximately 1/2 of the diameter of the golf ball above the clubhead when the club is set on the ground. 2. Stay “Relaxed” during all phases of your swing – Note: If you’ve chosen to incorporate The Waggle into your swing routine then utilize it to its fullest advantage and make it not only your swing trigger but your reminder to “Relax” as well. 3. Make sure your head is upright so as not to impede the shoulder turn on the backswing. 4. Keep your left arm as straight as possible Note: Keeping the left arm straight may feel uncomfortable at first but it is critical to promoting consistent ball striking, accuracy and distance.
Now you’re ready to go. In the instructional books and videos that I’ve studied I have sometime gotten conflicting information as to how to start the backswing. That does not mean that one method is right or wrong there are just different techniques and methodology used by different instructors. Immediately after The Waggle or no waggle, if that is your preference, you are ready to execute the swing. Most of the instructional material, when I was first learning to play, taught a move to start the backswing called the “One Piece Take Away”. This means that your two arms, hands and the club formed a Y shape, which it does, and they would move back away from the target in one piece or motion while maintaining the Y shape. I had utilized that method for many years before I read about and experimented with the immediate wristcock, or setting of the wrist right at the onset of the backswing. By this I mean that instead of taking the club back in the Y formation I would break the wrist and start the backswing in more of an L position. Either method will work and it is a matter of personal preference and which feels more comfortable for you. In either method the wrists should be set by about waist height and the club should be pointing skyward as your arms approach parallel to the ground. Your weight should shift to your right side ( without a lateral movement of the body ) and your upper body should continue turning away from the target with minimal turning of the hips. This will allow a coiling of the upper body and a more powerful release as you uncoil in your Downswing. Make sure your shoulder turns under your chin and your back is facing the target, which will also promote a more powerful and accurate swing. In Step 2 – The Set Up I mentioned to tilt the body slightly forward at the waist and remain in a reasonably upright position. This will create a spine angle which should be maintained during most of your swing. The Backswing and The Downswing should rotate around the spine as the central pivot point. The more that rotation can be maintained the more accurate and powerful the results will be.
What is a Waggle ? About thirty something years ago I may have asked that question myself. The Waggle is a pre-swing move that will help you to trigger the backswing. The KEY to all phases or steps of the golf swing is to – “Relax” – I will keep emphasizing this point because it took me a long time to incorporate the idea into my own swing sequence. I am assuming that the majority of golfers are similar to myself in that aspect. It takes a while to get used to. It is a natural tendency to grip the club too tight and to try and muscle the ball down the fairway to achieve the maximum distance possible, just to out drive or to show your friends that you can hit the ball farther than they can. But in reality the opposite holds true ! Grip the club lighter and tension free and swing the same way and “Voila” you will increase your odds of achieving the results and the DISTANCE you desire tenfold. Sorry, another digression – Back to The Waggle.
Please note that “The Waggle” is by all means not a necessity to a good or correct golf swing. It is an important option that many golfers employ to help start or “Trigger” the backswing. It is a method to promote “Relaxation” ( very important ) and to initiate the “Tempo” that will be employed for the entire swing if done correctly. Another method of relaxation before you swing is to take a deep breath and exhale slowly to consciously let any tension GO AWAY or be released ! Once you have released the tension and have successfully taken your Grip and performed your Set Up Routine as discussed in Step 1 and Step 2, ( Note : The Grip and Set Up should become second nature for you and a routine you should employ for every swing and golf hole that you play ) you are almost ready to go. Guess what the next step is ? The Waggle, or any other method you would like to employ that works for you, whether it be a deep breath or clearing your mind of any interfering thoughts or absolutely nothing, etc..
We have been discussing the waggle for the past few minutes but in actuality – What is it ? There are a number of different ways that the waggle can be performed and don’t be afraid to invent a method that works for you. As noted earlier it is something that will promote relaxation and help you to initiate the proper golf swing. A technique I use that is best for ME is to actually rehearse the entire swing – I take my grip, set up to the ball and actually preview the swing path and moves that I will be performing during my swing. Many times I note that I have taken the club back on an improper swing path or maybe my wrists did not set the club properly and I can then correct the mistakes in my actual swing. Some others may just break the wrists off the ball, then return the club to the ball position or maybe take a half or three quarter swing to check if they feel the tempo for the desired swing, etc. or maybe rehearse the entire swing as I do – (All Choices Optional ) Whatever your Waggle method may be, as long as it works for you, make it part of your swing routine. It may take some experimenting to see what is most comfortable and what works for you but it will come ! Have patience and fun as you learn to play. Enjoy the journey ! I know I did, still do to this day, and hopefully always will. Happy Golfing !
To quote a line from Ed Norton, “Step up, plant your feet firmly, and address the ball- Hello Ball” For all of you Honeymooner fans out there, I’m sure you will recall that this was Eds’ direction to Ralph in the famous Honeymooner Golf Episode, which is one of my all time favorites. In order to prepare for the golf swing, the set up is where you will step up to the ball, place your feet in position and address the ball, so Ed was pretty accurate in his direction to Ralph, except of course for the Hello Ball part.
After the ball is set on the tee, step back and “Relax”. The next step is to position your body in relation to the ball. The proper alignment to the target is key to accuracy in the set up. As noted in a tip in Step 1 of My Seven Step Checklist, you should choose an intermediate target directly in front of you and in line with the golf ball and your intended landing area. Once you have selected your spot the next step is to take your stance parallel to that line. Note: To practice aligning correctly to the target two clubs can be placed on the ground – One will be placed adjacent the golf ball and will be pointing directly in line with the ball, your intermediate spot and the landing or target area. The other will be placed in parallel to the first but at the area where your feet will be placed. Once you practice for a while utilizing this method you should acquire a feel for the correct alignment technique. (Note: The set up can be performed with the feet and body positioned open or closed, in other words, out of alignment to the target line which will allow the golfer to work the ball left or right depending on the set up of the golf hole. This is done deliberately to promote the left to right or right to left ball movement. It is also a technique employed by the more experienced player and is not recommended for the beginning golfer). After you have established your line, the next step is the placement of your feet. When I take my stance, I like to place my right foot almost perpindicular or turned slightly to the right of perpindicular to target line and my left foot is angled about 45 degrees left of a perpindicular line toward the target ( Note: the information provided is meant for the right handed golfer and should be reversed for those left handed). The distance between my feet is approximately shoulder width, especially for the driver. This allows for stability in the stance, which is important in maintaining good balance thru out the swing. As you take your stance the knees should be bent slightly and the upper body should be tilted forward a bit at the waist. The head should be kept upright so the chin does not impede the backswing and shoulder turn, which will be addressed in the next step. As the body tilts slightly forward at the waist and you have taken your grip ( as discussed in Step 1), make sure you allow your hands to fall in a relaxed position almost directly below your line of sight if you looked straight down – not too far or too close to your body. I would estimate the hands and club to be approximately six to eight inches away from the body, depending on your height, if done correctly.
I will again emphasize the importance of ”Relaxing” for the set up and the entire golf swing. I don’t mean to the point of falling asleep, but there should be no tension in the body, especially the arms, shoulders and legs. This will promote a much better tempo and allow the speed of the swing and the club to do the work, which in turn will produce much better results. Since all golfers are different in stature and ability, they may utilize a variation on the ideology noted above. This information is derived from personal knowledge and over 30 years of experience of playing golf and I would hope it would be helpful to the majority of golfers. There is nothing like practice and experience for learning the correct way to swing a golf club. In order for the practice to be efficient and your ability to improve you must have the basic foundation in place for the proper swing, playing techniques and strategies of the game. Learn “The Right Way”. Happy Golfing To All !
In this writing I will discuss The Grip, which is Step 1 of my seven step checklist for the golf swing. After years of reading, practicing and experimenting with different methods and techniques to prepare for the golf swing I have broken it down simply to seven steps that work for me. Since I am not a professional golf instructor and I don’t claim to be, I will only present proven ideas and methodology that work for me. Every golfer is different and what works for one does not always work for someone else. On the other hand there are basic principles and techniques that can be gainfully utilized by 95% of golfers and I strongly feel that the steps I am presenting here will work for a majority of those reading this article. I have taken over thirty years of experience and assimilation of the correct golf swing to present this information to you. The seven steps in my swing checklist are 1- The Grip, 2 – The Set Up, 3 – The Waggle, 4 – The Back Swing, 5 – Tempo, 6 – The Down Swing, & 7 – The Follow Thru. I placed Tempo in the middle because it is an integral part of the entire swing from start to finish and will be elaborated on in a future writing.
As stated previously, when I first learned to play golf, it required a lot of experimenting and reading golf books and magazines in order to really get a feel for the correct golf swing for me. The grip is a very important and integral part of the golf swing. There are a number of different types of grip methods. There is the Vardon Grip ( named after the great Harry Vardon one of the premier golfers of the early 20th century ) The Baseball Grip, also appropriately named because the grip is similar to one you may use to hold a baseball bat, and my personal favorite, The Interlocking Grip, which incorporates the interlocking of the two hands together to form the grip. Note: Many of the instructional books, DVD’s and Videos will illustrate these grips if you would like to see them in a visual presentation. If you are sports oriented and have never read or viewed any instructional information about the grip then you may have a tendency to use and feel more comfortable with the baseball grip as I did initially. Although it felt more comfortable I wasn’t satisfied with the results. One day I was playing in a group with a considerably better player, probably a two to four handicap. I took note to some of his swing techniques and one of the things I noted was his golf grip. As we were waiting on one hole I asked him about it. He showed me how to do it and I have not changed my grip since. The steps I now use in setting my golf club grip are as follows: 1- I set or cradle the club in the creased part of the fingers of my left hand allowing the top of the club to protrude approximately 1″ to 1 1/2″ past the bottom part of the same hand which will actually be facing upward and toward your waist and belt area when you set the club to prepare to swing. Note: While gripping with the left hand make sure the clubface stays closed or close to perpindicular to your target line. Also for a fairly strong grip, which I would highly recommend, make sure the first two or even three knuckles of your left hand are positioned facing up so you can see them when looking down on your hand and club. Then allow the thumb of the left hand to lay across the top of the grip on a slight angle to the right while keeping the thumb straight and on top of the club. Note: There are various ways to grip the club ( stronger and weaker grips ) to allow your swing to work the ball right or left but it is a more advanced technique should not be attempted until your game has progressed to a certain level. Next, set the club in the creased part of the fingers of the right hand and interlock the pinky of your right hand with the index finger of your left, thus the derivative of the name interlocking grip. The meaty part of the palm of your right hand, connected to the thumb, should be facing upward so you can also see it similar to the knuckles of the left. Note: You can experiment at the range with the adjustment of the strength of the grip that works best for you, (turn hands to right for a stronger grip and left for weaker ) Also, please note that the grip methodology noted above is for the right handed player and should be reversed for the left handed golfer. Another important thing to remember, which will also be addressed in Step 2 – The Set Up is – Do Not let your right shoulder come forward when taking the grip with the right hand. It should remain back and aligned with your left shoulder. It should also be slightly lower than your left since your right hand is set lower on the club when taking the grip.
