The Swing - Part 2

     The Address – The address (or stance) over the ball will greatly affect how you strike the ball and the line it travels. Developing a consistent method can improve your game tremendously.
      Start out with your feet shoulder width apart. This is important for balance, which is a big part of the swing. You should then slightly flare your feet and point your toes out. Make sure that your hips are “squared” and pointed towards your target. The next step sometimes causes confusion and leads to error for golfers. Bend your body at the waist, as opposed to the back. This will form a straight line with your hips, back, and shoulders. Properly aligning these three sections of your body allows you to rotate your hips and shoulders fluidly during the swing. Lastly, bend your knees into a comfortable position and drop your arms to your side. This puts you in the proper stance in order to hit the ball.

      The Swing – The swing is the central part of the game of golf. Minor problems can cause huge mishaps for golfers and can ruin a round of golf. Constantly working at and perfecting the swing will improve your game dramatically. 
      To begin, make sure that the ball is placed in the middle of your stance. Start the swing by rotating your hips to the right (or to the left for lefties). Bring your club back above your shoulders until it is parallel to the ground. This signals that you have reached the top of your backswing. The majority of your weight should now be on your back leg. Now focus on rotating your hips back to the left and through the hitting zone. Your weight will transfer from your back leg to your front. Also, once your hips begin to rotate forward, your hands will follow and the club will make contact with the ball. The hip movement and weight distribution create power for your swing. Furthermore, try to snap your hands through the ball to create even more power. Finish the swing by following through the hitting zone and bringing your club to shoulder height. Make sure you do not stop your swing after making contact with the ball.