The Swing - Part 3

Various Swings (or Strokes)

The Drive – This is the first shot taken from every hole. Golfers are allowed to tee the ball up in order to create more power. Usually the driver or a long iron is used for this shot. The drive is sometimes referred to as a full swing.

The Approach – As opposed to the drive being the full swing, the approach is the 3/4 swing. This shot is used by golfers to get the ball closer to the hole or onto the green. Golfers will use fairways woods or irons for this medium to long distance shot. 

The Chip – This shot is used when the ball is close to the green. Golfers use short (or high lofted) irons to get the ball around hazards and close to the pin. These clubs allow the golfers to roll the ball close to the hole or create spin in order to position differently. 

The Putt – After reaching the green, golfers use a putter to perform this shot. The primary goal of this shot is to put the ball in the hole. The putter creates speed and precision so this can be accomplished. 

Common Swing Errors

Swing Speed – Some golfers to try swing the club too slowly or way too hard. This creates problems for their game. Swinging to slowly will lower the distance the ball travels and swinging too hard will greatly improve the chances of the ball hooking or slicing. The key is to find the perfect speed. 

Proper Stance – Not maintaining the proper stance over the ball will ruin the balls chances before the swing even starts. Make sure to keep your knees bent properly and not to raise your head until the follow through after the swing. Not following these guidelines will cause most golfers to “top” the ball or not hit it square.

Putting – A great deal of golfers have difficulty hitting their puts at the proper speed and direction. The most common reasons for this are the back swing and follow through. Make sure you do not pull your club back too far. This will create too much power or cause the face of the putter to move. When following through, think of a pendulum rotation with your arms and shoulders. This helps to ensure that the face of the putter stays straight throughout the swing. 

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.

The Game of Golf

     Golf has been around for centuries and is played by a wide range of individuals.  The game is easily accessible for all ages and provides people with a rewarding pastime.  Courses are spread throughout the entire world, with locations in almost every country.  This provides players with a unique experience during every round.  Although the game itself seems simple, competition is quite intense.  Professional golf is very popular and tournament payouts are in the millions of dollars. 
      Because the game does not demand a great deal of conditioning or physical strength, people of all ages and backgrounds can take part in it.  Golf can be played from almost birth until death.  Although the game is more popular in certain parts of the world, it can be viewed to a certain extent all over.  Most professional tournaments take place in the United States and Great Britain.  The website of the Professional Golfers Association is www.pga.com.
    The equipment for the game has greatly changed over the past years.  Clubs were originally made of wood.  Now most clubs are constructed using steel and graphite.  This makes for a lighter, stronger club, which allows players to swing much harder and hit the ball a greater distance.  Golf balls also began as wood and have now been developed using synthetic metals.  The ball itself has hundreds of dimples formed into it to allow for greater stability and speed.  Players can carry a maximum of 14 clubs which includes a putter.  The redesign of the clubs has made the game much more competitive.