Tommy H asked:


I’ve always kind of cycled with my golf swing, especially with my driver. I can only hit my driver straight every so often and I’ve never been able to use a 3 or 4 iron. Does anyone have any suggestions on good books that could help me out with my swing and perhaps all aspects of my game?

Tina

David Dunlap asked:


Golf is definitely a sport with a difference. The similarity between golf and other sports, such as track and field, ends at the need for a proper technique. Though professional golf may require some basic minimal physical training, the weekend golfer can achieve high degrees of success in the game without following a fitness regime at all. Concentration on a suitable technique, diligent application, avoiding common mistakes and having a positive attitude can produce excellent results in the golf swing and overall game.

When looking for golf instruction, even though someone may want to observe and imitate professionals, the fact is that though spectacular movements can be noticed, the subtle ones mostly skip even the careful observer unless you know what you are specifically looking for. The irony is that it is these subtle movements that are critical in dictating a style and perfecting the art of a swing.

This peculiar aspect of golfing has given rise to many fallacies or myths about the mechanical principles that are used in golf. It is thus imperative to know which ones to avoid. Here we will address a few of the most commonly heard today.

1. “Relax” and “Use a Light Grip”

A very natural combination of a ‘relax’ and ‘light grip’ is often used by instructors teaching the golf swing today. Even though ‘light grip’ relates naturally with ‘relax’, the admonition to ‘relax’ actually became standard with golf instructors in order to loosen up their students who were self conscious and frightened to the point of rigidity. Over time these instructions seem to be issued to anyone who starts a training session. However, inability to use these techniques in the correct perspective can do more harm than good.

2. “Be Loose”

Another common instruction, ‘be loose’, may sound the same as “relax” yet is very different. The swing can be loose even if you are not totally relaxed. A loose swing is the outcome of a big hip turn on the backswing or a sway, bad wrist and foot movement and a certain type of grip.

3. “Stop at the Top of the Swing”

Another fallacious instruction given is with regard to stopping at the top of the swing. It is an established mechanical principle that any object moving in one direction must come to a complete stop before moving in the opposite direction. Consciously stopping at the ‘top of the swing’ results in freezing of the body movement thus disrupting the rhythm that it significantly contributes to the swing.

4. “Turn Your Hips To The Left”

Don’t try and ‘turn your hips to the left’ on purpose. Hip turning does take place during a swing but more often than not, it is a natural turn after the golfer has moved laterally to the left. When golfers make an actual effort to do nothing more than turn their hips, it results in a ruined swing and poor shot.

5. “Keep Your Head Down”

This is a commonly quoted directive given by most weekend golfers. However, the head needs to instead be kept back through the golf swing and the subtle movements that occur will do so naturally. It is actually completely unnatural to try to fix your head in a locked position throughout the golf swing. By concentrating on this one point too much, you lose focus from the rest of the golf swing that actually helps to generate the power needed to drive the ball forward.

You need not be a professional golfer to improve your golf swing and scores quicly. Better and more consistent golf can be played by the weekend golfer by simply heeding some good advice and practicing sound discipline. The important thing to note is to follow the modern techniques that have evolved over the years, avoid fallacious outdated instructions and learn to manage the game properly.



Henry

Leather & Lace the Sinniest© asked:


wow thanks yall I was afraid I would get beat up for this question

Patricia

Jay Bose asked:


Right or wrong, these are some of my thoughts about the basic golf swing.

My goal is to present an easy golf swing at it’s most basic level. I’ll also list some things that I think are myths. Think of this as the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) golf swing.

Learn to crawl here and then you can go for the next level. Are you ready?

Relax! A good Golf Swing Setup is just not that tough! The good news is that you probably have a good athletic golf swing setup and all you need is to brush it up and be more relaxed.

You can can choose from three different Golf Grips. It’s your choice and you should choose the golf grip that feels right for you.

An athletic Golf Stance and golf swing setup is the launching pad for your swing. If you start with a bad stance, you’ll probably follow with a bad back swing, a bad downswing, and a bad follow through. Not to worry though. It’s just not that difficult!

Solid basic Golf Swing Steps or golf swing mechanics lead to an easy golf back swing, down swing, and follow through.

The Golf Back Swing - Don\’t think about your arms. Instead of thinking about my arms and swinging my golf club , I try to think of my back swing as turning my back to the target. I’m just putting the golf club behind my back.

My best advice for your Golf Down Swing, with one exception, is to just let it happen! The down swing and follow through should be the very natural result of everything that precedes it.

Golf Swing Summary - I DO still remember the faulty golf swing mechanics and neurotic golf swing thoughts that result in that less than memorable worm burner shot or that weak 70 yard shot off to the right. Here’s my list of golf swing killers.

What little I know about the golf swing is already on these pages, but I’ll be glad to provide whatever Swing Tip Support I can. I\’m no expert, and everything I\’ve done here is probably incorrect according every golf aficionado on the planet. But then again, if it works, do you really care?

We strive to provide a wide variety of Golf related Links to enhance you visit to 1st Beginners Golf Swing Tips. Golf links range in content from golf equipment to golf software to golf instruction and even to golf vacations.



Gabriel

Nguek-fluek Nguang asked:


Every golfer appears ready to do anything to develop more power in his/her golf swing. A common question asked by golfers is: where does that power come from? The answer is simple: golf swing power is the result of three specific factors - golf swing mechanics, golf strength, and golf equipment.

The inclusion of golf swing mechanics in this list of three should not come as a surprise. Nor for that matter the inclusion of golf equipment. But golf strength seems to be the least recognized of the three, though for it is the key to longer drives. Golf strength is defined as how well your body is conditioned to swing a golf club with maximum power.

There is no doubt that quality golf equipment is also capable of making a difference in how far you drive the ball.

While admitting that equipment and technological advances can lengthen the distance of your drives, it should be kept in mind that without better golf swing mechanics and without getting your body in better golf shape, new technology can do little to help your game. A bad swing can only produce a bad result, no matter what kind of new driver you may have just purchased.

Every golfer realizes how important golf swing mechanics are when it comes to driving the ball down the fairway. Good golf swing mechanics are, in fact, essential. If you are over the top with your swing or come inside too much, you are certain to see that dreaded slice or snap hook. The drives will be short, too low, too high, left, right, or any combination of these if you are putting bad swings on the ball.

It is important for a golfer to work constantly on his golf swing mechanics if he/she is keen on improving his/her game. It is because of the vital role of golf swing mechanics that the best golfers in the world have swing coaches working with them on a consistent basis. The golf swing is such a fine, mechanically complex movement that it requires constant work to keep it highly efficient.

Amateurs often make the mistake of ignoring the availability of golf instruction.

They fail to make noticeable improvement in driving primarily because of a lack of instruction, and low levels of golf strength. The absence of instruction leads to the development and ingraining of improper golf swing mechanics. Such improper mechanics lead to slices, hooks, topping the ball, and hitting it fat on the course. Naturally, those types of swings can lead to frustration and bad rounds of golf. Every golfer interested in seriously improving his/her game should find a good instructor of golf swing mechanics and take lessons on a consistent basis.



Curtis

John Lynch asked:


Superior athletes who never make it big are seen in ALL sports. We all have heard countless stories about gifted athletes who never made it big because they weren’t willing to put the time in needed to reach their innate potential.

I learned an astounding golf secret about golf swing improvement from a zen master. Zen Master Dogen Zenji frequently spoke about the “four horses,” which is a metaphor used by the Buddha in the Samyuta-Agama sutra. The path to golf swing improvement is described most eloquently by the metaphor of the four horses.

The first horse, the superior class, is like a horse that runs fastest by merely feeling the whip’s shadow. The second horse, the good class, runs fastest when the whip brushes its hair, the hair of its mane. The horse that runs fastest when the whip touches its body is the third class of horse - or the poor class. And the fourth, the lowest kind of horse, is the one who runs fastest only when the whip can be felt to the marrow of its bones.

At first glance we all want to be like the first horse in the superior class. These are the fast learners - the ones who seem to be a natural. Dogen Zenji says this may not be so desirable. A study of master golfers has shown that it is not the students with innate natural abilities who have achieved golf mastery. The golfers who have achieved mastery are mostly the students with average to below average natural abilities - the ones who have practiced their craft diligently. This is very interesting - why is this so?

Many plateaus in golf skill levels accompanied with short bursts of golf swing improvement is the path to golf swing mastery for all students.

When the first class of student takes up golf they see an immediate spike in golf swing improvement and are very motivated. When they reach that ultimate first plateau where their golf swing does not improve despite hard practice, most gifted students get discouraged.

Gifted students are used to seeing fast progress, so they may blame the golf instructor or something else just so they don’t have to put in the hard work that is needed to continue along the path to golf swing improvement - and the ultimate goal - golf swing mastery!

Many superior students will then give up the game of golf due to frustration.

Superior athletes who never make it big are seen in ALL sports. We all have heard countless stories about gifted athletes who never made it big because they weren’t willing to put the time in needed to reach their innate potential.

The fourth class of student will see a slower rate of golf swing improvement, much time spent on plateaus in their golf swing skill level. If the fourth class of golf student stays with it and practices hard they will learn the golf swing to the marrow of their bones, like the fourth horse.

Before you can master the golf swing, you need to learn the golf swing to the marrow of your bones. To learn the golf swing to the marrow of your bones you need to stay at each skill level for however long it takes. Most first class students never learn the golf swing to the marrow of their bones because it comes easy to them. The time spent on plateaus for golfers who learn fast are shorter than the ones who learn slower.

The enigma of the parable of the four horses is we must learn the golf swing like the fourth class of horse to become like the first class of horse - or the superior class - to become a master golfer!

Hit ‘em Long and Straight!

John Lynch



Ida

Jay asked:


I’ve just begun a course in learning to play golf, and the easiest exercise is swinging the club with one arm.
The problem is that, being totally new, I do not own any golfing equipment. I’d like to know what I may use to substitute.

Gene