Swing into some golf action with these easy steps

POLOKWANE – Whether you’re new to golf, haven’t played in a while, or just want to straighten your game out a bit, there are few steps to follow before you can drive a golf ball well.

Putting tee shots is a combination of knowing your equipment, how to stand, mastering your swing and keeping a clear head. These tips will help you drive a golf ball properly.

Executing a proper swing

• Know what kind of swing you’re using:
You must have two swings one for power and one for control. For a power swing, you want to position your head and the shaft slightly back behind your ball with a slightly wider stance. For a control shot, narrow your stance slightly, position the ball slightly further back in your stance, and choke down on the club a bit.

• Start your back-swing:
The driver swing can be different between birdie and bogey. When you go for your back-swing, you should shift your weight backward. This will give your swing a much bigger power. Stay flat. Your driving wood should stay along the ground. Take a steady back-swing and pause at the top to reset before you begin your down-swings.

• Keep the start of your down-swing calm and unhurried:
This enables you to build up speed so that the golf club is still accelerating when it reaches the ball. Your down-swing should be one single movement that utilises your entire body at the same time. One very important factor on your down-swing is to keep your head down and in place. This happens very quickly and you may be excited to see how far you’ve hit the ball. You may be tempted to try and help the ball up by raising your arms. But keep your swing consistent and trust that your club will do the work.

• Keep the angle on your leading hand:
The leading hand, left hand for most players, right hand for lefties, should be angled down towards the ball on the down-swing. Think of it like hitting the ball with the back of your leading hand. If your hand is flipping up on the down-swing, your contact will not be solid and you will see consistent misses with your wood. Keeping the angle starts the ball low and lets it climb on its own through your generated power.

Finish the golf swing over your left shoulder for right-handed golfers, or right shoulder for left-handed golfers. Don’t be in a rush to look up and see where the ball went. If you did it well, the ball will travel where you want it to.