Where do you start when trying to fix a beginners golf swing? Usually a beginner has a poor golf swing mechanically, they struggle with consistent contact on the ball and have little control over distance and ball flight. Due to the complex nature of the game, it is difficult to decide which part of your swing is the root cause and which are just compensations. Due to this fact, some corrections you try to make or advice you may take will have little impact on your golf swing and ultimately the shot you’re trying to hit.
Having coached hundreds of beginners, I’ve found that the concept behind how the ball is actually struck is having the greatest impact on a beginners golf swing, ball striking and flight control. Let me ask you a question. How is the ball struck so it can get up in the air? Do you lift or help the ball in the air? Do you have come level with the ground? Do you hit down on the back of the ball? Unless you’ve received some good advice or coaching in the past, I bet your answer was hit up or lift the ball in the air. I’m sorry to say that this concept is wrong and is totally ruining your golf. If you have seen any good player stike a ball, you will notice they take a small divot out of the turf when striking iron shots. It’s this downward force that propells the ball in the air. Don’t stress, I have a drill for you that will help you first understand, then practice what you need to do. The beauty is, you don’t even need a ball.
Find an area either at the practice range or backyard where you can swing freely. The area needs to be able to be marked. A bunker is perfect, or a similar sandy area. Mark a straight 1-2 yard long line in the sand, dirt or grass. This line must be clearly visible. If you only have grass available, then a a can of marking paint will be perfect. Set up with you feet shoulder width apart either side of the line. Place about 60% of your weight on your lead side. Start by making small swings at ankle height either side. The aim is to have the swing bottom out at the line. This should be evidenced by a bruise or divot taken out of the turf or sand. This is best executed by rotating the body and having the arms respond to the body. Usually excess hand and wrist movement in this drill will see the ground missed altogether or the club bottoming out behind the line. Once you get 3 in a row from ankle height that hit the line cleanly than move out to knee height then hip height. Again making sure you get 3 in a row that contact the line perfectly.
Once you have achieved this you can place a ball down and repeat the same process from ankle height, knee height then hip height. Do not advance until you are proficient at the ankle height. Please remember that a beginners golf swing is quite complex, there are lots of unnecessary movements that can be drilled down to a physical imbalance of the muscles and their structures and also the concept of what you need to do to play well.
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