When you watch a Professional Golfer on TV or at a Tournament they always seem to make it look easy. You watch their Golf Swing and it seems effortless, even when they are powering the ball off the tee.

If you notice, the Professional Golfer has a specific Routine and a consistent Technique. In order for the Amateur Golfer to play at a consistent level, they must develop a similar routine and pay close attention to technique. There are four major categories to technique in Golf and they are important in every aspect of the game.

SET-UP – It all starts with the setup and includes
the alignment, grip, stance/ball position and tempo.

Please note: These instructions are for a right handed player. A left handed player would reverse these instructions.

1. Alignment – Posture is absolutely essential to your overall setup.

a. Place a golf club on the ground pointing the clubface towards the target.   Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart while facing parallel to the target line.  Rest the club against your hips, turn your palms out and extend your arms down.

b. Bend forward at the waist until your upper body is angled so you can grip the club while the club face is resting on the ground.  This position will allow your arms to swing freely in a pendulum fashion.

c. Bend your knees slightly and distribute your weight evenly on both feet, so that you are stable and balanced.

d. Shift your left hip towards the target, dipping your right shoulder while maintaining a parallel alignment to the target. This position allows the right hand to naturally fit the club below the left.

e. Let your arms fall forward into the most natural hanging position and move them into position to grip the club.

2. The Grip is our only connection to the golf club and plays the most important role of clubface position. An improper grip will directly affect how you strike the ball.

a. With the clubface aimed at the target place your left hand on the grip and make contact from the second joint of the index finger and wrap your hand around the shaft. The grip should be fit comfortably across the palm of your hand on about a 45 degree angle.

b. Pick the club up and hold it out in front of you with the toe of the club pointing towards the sky. Place your right hand on the opposite side of the club in the same fashion as the left and wrap your hand around the club.

c. The little finger on the right hand will need to interlock or overlap the index finger of the left hand. You should feel the center of your right palm fit snugly against the thumb of your left hand. This will create a sense of control and firmness without having to squeeze.

d. Avoid gripping the club tightly, as this will tense the muscles in your arms and restrict the fluidness of the swing.

3. Stance and Ball Position are applied a bit differently depending on the club being used.

a. For Woods, I like to have a wider stance to provide more balance through the swing. I align the inside of my feet with the outside of my shoulders. The placement of the ball is also a little further ahead and basically lines up with the instep of my left foot.

b. Fairway Irons should be played with a slightly narrower stance than with the Woods. Alignment will be where your shoe laces will line up with the outside of your shoulders. The longer irons will call for a wider stance than mid range Irons. The position of the ball should be a bit further back in your stance, but still forward of center.

c. When playing Short Irons your stance should narrow and the outside of your shoes should line up with the outside of your shoulders. The placement of the ball will also be further back in your stance, somewhere between just left of center to just right of center. The shorter the club, will require the ball to be positioned further back in your stance.

4. Your Tempo is dependent on your Rhythm, Timing and Speed of your swing and will greatly affect the way the clubface with contact the ball. It is important to develop a smooth and even tempo that is aggressive, but fluid. You don’t have to swing for the fences in order to get good distance from your swing. The ball will actually travel further and with greater accuracy with a well timed swing. The harder you swing, the more your muscles tense and this will adversely affect your tempo.

Although it may seem like there are numerous adjustments being made, the adjustments are a natural change based on the length of the golf club. Whether you are a beginner, a social golfer or a fanatic, taking time to practice these basic techniques will improve your golf game.

Golf is a great game, but like everything else in life, your results will be directly based on the time you invest.  If you want to lower your score and enjoy your game, then take some time each week to practice and your golf game will improve.

Golf is a great game that can be fun at any level. As a beginner, the tendency is to just head out to the golf course with our friends and give it a whirl. When you take this approach you are setting yourself up for a long day of frustration.

I started playing Golf before it was the popular sport it is today.   At the time, our approach was to borrow a few Golf Clubs from Dad and some of his well used Golf balls, head down to the local municipal golf course and tee it up.

We didn’t know anything about golf, we just wanted to play. Our first attempts on the Golf course had to have been pretty comical and was probably frustrating for the golfers that we were teamed up with.
In order to make sure that you are prepared to head out to the links for the first time, I would like to offer a few tips to make your experience enjoyable.

Golf Tips for the Beginner to Prepare for Your First Round of Golf

1. Take some time to learn a bit about the Golf Swing. There are great books available specifically for the Beginning Golfer.

2. Consider taking a lesson from a Golf Pro. A PGA trained professional can show you how to grip the golf club, approach the shot and the proper swing. This will go a long way in getting you started.

3. Visit a driving range. Getting a feel for the swing in this environment is less intimidating.

a. Take the time to practice with different golf clubs. Try and get a feel for distance so you know what you can expect on the golf course.

4. Spend some time practicing on a putting green. There should be one at the course you are playing or even at the driving range.

5. Watch some Golf on TV to get an understanding of the game.

Golf Tips for Your First Time on the Course

1. Get to the golf course a little early. Give yourself a chance to get familiar with the layout. More importantly take the time to relax a bit.

2. Take time to stretch your muscles and warm up. If there is a driving range, by all means, spend some time hitting a small bucket of balls.

3. Spend some time on the practice green. This will give you the opportunity to get a feel for the speed and movement on the greens.

4. Talk to the starter or one of the members to learn any tidbits about the course that might be helpful. You will find that most golfers are willing to share local knowledge when asked.

Remember, all golfers, young and old had to start somewhere. No one expects you to walk out onto the golf course and play like Tiger Woods. Don’t put undue pressure on yourself.

There is an old saying that goes “The worst day on the golf course is better than the best day at work”. You are outside away from the hustle and bustle of life, enjoy it and I am sure you will want to come back time and time again.

We all love watching the Pro’s tee it up and drive 300+ yards down the fairway. They make it look so easy. But how are they able to consistently hit the ball that far and keep in play. Well, it’s not as hard as it appears. Here is a video courtesy of Teaching Pro Ron del Barrio. He calls it the passive swing.

There is a way for all of us amateurs to drive for show like the pro’s. Just wait until you unleash that drive in front of your golfing buddies. We might not hit it 300 yards, but by just following Ron’s simple instructions on driving the ball, I know your distance off the tee will improve and that will take pressure off the rest of your game. Here’s another source for improving your game. If you want to learn more about “How to Hit Longer Drives” It’s worth the time to learn how to Drive for Show and shave a few strokes off your golf game.

So until next time “Hit ‘em Long and Straight”