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| Kim Jeong-kyoo |
To enjoy golfing, you need to employ several key moves. Three "must-make" moves here will help you transform your ball-striking ability instantly. They are the movements every top-class ball-striker makes while most amateurs don't. Adding even just one out of the three critical moves should introduce a noticeable improvement to your game.
First, great ball-strikers retract the club away from the ball at a leisurely pace while amateurs are prone to rush. They relax their shoulders, wrists and hands before starting to swing the club back. This helps them go back slowly, allowing them to have full control of the club.
More importantly, a soft grip helps return to the address position when the club strikes the ball. Squeezing the handle of the club causes the arms, shoulders and torso to tighten which makes the movement smooth. This pushes your head and upper body position ahead of the ball during the forward swing.
Preserving a light grip as you draw back. Remember, the first several feet of the takeaway can hardly be slow enough. This approach aids in reducing an abrupt rebound and helps maintain a clean line for the club.
Typically, you will swing your club back leisurely if you are an easy going type. Similarly, you are apt to hurry to take your club back if you are less-patient or short-tempered swinger. Still, an authoritative swing is key. Your supreme goal is to have full control of your club throughout the swing.
A simple trick to promote a slow, smooth takeaway is to breathe out deeply an instant before you start your backswing. Or, let the club hover at address. That will help you grip the club softly, allowing you to start back slowly. That will also help avoid a hunched position, improving your address posture.
Second, top-class golfers keep their chin or head steady behind the ball at impact while amateurs are liable to lurch forward. Great ball-strikers don't let their head and upper body move ahead of the ball before the hit.
Apply yourself to keeping your chin steady behind the ball as you come down. That will allow you to start your downswing with your lower body, ensuring you slot your club into the correct downswing path.
A trick to keep your head behind the ball is tilting your head naturally to the right at address. Looking at the ball with your left eye will help you do this better.
Make sure the tilt of your head matches the sideways tilt of your spine. This will happen automatically if you leave your head alone as you tilt your upper body right away from the target to take your address posture. Then, make sure your head remains that way at the top, at impact and at completion. Done right, you will stay well behind the ball, and will be able to hit your ball as solidly as you want.
Similarly, preserve the gap between your right shoulder and right cheek or ear as you go back. This will let your head stay still without deliberate effort on the backswing. Letting your head remain fixed as you go back, you can better steady it as you come down.
You know you have kept your chin steady behind the ball if your right shoulder hits your chin during the follow-through.
Third, great ball-strikers swing into a full follow through, keeping their balance, while amateurs are liable to lose balance. Top-class players place their weight on the outside edge of their left foot at the finish, with the left instep slightly coming off the turf. They stand on the big toe of their right foot so all spikes are visible. Also their belt buckle faces the target.
That way you will also unleash your power fully into the shot, squaring the clubface to your intended target. You will send your ball far, hitting your target accurately.
Your finish displays all that went before. How well you finish your swing is a reflection of how good your overall shot was. The finish position reveals what went right and what went wrong during the swing.
Copy one of your favorite professionals to find your own ideal finish. You'd better choose a player whose build resembles yours. Finish position is the result of your swing, but you can improve your swing by polishing your finish position.
