How To Build A Powerful Golf Swing

By Author: Martin Flynn
Total Articles: 5
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There is no question that the golf swing is a difficult mechanical action that needs a specific sequence of movements in order to arrive at a dynamic impact position.

Ignoring that the greatest flaw in the modern era is not the golf swing but the dreaded ‘paralysis by analysis' which interrupts the natural rhythm of the golf swing.

I think the very worst thing that a golfer could do is purchase golf magazines or instructional books with the intention of getting the club into 3 or 4 positions in the back swing and 3 or 4 positions in the downswing.

The golf swing is meant to be a {{natural movement|rhythmic movement}}}. It should be a nice fluid, free flowing movement from start to finish.

With this in mind let's commence with the 5 steps needed to create the classic golf swing;

1. Develop a pre shot routine
A pre shot routine is the sequence of events that occurs right after you select the club from your bag to the moment just before you start your backswing. You need to develop a repeatable pre-shot routine which serves the purpose of keeping you relaxed and ...
... focused as you start your golf swing.

I advise you start by putting your golf club behind your ball and imagine a line running through the center of your club, through the ball and dissecting the target. Ensure you place the club behind the ball with the hand furthest from the target and stand open to the target when you are squaring the club. Commencing with an open alignment gives you a much greater possibility of aligning the club square to the target.

When your club is square to the target, get your stance, hips and shoulders square to the target line, ensuring all the time that the initial club head alignment is maintained.

Next put your other hand on the grip and maintain light grip pressure by giving your club head a few waggles.

2. Commence a smooth one piece takeaway
Become aware that your arms and the club head form a natural triangle i.e. there is a triangle formed between your arms and the golf grip. Your goal is to swing this triangle back until your back is fully turned to the target. Do not consciously attempt to break your wrists at any stage; if your grip pressure is light these will break automatically toward the top of the backswing. The only thing to focus on should be nice smooth rhythm.

3. Keep the flex in your right knee
As you come to the end of your backswing, you must ensure that your right knee has not straightened. The best way to ensure this does not happen is to setup at address with a nice flexed right knee and angle the knee in towards the ball. Focus on retaining this inward tilt for the duration of the swing.

4. The Downswing commences with the leadership of your legs
Your downswing must commence by slightly moving your left knee towards the target. This will cause club head lag in which your wrists are pulled down on the back of the ball while retaining the full wrist hinge from the top of the backswing. A nice thought to bear in mind is ‘butt of shaft to back of ball'.

This ensures you have a late release coming in to the back of the ball and delivers a powerful, crisp impact with the ball.

5. Think Rhythm
When you swing a golf club you should visualize your favorite golf pros swing in your mind and think rhythm. Try to duplicate their rhythm and think of nothing else. This one swing thought will ensure a nice smooth swing and you will begin to swing the club naturally and thus powerfully.

So to summarize develop a solid pre shot routine that incorporates square alignment, a few waggles and light grip pressure. Swing the triangle back with light grip pressure and turn your back on the target. Commence the downswing with the leadership of your legs and finish the swing in balance. The single greatest swing thought to focus on is ‘rhythm'.

Do this and stop breaking a natural motion down into its component parts. You will be delighted at how consistently you begin to strike the ball for every club in the bag.
Martin is developer of The Golf Social Network Hobeze.com, the website which provides golfers with; PGA Video Lessons, Golf Tips, Golf Advice, Live PGA Newsfeeds, a profile page to upload all their golf video, photos, equipment reviews and an interface to connect golfers worldwide.

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