GOLF SECRETS: THE BASICS OF A GREAT SWING

By Anwar Heidary

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE GAME

Weather, mood, stress levels, traps, and par: all these things and more influence every game of golf you play. At the end of the day, though, it all boils down to the swing.

★By focusing on the elemental aspects of the swing, you can consistently improve your game without getting confused by the specifics.

YOUR POSTURE

The first thing to remember is to check your posture.

Bend slightly at the knees and lean forward at the hips.

★ This helps center your body's weight on the balls of your feet and allows you to turn easily in either direction.

PREPARING FOR THE SWING

Once your posture is set, coil your shoulders for the swing.

The secret is starting with the shoulders and letting the arms follow. There is no need to lock your elbows in order to maintain straight arms.

★ Remember, staying loose and relaxed is critical for a powerful, accurate swing.

CLOSING IN ON THE SWING

Since one arm is now reaching farther than the other, your dominant wrist should cock naturally, bending to form an “L” shape between the shaft of the club and your other forearm.

Once your wrist is cocked, your hands should remain mostly still until your swing is at the top.

FINAL STEPS

From this point, simply uncoil your body to bring the club down and through in one smooth sweep.

Follow through the strike by letting your body move into the same position on the other side.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

By practicing these simple basics of posture and movement, even an excellent golfer can continue to get better at the game.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anwar Heidary is the Managing Director at Smart Financial Consulting and has over 25 years of experience in the field. When he is not working, he enjoys playing golf and improving his game.