We despise the term "mistakes" around here. It sounds pretentious and lecturing, as if we're going to rap your knuckles or start slapping behinds if you acknowledge any of these minor blunders. Even if you're into that sort of stuff, it's not our intention. We're well aware of our own flaws—in fact, they were the inspiration for the source of most of what follows. Consider our counsel as coming from a trusted friend, a thoughtful golf companion, or the guy you tortured last Saturday by forcing him to take three practise swings before every stroke.
Our "mistakes" aren't just confined to swing or playing flaws. In fact, the vast majority of them are social and emotional in nature, such as hitting on the beverage-cart girl or believing that everyone wants to hear the blow-by-blow of the 98 you just fired. Our suggestions are basically common sense, which golf has a weird way of robbing us of. So get ready to open your mind and let's get started.
● THE GRIP
Golf is difficult enough without having to negotiate a course with a shaky grip. To see if this is the source of your problems, check to see if you're holding the club in the palm of your hand. If this is the case, you're restricting the amount of force and control you can provide at impact, making it extremely difficult to consistently hit effective golf shots.
Look down at your left hand (right for left-handers) and examine how many knuckles are visible if it's in the fingers. If it's more than three or fewer than two, you should do something about it.
You'll struggle with hooks if you have a strong grip (more than three knuckles), and the ball will slice if you have a weak grasp (less than two knuckles). Both are undesirable, so you'll want to gradually bring it back to neutral. If you're right-handed, grab a club by the shaft with your right hand and then wrap your left hand's fingers around the grip, as Alex explains in the video. Before slipping the second hand into place, roll the thumb over to ensure it is securely fastened. Both lines generated between the thumbs and forefingers should point to the right-hand side of your chest if done correctly, as seen above.
● ALIGNMENT
Alignment is something that the finest golfers in the world work on religiously but that the average golfer overlooks. It's also quite simple. Allowing it to go wrong, on the other hand, can result in a slew of headaches.
A common blunder is to believe that your body should be aimed at something. This might work if you're trying to sling in a draw, but when flying it straight, you want your body to be parallel to the club-to-target line. When you're at the range, do as your coach does and place two alignment sticks on the ground. This will ensure that your set-up posture remains consistent, providing you the highest chance of succeeding. Alignment sticks are ideal for this because they are one of the best golf training tools available, and their applications are endless.
If you're having trouble getting this into the course, aim your ball's line at the target and use that as a reference for how to position your body.
● SLICING
The slicing is unquestionably the golfer's worst enemy. Its negative effects are felt most acutely when using the driver, since it results in a shot that lacks distance and consistency, prompting many golfers to put their clubs away for good.
If you slice, keep this tennis analogy in mind the next time you go to the practise field. Imagine you're hitting a topspin forehand with or without a club, and really emphasize the move. After you've done it a few times, try to mimic the sensation of hitting a shot. It's not a quick remedy – nothing is – but it will help you straighten your slice and possibly even hit some draws over time. That would be wonderful, wouldn't it?
● POSTURE
The posture is the last but not least. Many golfers, in particular, have a propensity of standing up during the downswing. As a result, strikes are erratic, and club delivery is inefficient. You can use your golf bag or even a wall at home to drill for a significantly better move. Turn to the top with a club across your chest, making sure your back right pocket is in contact with whatever you're using. On the through swing, you must do the same with the other pocket.
This will help you maintain ideal body angles throughout the shot, allowing you to compress the golf balls more effectively, resulting in sharper hits and increased distance. This drill is great because it is a non-technical fix for a technical flaw that will develop a feel you can use for the rest of your golfing days.
Conclusion
If you don't get off to a solid start on the swing, you'll almost certainly have to compensate later, which is never a good thing. As a result, nailing the takeaway is crucial. We have offered a beautifully easy technique that will benefit you whether you take the club inside, outside, or out of sync with your body.
