Shaping the swing

The aim of all golfers is to develop a simple, repeatable swing. The fewer individual movements there are in your swing, the less parts there are to go wrong and the better chance you have of repeating it.

When building a swing it is vital to understand how different parts of the body work together. Your head, shoulders, arms, hands, hips, knees and feet, must interact correctly if you are to swing efficiently. A good swing is the result of co-ordinated body rotation, and not a collection of separate movements.


Keep your head central

Your head is the centre of any swing, and influences the movement of every other part of the body. By keeping a central position throughout, your head helps you to return the club head to its precise starting point. Your shoulders turn around your head. This sparks off hip rotation, which in turn begins leg movement.

Takeaway and back swing

From the address position, where you have set your aim, taken grip, adopted the right posture, aligned your body and placed the ball correctly, you can start the take-away - the beginning of the back swing.

For the first 6-9in (15-23cm) of the takeaway, the club moves in a straight line as the left arm triggers the back swing. The base of the club head keeps quite close to the ground. Your left arm pulls the left shoulder under your chin. From here, body rotation begins to shape the swing as it coils up the power.

Your right arm must stay relaxed, so it can fold under the influence of your rotating left shoulder. This shoulder continues to be pulled around - although it stays on the same plane. It must stay level and not dip or rise during any part of the swing.

As your shoulders rotate, they pull your hips in the same direction. The hips must also remain on the same plane. But they must be flexible enough to let your body weight shift from an even distribution at address, over to the right foot by the mid-point on the back swing.

By the top of the back swing, your shoulders should have turned 90° and your hips 45°. The shaft of the club points towards the target and is parallel to the ground. Most of your weight is on the inside of your right foot, with the right leg flexed.

Downswing and impact
    
The start of the downswing must be smooth and unhurried. It is triggered by the left hip which starts rotating back to its original address position. This action pulls your hands and arms into a position where they can swing freely through the ball.

After impact, your right shoulder continues to pull the hips to the left, which in turn rotates the right leg. As your right shoulder rotates to its final follow through position, it turns your head around. This is a natural movement. If you force your head to stay still after impact, you prevent your body completing the correct follow through movement.

By the completion of the swing, your body should have rotated to face the target, with the weight transferred to your left foot.

Your arms and hands

Let your arms and hands swing naturally. They should be passive during the stroke and influenced only by the rotation of the swing. They do not shape the swing.

Many beginners wrongly believe that as the arms and hands are in direct contact with the club, they alone control the swing.

If you move your hands and arms independently from the rest of your body, they swing back and through impact in various directions and it is difficult to develop the correct in-to-in swing path. You must have co-ordinated body rotation so that you'll be able to develop a consistent, repeatable and accurate swing.

The half swing

To help you build your full swing, try practicing the half swing, in which you finish the back swing and through swing at the two-thirds position of the full swing.

Feel these key movements: your left shoulder being pulled under your chin; the club head’s weight pulling your right shoulder and hands into impact; your face and chest turning to the target after impact; correct weight transfer.


Swing exercise

Practice this exercise several times a week to help you develop correct body rotation, flexibility and freedom of movement. Hold the club behind your shoulders with both hands, and take up a normal middle-iron address position. Make sure your feet are the correct distance apart.

Rotate to the right

 Rotate your body to the right, making sure your shoulders stay on the same plane (level). From an even distribution at the start, your weight transfers to the inside of your right foot. At this point your back should face the target. Your right knee stays flexed throughout the back swing.
 
Return to centre

Your left hip starts the movement that returns the body to a central position. The rotating hip triggers your left shoulder, which also revolves to the left. You are now in a position similar to your starting point. When you begin your follow through, think of it as a reversal of your back swing.
 
Chest faces target

Your shoulders continue to rotate to the left. By the end of the exercise your chest and head should face the target, with your weight on the outside of your left foot. Your left knee stays flexed on the through swing. This exercise trains the various parts of the body to work together.

Building your swing

1: Starting the back swing

From address (inset) the club moves in a straight line for the first 6-9in (15-23cm) of the takeaway -staying close to the ground. This action pulls your left shoulder to the right, as you begin your back swing.
 
2: Left shoulder pulled under chin

Your left shoulder continues to be pulled under your chin and at the two-thirds point of the back swing is almost directly under your chin. Your wrists hinge naturally, caused by the passage of the club.

3: Top of the back swing  

At the top of the back swing your shoulders have rotated 90° and your hips 45°. The shaft points at the target and is parallel to the ground. Your left knee is flexed and most of your weight is on the inside of your right foot.

4: Starting the downswing

Your left hip starts the downswing by turning to the left. This action must be smooth, pulling your arms and hands into the proper striking position. Don't turn your hip too soon or the club moves outside the in-to-in path.

5: Impact and follow through

At impact your left arm, hands and the club head form a straight line and your weight moves on to your left foot. On the follow through your right shoulder is pulled to the left.

6: The end of the swing

Most of your weight is transferred on to the outside of your left foot by the end of the swing. Your left knee remains slightly flexed and your chest is square to the target. Your head has revolved to face the target.

How your head moves

1: Back swing

Your neck muscles must be relaxed enough to let your head revolve. Your head turns slightly to the right, affected by shoulder turn, but it mustn't tilt up or down.

2: Impact

As the club moves back to impact, your head returns to the same position it was in at address. This occurs naturally with the movement of the swing.

3: Through swing

As your right shoulder continues to turn to the left after impact, your head automatically comes up. Head movement must be natural or it restricts follow through.