Keeping Your Golf
Swing Free and Easy
Golfers understand that keeping the golf swing free
and easy is one of the keys to successful drives and chips. Having
tense muscles is a sure fire, guaranteed way to have problems. So,
how do you stay relaxed and have an easy... free swing?
You first need
to learn that your pivot center is between your shoulders. The
center of your stroke is not in your hands, wrist, or head. The
muscles that put energy into moving the club forward are in and
below the center of your shoulders.
Think about the muscles that control your head. If you keep your
head still, then you can keep your balance and your center of
gravity. If you can keep your balance and hit the ball with the toe
of the club then you will have a shot that travels the correct
distance.
Extending your arms can help give more power to the ball than
when you bend your arms. If you keep your left arm and club shaft
in line with each other, then you have a fixed way to guide the
club.
Don't over think the shot.
Many times, players take too much time thinking about angles.
Then they move their heads and tense up their muscles when they
swing. Tension destroys any chance that you had at a shot and
reduces your power and accuracy.
Keeping your arms pulled into your body allows you to control
your downward stroke more efficiently and easily. This way you only
have to yield a little to reach the ball, but if you are going
beyond the ball, it is much harder to pull in the hands. This is
why it is good to try to keep your arms in toward the body.
You will not need as much effort to guide the club if you let
the centrifugal force work for you. Let it carry your club out
during the downward swing until it makes contact with the ball.
Then you can use your energy to propel the club.
Ensure that you do not reach for the ball during the address or
your muscles will stiffen up.
People just learning to play golf usually swing short. Due to
the great amount of centrifugal force that is created, the
beginning golfer may pull in their hands involuntarily because they
are afraid that they will go beyond the ball.
If you keep your hands still during the address then they will
most likely be in the correct position when making contact with the
ball. This also helps for you to achieve a comfortable position so
your muscles will stay relaxed. The angle that you address the ball
will have little influence on your game. It is the way you move at
the top of the swing that makes the difference.
The best advice I can give you is to keep your arms straight and
pulled in close to your body. Keep your club shaft and left arm in
line with each other and parallel to your right leg. This helps to
give you better control of the golf club.
Using these tips should help your swing become more easy and
free. The most important thing is to breathe deeply and relax. If
you approach the game of golf with enjoyment, then the rest of your
body will follow suit!
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