To learn how to swing a golf club can be one of the most challenging things to actually master especially if you’re a beginner. It requires commitment and effort on your part to put in the practice necessary to learn how to swing a golf club effectively. There are a few basic things you need to keep in mind in order to learn the golf swing and it is recommended that you take it slow and learn one thing at a time.

Once you feel comfortable with a particular aspect of the golf swing then move on to the next step. If you really want to learn how to swing a golf club then by mastering these 5 steps you will have it in no time at all, but you will have to practice to make it perfect. My 5 essential steps are: Grip, Stance, Backswing, Downswing and Follow Through.

#1 The Grip

There are basically three kinds of ways to grip the golf club. It is important to spend the time necessary to master your grip as this is a critical aspect of the golf swing. If your grip is incorrect it will affect your performance negatively even if everything else is fine.

The first kind of grip is the interlocking grip, this is where the index finger of the left hand and the small finger of your right hand interlock or hook each other. If you have short hands or your hands are very thick then this kind of grip may be the best for you.

The next kind is the overlapping grip. With this grip the little finger of the right hand will sit on top of the index finger of the left hand. You need strong wrists and arms to use this grip. Test each grip method and decide on the one that feels most comfortable to you.

The baseball grip is commonly used by most beginners. The index finger of the left hand and the little finger of the right hand do not overlap or interlock but they do make contact. This is basically as the name suggests the way you would grip a baseball bat.

#2 The Stance

The important point to remember with the stance is to keep your weight balanced and your feet position getting wider up to shoulder width as the club you are using gets longer. So for the driver you will want the most stability thus a wider stance with your legs shoulder width apart is ideal. Also the ball position should start at the center of your stance for a wedge and move up to the heel of your left foot for the driver.

#3 The Backswing

One of the biggest mistakes that beginners make is that they rush their backswing. Make sure that you take a slow relaxed backswing. You are better off being too slow than too fast when it comes to the backswing. Also work on keeping your left arm as straight as possible throughout the backswing.

#4 The Downswing

An important key to the downswing is to keep your head in the same position or as close as possible to its original location throughout the downswing. Make sure that you do not try to use your right arm to try to generate power. Instead you should get the feeling that you are pulling the club with your left arm. The power will come from the leverage that is created between the angle between the club and you left arm. The longer you can hold this angle the more power you will create.

#5 The Follow Through

At impact make sure that your head is behind the ball and keep your head down and let it come up with your right shoulder. Keep in mind also that at no point in the golf swing should you feel like you need to add power or strain yourself. Stay relaxed and you will soon develop an effortless swing that is not only accurate but also generates a lot of power and distance.

My advice would be to spend a week or two practicing your grip, stance and basic swing movements. Once you are ready to trust your mechanics then you can head out on the course and focus on your targets. When you are on the course do your best to stay away from thinking about swing mechanics and just concentrate on your targets. Train your swing and then trust it, this is the best way to get lower golf scores.

I realize that to master this process can take some time and some practice. Therefore i have spent months putting together a comprehensive package that teaches exactly how to swing a golf club the most effective way possible. To take a look at this guide click here: http://www.slideshare.net/improveyourgolfswing/how-do-i-swing-a-golf-club-1741725.

By: Tony Sharp

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Firstly I am going to make a few points about the grip

I am not going to go into how to actually hold the club.
That part is for another time.

However, I will say this. Make sure the palm of the right
hand and the back of the left hand and the club face are
all square to the target.(right handers)
This is at address and at impact..

I am actually going beyond this important step and am going
to make a few observations in the field of uncertainty,
carelessness and error.

The first important point is to make sure you maintain a
firm and constant pressure during the whole swing. This
means maintaining the same pressure as you had when you
started your swing, at the top, after the ball has been struck
and right through to the end of the follow through.

So many golfers, especially the beginners and the less
experienced of us pay little attention to their grip at the
top of the swing and after the ball has been struck.
What is the importance of the grip after the ball has been
struck? they may well ask

Well, maintaining the same grip pressure at the top of the
swing is vital in the performance of a good shot.

You must be sure not to relax it as so many do. The degree
of suppleness that the player has may play a part in not
being able to maintain a constant pressure at the top. If
this is so, then try a swing where you don’t take your club
so far back.
That is, shorten your back swing. You will
find that you hit the ball just as well, if not better and
your accuracy will improve. Many older players play like
this and score very well.

Now what about after the ball has been struck? Reducing the
grip pressure just after the ball has been struck will
result in a golf shot that lacks firmness. If you have a
tendency to do this, it can be overcome by finishing your
swing with a good follow through. The grip will remain
constant.
Incidentally, a good follow through will give you more
accuracy and a better club speed as you hit your ball
making the ball travel further.

Further to loosening your grip at the top. Players who do
this are fully aware of what they are doing, but are
unaware of the effect of this manoeuvre. They feel that
they can regain normal pressure on the way down.
However, changing grip pressure at the top makes it
impossible to maintain a square club face from address to
the striking of the ball.
Loosening at the top will have the effect of the club face
being off square at impact and so a poor shot will result.

By: Bill Maitland

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