How to Make a Good Golf Swing

Golf Swing Basics, From the Down Swing to the Follow Through

Sep 9, 2009

A golf swing is among the most frustrating tasks in sports and requires good mechanics throughout. Correct movements must be made in the downswing and the follow through.

The elements of the golf swing are highly mechanical and synchronized, and must all be performed in conjunction with the other actions, in the right rhythm and at the right times. The swing is completed in a few quick seconds, but there are dozens of minor actions that must be processed with minute details.

How to Make a Golf Swing

The swing begins as a pendulum, moving your hands and arms up from the ball to your back shoulder. The front arm and the front elbow remain straight, and the back elbow compresses against the rib cage as the wrists bend when the club reaches about waist height.

Once the wrist bends, the front elbow remains straight and the back elbow remains against the body, and the arms continue to coil the club upwards and backwards. As the arms are coiling, the back leg straightens out and the weight is shifted to this back leg. The front knee bends and prepares for a transfer of motion, weight and energy on the downswing.

The Golf Downswing

As the club reaches about waist level, the back and shoulders turn in a tightly coiled spiral, moving from facing the ball to a point where your back is nearly turned to the fairway. Your hands should be rotating upward while your hips and torso rotate to the left.

The downswing begins as you lower the club from around your body and your bent wrists snap back into starting position at the bottom of the swing – at the impact zone. As you lower your elbows, your front elbow remains straight and your back elbow straightens out. The club should be thrown down at the ball, with the wrists providing a flicking action at the moment of impact.

Your back will uncoil and your body will be facing the ball as it does in its starting position at the moment of impact. When your club makes contact with the ball, your weight will have shifted from your back leg back to a spot of even distribution, and your front leg will be straightened out, while your back leg will have its knees bent and you will be standing on your left toe.

The Golf Follow Through

The follow through is performed as the logical extension of the swing, and provides the release of energy for the swing. In your follow through your weight will shift to the front side of your body (toward the fairway or landing area), and you will find your front leg supporting the weight of your swing, straightened out while your back leg is bent at the knee and on your toes. As you coil the swing up towards your head and shoulders, your weight will likely shift back toward your left leg as you watch the ball in flight.

Once your wrists break at the point of impact, they will roll over on your follow through. Your lead wrist will face the fairway and your trailing wrist will also be facing the fairway as your get on top of your other hand.

It is more than just the swing that makes up a good golf game, though, and the following tips can have you on your way to a complete set of skills:

The copyright of the article How to Make a Good Golf Swing in How to Play Golf is owned by Matthew Fortuna. Permission to republish How to Make a Good Golf Swing in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.