The Sequence of the Golf Swing

By Jim Woolley

If you have ever played golf you will know that one of the hardest areas of the game to master is the swing, The whole sequence of the golf swing is of vital importance because if you can deliver a consistent swing with every shot then you are well on your way to becoming a decent golfer. So what are the basic components of a solid golf swing sequence?
Well the first part is the set-up. Before you start your swing you need to set yourself up correctly. This means placing your feet about shoulder width apart and parallel to your target at a 90 degree angle. Also your left foot should be pointing at the golf ball, although this last point is often determined by personal preference. Then you need to place the golf club directly behind the ball and point the middle of the head of the club directly at your target.
You are now ready for the next component of the golf swing sequence, the backswing. This should be as smooth as possible. Your arms should be in full extension to start with and then you should rotate your body slightly and bring the golf club smoothly above shoulder height until the club is in full extension.
Then you are ready for the next part of the swing which is the downswing. This needs to be just as smooth as the backswing to ensure that you hit the ball as straight as possible and close to your intended target. This is quite hard to do because it involves shifting your body weight from back to front and while you are doing this there is a lot of movement in your legs and hips. This requires careful control but it becomes a lot easier with practice.
Then the final stage is the actual striking of the ball and the all-important follow-through. You should obviously try and hit the ball in the centre and as you do so you should be transferring your weight to your front foot heel and the inside of your back foot. The follow-through should then be completed as fully and as naturally as possible so the club head finishes over your shoulder in extension.
Obviously a good golf swing requires hours of practice and usually a lot of technical corrections along the way, but hopefully I've given you a basic outline of the overall sequence of a golf swing.

The Golf Putting Stroke - 9 Points to Remember

ByLawrence Bredenkamp

Putting is a game within a game and is this article I will cover nine points to bear in mind for the complete putting stroke. I refer occasionally to the "target" and "non-target" sides which simply mean the side of the body closest to or furthest from the target. For a right handed golfer the "target" side would be the left side of your body.
As there are so many different styles of putting and different types of putter the following 9 points apply to the conventional putting stroke. You may need to adapt slightly if you use a broom or belly putter.

1. Keep Your Head Absolutely Still. Some advocate keeping it still until you hear the ball drop. This is a good idea if you sink the putt but where the ball goes past the hole you should watch it closely as this will tell you your line on the return putt. To keep your head down concentrate on a small mark or grass pigment under the ball.
2. Use The Large Muscles. In a consistent and smooth putting stroke the larger muscles in the shoulders and arms are used rather than the smaller muscles in the hands and wrists. They are much more reliable for a grooved stroke.
3. Move Only Your Shoulders. Be conscious of moving only the shoulders. The target shoulder is 'dropped' to take the club away and the non-target shoulder is 'dropped' to seeing it through.
4. Form A Framework. The shoulders and arms effectively form a framework, which does not change shape throughout the swing. There is also no movement in the legs, hips or wrist.
5. Low, Slow and Accelerate. Take the putter back from the address position low, slow and smoothly. The forward stroke should be deliberate, controlled and accelerating. Make your follow through about twice as long as your back swing. Brush the ball towards the hole.
6. Keep a Straight Back and Through Action. Learn to repeat a straight back and through action by keeping the putter blade square to the line for both the backswing and the follow-through. Practice this on short putts - say to 3 or 4 feet. On longer putts there will inevitably be a slight inside movement of the putter face on the backswing, the grooving and continual practice of bringing the putter through square will create the same grooved stroke through the all important striking area for the longer putts as well.
7. Roll The Ball Towards The Hole. Roll the ball don't hit it. Putting is all about picking the correct line and then stroking the ball on that line at the correct pace. Let the hole get in the way of the ball.
8. Develop Your Basic Stroke Around One Distance. Practice your basic stroke around one distance - 8 to 10 feet is ideal - before moving on to practice putts of different distances.
9. Develop A Pre Shot Routine. Stick to the same pre shot routine on every putt. This prepares you both mentally and physically for judging distance and direction. First examine the line of the putt from behind the ball, choosing a mark on the putting surface about 6 - 8 inches in front of the ball on the line you have chosen. Having taken your stance to address the ball, concentrate on rolling the ball over the chosen mark. For very short putts, the hole itself will be visible out of the corner of your target eye, and will be the target when you are concentrating on keeping your head still until the stroke has been completed.

At first glance that may seem like a lot to take in but practice each point until it becomes second nature. If you practice and achieve a consistent golf putting stroke you will soon gain confidence on the greens and start sinking a lot more putts.

A good golf putting stroke will convert to better golf scores.

Kundang Lakes and Country Club - Hole No 13 Par 5

Kundang Lakes - back nine. Hole No 13 Par 5....