How to Improve Your Golf Swing!

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The golf swing is one of the most complicated maneuvers in sport, requiring a good deal of muscle co-ordination and timing. Golfers, particularly inexperienced players, often over-correct small swing faults, thus making them worse. Improving a golf swing and thus lowering the score can be helped by making minor adjustments that will gradually fix problems.

1. Correct Alignment from the Tee
Many novice golfers struggle to realize precisely where they are aiming from the tee. This problem can be overcome by selecting a prominent nearby target, say, 10 or 20 yards away, such as a visible piece of debris. It is far easier to correctly align the feet (and hence hips and shoulders) with the nearer target than the target area where the ball is intended to land. The same technique can be used on shorter shots from the fairway.

2. Correcting a Fade or Slice
A fade or slice is caused by striking across the golf ball, imparting unwanted sidespin, causing it curve towards the right (assuming the player is right handed). On addressing the ball, ensure the clubface is square to the target and not "open," i.e. pointing to the right of the target. The point of impact with the ball is the crucial factor, as a slice is often caused by swinging at the ball too fast. Keep hands relaxed through the impact area, allowing the club to release forward, then across the body.

3. Correcting a Pull or Hook
A pull or hook is the opposite of a fade / slice, causing the ball to curve to the left (for a right-hander). The problem can be helped by allowing the lead arm (left arm for a right-hander and right arm for a left-hander). Keep the other arm relaxed so that it does not come across the ball too quickly.

4. More Loft from Fairway Woods
Many golfers "top" the ball with fairway woods, as a result of trying to "pick up" the ball cleanly from the turf. Though it is unlikely to feature in golfing textbooks, there is absolutely nothing wrong with taking a small divot with a fairway wood. Furthermore, as with all golf shots, keep the head down and be certain to get through the ball. This should result in high-flying, confidence-inspiring wood shots from the fairway.

5. Better Contact with Long Irons
The majority of golfers have something of a "mental block" over hitting long (2-4) irons, hence the recent popularity of the hybrid club. Agreed, the long irons are the most difficult clubs in the bag to hit, but a few small adjustments can greatly improve performance with long irons. Players tend to tense their arms, failing to allow the club to do the work. Line up the stance with the ball 2 inches inside your front foot. Stand tall, keeping the club at a relaxed position and concentrate on a high swing plane.

6. More Accurate Mid-Irons
For improved accuracy with mid (5-7) irons, position the ball near the middle of the stance and bend the knees only slightly. Do no straighten or bend knees further on swinging back and through the ball.

7. More Accurate Short Irons
With short (8-iron to SW) irons, the shorter the club, the further back in the stance the ball needs to be played. Move closer to the ball to maintain a high swing plane. Keep arms loose, grip firm and legs still in order to make solid contact.

8. Higher-Flying Pitch Shots
The loft of any club can be increased by opening the clubface. Also, use an open stance and follow through across the body. Stay down on the shot, keeping hands and arms relaxed, being sure to follow through. Aim a little left of the target, as the open face and stance will cause the ball to fly slightly right (similar to a bunker shot).

9. Better Chip Shots
Move the ball back in the stance and make sure hands stay in front of the club face throughout the swing. Keep hands firm and shorten the swing to avoid errors.

10. Better Putting
The best view of how a putt will break can be obtained by looking at it from different angles. Line up the ball logo on the correct line and trust the alignment, despite the break perhaps looking different from behind the ball.

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