Suggest

Golf swing basics

Golf / Popular

Learn the takeaway, backswing, transition and follow-through as one motion.

What coaches agree on

  • Rotate your torso going back and through, and let your arms and the club respond to that turn - the body's rotation is what actually powers the swing.
  • As you move from the top of the backswing into the downswing, shift your weight from your trail foot onto your lead foot.
Show more

Common mistakes

  • Rushing the downswing by throwing your hands and arms at the ball, and gripping tighter as you do it, breaks the swing's rhythm and costs both contact and power.
  • Letting the club drift too far inside, low, or behind your body in the first couple feet of the takeaway - often from standing too close or too far from the ball - puts the rest of the swing in a difficult position to recover from.
  • Swaying your head and body off the ball, or standing up out of your posture during the downswing, is a major cause of inconsistent contact for amateur golfers.