Everyone has good and bad days in golf but what do you do when your golf swing is getting worse each time you play? How do you control your swing and turn it around? We’re going to tell you how to have a good swing, every time.
So, why is your golf swing getting worse? Simple! Stop overthinking your swing and get back to basics. A good way to doing this is by controlling your center of gravity as you swing the golf club.
Every golfer has tips for other golfers. Sometimes those tips work and sometimes they don’t. But here’s the secret – you have to remember the fundamentals, and practice, practice, practice. Read on to learn how to get your swing back, and keep it working.
Your Center of Gravity Triangle
Having too many thoughts or conflicting information when you swing the golf club will make it impossible for the average golfer to improve their swing. Fortunately, to have a really great swing, you only need to think about your center of gravity. A good, simple method was developed by Rob Bernard and is called the Center of Gravity triangle.
The geometry of the center of gravity triangle is pretty simple and controlled by 3 things:
- Boss Fingers
- Your Feet
- Your Face
The principals are easy. The boss fingers control the clubface. The feet control the ground and the center of gravity triangle controls the geometry of ball flight and consistency. We’ll delve into each of these and tell you how you should be doing each.
1. Boss Fingers
Boss fingers control where the bottom of your swing is every time. Your target side hand (the left hand for right-handed golfers) is the boss of the golf club. On the target hand, the top three fingers assume control of the golf club. The top three fingers are:
- Pinky
- Ring finger
- Middle finger
Leave your index finger and thumb to rest lightly on the grip when you take your swing.
Your trail hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) should not be in control of the golf club. It will only slow down the swinging process. If your boss hand loses control of the golf club, the weight of the clubhead rests on the index finger of the trail hand. Once that happens, your downswing motion is too steep and your shots will travel too low and too far for the club you’re using at the moment.
Your target hand will control the face of the club. Your trail hand will control the path of the club. However, most of the ball’s flight direction is based on the club’s path. Focus on squaring the clubface up at impact.
2. Your Feet
Your feet control the base of your triangle. For your starting position, your feet should be shoulder-width apart.
Try these tips for a better stance:
- Flex your knees
- Widen your stance for longer clubs
- Bring your stance in for shorter clubs
- Angle your front foot slightly towards your target
- Spread your weight evenly
- Don’t bend at the waist – use your hips
Do not try all these tips at once. You will get frustrated and you won’t have a lot of progress. Instead, try them one at a time. Spend one practice at the driving range just flexing your knees or widening your stance. Master that and then move on to the other items.
Your feet should anchor you in your golf swing. Use them to your advantage.
3. Your Face
Your face controls the side to side motion of your triangle. It’s a myth that you should keep your head down when you swing your club. A golfer’s head should always come up during a golf swing, just after you make contact with the ball.
Follow the ball using the center of gravity. The trick is to keep your crown (top of your head) as level as possible from the start to the finish of your swing. This habit will make sure you have a consistent spine angle and a straight clubhead path to hit straighter and more consistent golf shots.
Simplify
It’s all about control when you swing your golf club. If you’re having a problem with your swing, you’ve probably forgotten your basics and you’re overthinking it. Control where you put your fingers. Control your stance. Control your face. Do this consistently. Do it at practice. Do it at play. Your swing will improve.
You may be trying to fix too many things at once with your swing. It’s best to bring it back to basics. Take one item at a time and practice that one item. Practice your hand movement one day. Practice enough that you’re comfortable with it and retain muscle memory of it. Then, move on to the second item, such as stance.
In order to get better, though, you have to practice. How much practice is good for your game? Let’s delve into it.
How Often Do You Need to Play Golf To Improve?
Most of us don’t have 20 hours a week to devote to golf practice. We’re not professional golfers or the idle rich. We play when we can or when we can afford it. That being said, you need to practice consistently to be better and ultimately reduce your handicap. For a good balance and to improve your game, go to the driving range once or twice a week and hit the greens a few times a month.
Before you hit the driving range or the course, the most important thing you can do to improve your golf game is to develop a practice plan and follow it through. Start with one item you want to change about your golf game. Perhaps your stance is not where it needs to be. Go to the club and work on your stance. Don’t overthink it. Don’t try for any other skillsets on that day. Just work on your stance until you get it right.
Each day you go to the course, make up a practice plan. Once you’ve mastered one item, incorporate another item into your practice plan until you have a complete swing. Be consistent. This is key.
If you have an hour to spare, head to the driving range and practice your plan. Remember that it’s important to strike a good balance between the driving range and the course. The driving range won’t test you in the same way a course will. You need to increase your experience with both.
Get A Pro
When you feel you’ve hit a plateau in your game or if you feel you’re worse instead of better, consider golf lessons. Golf pros are there to help you in just these situations.
Golf lessons can vastly improve your game, if you attend them consistently and practice what the pro teaches. Remember that one golf lesson will not correct 10 years of bad habits. And if you’re like most players, you will play well while being coached but forget your lessons during play. So, don’t just sign up for one lesson and never go back.
Sign up with a pro and sign up for extended lessons. This gives the teacher a chance to drill those needed skill sets into you and gives you a chance to absorb them. This is going to be one of the best ways to improve your game.
Enjoy Yourself
You should be enjoying yourself on the golf course or driving range. Loosen up. Don’t overthink. Bring it back to basics. Get a lesson if you need one. Above all, have fun. The best round of golf are those where you’re relaxed and able to enjoy yourself. Hit ‘em straight!
Table of Contents