The golf swing is going to have a huge impact on the way we play golf, and there is much more to it than attempting to hit the ball a long way. Golf first and foremost is a game about controlling the golf ball and good decision-making, and fortunately is not only about brute strength. Although we have played with many golfers who only think about hitting the ball as long as they can, those individuals certainly aren't getting the subtleties that make the game as wonderful as it is.
That said, being able to hit the ball a long way can be a valuable tool, albeit not the only one. Some have the ability to literally have the ball explode off the head of their club, when other golfers of similar size won't smash the ball with such authority. Breaking down the golf swing into four key elements will allow us to explore the physics of the correct golf swing.
1. The golf back swing. Most golf professionals will maintain that power is not generated in the backswing; that the movement back is purely positional. It is true that the objective in the backswing is to get the club positioned for the contact part of the swing, but it does matter the distance the golfer is able to bring the club back.
If two archers are shooting arrows, the one who can pull the bow-string back further is going to shoot the arrow the farthest. The golfer who can reach back the farthest, and still of course keep the club head in position, the greater range of motion he will have. This demands greater flexibility rather than power.
2. Beginning the swing. The key here is: what generates the club head velocity? Most amateur golfers try to generate the power with the arms and shoulders. The golfers that really drive the ball a long way use the torso. Obviously the torso is much stronger, so if we can make this happen we will be way ahead of the golfers who swing with their arms. By turning the torso quickly and pressing the right leg forward, the club should follow nicely into the hitting area.
3. Ball contact. Another way that many amateur players mistakenly try to generate power at this point is to snap their wrists at the bottom of the swing. According to experts, although this move at contact should work it in fact slows the club head down. By driving through the ball using the hips, shoulders and wrists, the golfer is able to concentrate a high level of force at ball contact.
4. Follow-through. The final thing that many amateurs mistakenly do is hit at the ball, and not using a full follow-through. Some of this has to do with balance, or lack of it after the ball is struck. Some of it has to do with the lack of flexibility to be able to extend through with a full finish. Finally, there is probably a psychological block that says once the ball is struck, the swing is over. The follow-through is as important for hitting the ball for distance as any other aspects of the golf swing.
Breaking down the golf swing into its basic components, starting with the Golf Back Swing, can make it easier to comprehend. Putting it all back together to form the Correct Golf Swing certainly isn't easy, but with some work on the driving range can be done. Sean O'Kelly is an avid golfer and writer living in London.
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