Golf Handicap 2

Did you realize that there is more than one way to swing a golf club? If you have been working to emulate a certain golf swing that you have read about or seen on TV, you may be glad to hear that conformity of the golf swing is not necessary. The one thing that the golf swing really does is deliver the club head to the golf ball. There is no need to limit yourself to a particular style of swing as long as you are consistent in your swing each and every time.

Here are the three parts of your golf swing that matter the most. Master these and you will see a lower handicap

and a confident, consistent golf swing.

1. The Pre-shot Routine:

Before every great golf swing, there is a pre-shot routine that golfers go through. This pre-shot routine is the process you go through to put your body in the right posture and align yourself correctly for the upcoming shot. The next time you are watching golf on TV, look a little closer at the pre-shot routine that the pros go through. This will help you gather ideas for developing your own pre-shot routine.

A typical pre-shot routine will consist of four parts. The first thing you need to do is visualize a successful shot. Determine your target and the flight path that the ball will

travel to reach that desired target.

Next, you need to line up the club face with your target line. Don t try to aim your club at a target 100 yards away, choose a closer mark that is in line with your desired flight path like a divot mark, leaf or rock. This will make aiming a lot easier as you can keep this in sight without lifting your head as you swing.

The third part of the pre-shot routine involves gripping the club and building your stance around your club face. The way your body aligns in relationship to the club face will determine the path of your swing.

The last step in the pre-shot routine

is to make sure that you are relaxed and free from tension. Wiggle your club a little and take a deep breath or two to help release any tension. Clear your mind of unnecessary thoughts.

2. The Backswing:

The backswing will play an important role as it will set the pattern for the entire golf swing. You need to keep your arms and body synchronized, striving to backswing the club head nice and smooth. The club head should glide smoothly back, remaining close to the ground at first, but gradually arcing inside the target line. At the top of your backswing, the club shaft should be aligned parallel to the target line. If your

club is pointing to the left or right of the target line, your shot will most likely head off target.
3. The Downswing:

Your downswing is not really an action, but rather a reaction to what you have done so far. The downswing starts with a slight movement of your left knee (for right-handers) towards the target along with a gradual shift of weight onto your left foot. This starts to unwind your hips and torso. You then hit through the ball allowing your arms to finish up into the classic follow-through position.

As you can see, if you take the time to align your body correctly and stay lined up during your backswing, the rest of the

golf swing becomes a natural chain reaction. Once you put things into motion, just relax and let the clubs do the work.

Greg Schueler provides free golf tips and advice from golf pros and instructors from around the world at http://www.ABetterGolfSwing.com

Go there now and get your free copy of “The Perfect Swing” before we start charging for it.