To be your best you need to know a few things.

[golfyoda]

I see so many golfers at the range while I teach lessons doing one thing in common with each other.
They are only focused on ball flight. Sure it tells you alot. If you know what causes the ball to do what it is doing. To improve your golf swing you start with set up. Simple. Grip, posture, Ball position, stance width and the most important for each person is alignment of clubface and body in relation to target.
What happens first during the motion? Backswing. A few things need to be done correctly, you do not need to be perfect as there is not anything perfect. If there was Tiger wouldn't change his swing. Now that the back swing is in order lets look at transition from back to downswing. This is the critical move. Most people use the wrong side of their bodies to do this and then it becomes a series of adjustments til the ball is struck. If everything is done correctly to this point impact should be good. We then need to look at release and finish which are one in the same if done correctly. You just need to know what to look for. There are many ways to swing a club. There are just some basics that are not so basic. Once you know them you can apply them for many repetitions to build a repeatable golf swing. Then it is time to learn how to score and clear your mind. After this has all been learned you may be a low handicapper. No promises as effort is needed to get there.

[milner_7]

I see so many golfers at the range while I teach lessons doing one thing in common with each other.
They are only focused on ball flight. Sure it tells you alot. If you know what causes the ball to do what it is doing. To improve your golf swing you start with set up. Simple. Grip, posture, Ball position, stance width and the most important for each person is alignment of clubface and body in relation to target.
What happens first during the motion? Backswing. A few things need to be done correctly, you do not need to be perfect as there is not anything perfect. If there was Tiger wouldn't change his swing. Now that the back swing is in order lets look at transition from back to downswing. This is the critical move. Most people use the wrong side of their bodies to do this and then it becomes a series of adjustments til the ball is struck. If everything is done correctly to this point impact should be good. We then need to look at release and finish which are one in the same if done correctly. You just need to know what to look for. There are many ways to swing a club. There are just some basics that are not so basic. Once you know them you can apply them for many repetitions to build a repeatable golf swing. Then it is time to learn how to score and clear your mind. After this has all been learned you may be a low handicapper. No promises as effort is needed to get there.

Thanks! Great Post! I am really focusing on Grip and set up right now. I am guilty of focusing on ball flight but am learning to put myself into position to achieve a repetitive swing and a nice finish. I took lessons last winter and forgot to apply what I was taught on the course. Its so easy to forget and go back to what your used to doing.

[Quest]

Thanks! Great Post! I am really focusing on Grip and set up right now. I am guilty of focusing on ball flight but am learning to put myself into position to achieve a repetitive swing and a nice finish. I took lessons last winter and forgot to apply what I was taught on the course. Its so easy to forget and go back to what your used to doing.

The key here is to spend lots of time practicing without a golf ball in front of you. If you continue to perform practice swings using your proper setup, and do that for 15 - 20 minutes a day, it will ingrain muscle memory that you will be able to take to the course to help your game.

[hogannut]

John Jacobs has a great quote in his book "Practical Golf". It says something like the purpose of the golf swing is to apply the clubface squarely to the back of the ball at the highest speed the golfer can produce. It continues and says that HOW that is done is basically irrelevant as long as it can be repeated consistently.

I totally agree with this statement too. Essentially there is no point on working on your golf swing and taking lessons if your "static" positions like grip, stance and ball position are weak. You could have the best golf swing in the world but if you don't allign your body to the target you want the ball to go to you won't be shooting very good scores.

[Quest]

I totally agree with this statement too. Essentially there is no point on working on your golf swing and taking lessons if your "static" positions like grip, stance and ball position are weak.

I recently played with a golfer who has played for many years. During the round he was hitting many shots "fat".

After struggling for many holes he asked me if I could see anything in his swing that was causing his troubles.

I had noticed very early in the round what he was doing, however, I am not the type who offers any advise unless it is requested of me. I suggested that he was playing the ball to far forward in his stance. He countered that the ball was in the middle of his stance. I had him setup and I moved the ball and placed a golf club between his feet where the ball was and told him to move his left toe back so that his feet were parallel. He could then see immediately that the ball had been forward.

I see many golfers position their golf ball between their toes as opposed to their heels. Because the left foot (right handed golfer) is flaired toward the target it really does cause a bit of an optical illusion.

As Hoganut suggested, your setup is key whether you are on the tee, fairway, or green.