Ten of the Best: Golf swing tips for beginners
Trying to get rid of an unwanted slice, hook or pull? Then check out our ten of the best golf swing tips to help you out
There a million different parts of a golfer's game that need to be worked on but invariably there's one main problem that each golfer cannot shake off whether it's duffing, thinning, shanking or slicing the ball.
Golf has ten main shots, seven of them that need to be cured (slice, hook, push, pull, shank, top, duff) and three that can help you on the golf course (fade, draw, punch).
In this instructional series we've combined all ten of our articles on these different shots and given a brief description of what the shot is and our five main tips to help you out.
1. Slice
For a right-hander, the slice is a shot that starts straight or left and then curves right (right-hand photograph). For a more detailed analysis look at the how to cure a slice instructional article.
Five quick things to change. You may have...
1. An open clubface at address and weak grip.
2. The ball too far forward in your stance.
3. Your feet close together and standing too far from ball.
4. Left of the target.
5. An out to in swing path.
2. Hook
For a right-hander, the hook is a shot that starts straight or right and then curves left (right-hand photograph). For a more detailed analysis look at the how to cure a hook instructional article.
Five quick things to change. You may have...
1. A closed clubface.
2. Your hands twisted over too much.
3. The ball too far back in your stance.
4. Your Shoulders aimed too far right.
5. An in-to-out swing.
3. Push
For a right-hander, the push is a shot that starts right and stays right (right-hand photograph). For a more detailed analysis look at the how to cure a push instructional article.
Five quick things to change. You may have...
1. The ball too far back in your stance.
2. Your feet too far apart.
3. Your body aiming right of the target.
4. Your weight sitting back on your heels.
5. Minimal hip movement.
4. Pull
For a right-hander, the pull is a shot that starts straight left and stays left (right-hand photograph). For a more detailed analysis look at the how to cure a pull instructional article.
Five quick things to change. You may have...
1. Both hands twisted over too far.
2. The ball too far forward in your stance.
3. Your body aiming too far left.
4. A narrow stance.
5. Minimal leg flex.
5. Shank
For a right-hander, the shank is a shot that goes almost 90 degrees right of the target (right-hand photograph). For a more detailed analysis look at the how to stop shanking the ball instructional article.
Five quick things to change. You may have...
1. The face open at address or your hands twisted under.
2. The ball too far back in your stance.
3. Standing too close to the ball.
4. Most of your weight on your toes.
5. An exaggerated swing path.
6. Duff
The duff is a shot that goes very little distance due to the club hitting the ground before the ball (right-hand photograph). For a more detailed analysis look at the how to stop duffing the ball instructional article.
Five quick things to change. You may have...
1. A too tight grip.
2. The ball too forward in your stance.
3. Your hands could be too far behind the ball at impact.
4. Not be finishing with a balanced finish.
5. Weak wrists on your downswing.
7. Top
The top is a shot that goes very little distance due to the club hitting the top of the ball (right-hand photograph). For a more detailed analysis look at the how to stop topping the ball instructional article.
Five quick things to change. You may have...
1. A too tight grip.
2. A tall stance, without leg flex.
3. A bent left arm at impact.
4. The ball not in the centre of your stance.
5. A tendency to try and hit the ball too hard.
8. Fade
For a right-hander, the fade is a shot that starts left and finishes on the target line (right-hand photograph). For a more detailed analysis check out the how to hit a fade instructional article.
Five quick tips for a consistent fade. Make sure you have..
1. The clubface square to the ball at address.
2. Hold the club extra tight with your left hand.
3. Your body aiming left of the target.
4. An out-to-in swing path.
5. Your right hand coming underneath hard.
9. Draw
For a right-hander, the draw is a shot that starts right and then curves back on the target line (right-hand photograph). For a more detailed analysis check out the how to hit a draw instructional article.
Five quick tips for a consistent draw. Make sure you have...
1. The clubface square to the ball at address.
2. Hold the club loosely with your left hand and turn hands over.
3. Your body aiming right of the target.
4. An in-to-out swing.
5. Your right hand coming over your left.
10. Punch
The punch is a shot that starts off low and stays low on the target line (right-hand photograph). For a more detailed analysis check out the how to hit a punch shot instructional article.
Five quick tips for a powerful punch. Make sure you have...
1. The ball in the middle of your stance.
2. A majority of your weight left.
3. A three-quarter backswing.
4. Strong wrists at impact.
5. A three-quarter follow-through.
Want anymore basic tips for beginners? Then check out our basic golf swing tips series...
Six of the Best: Basic golf swing tips
1. Basic golf swing set up tips
2. Basic golf swing takeaway tips
3. Basic golf backswing tips
4. Basic golf downsing tips
5. Basic golf swing impact tips
6. Basic golf swing follow-through to finish tips
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
