As golf bromides go, “Keep your left arm straight” ranks up there with “Keep your head down.” But like most clichés, there’s a reason it’s become so commonplace.

The straight left arm – or the right arm for lefties – is a key building block of an efficient, on-plane backswing. A bent left arm usually causes an overlong golf backswing that, ironically, robs golfers of distance by adding an unnecessary hinge. In fact, many beginners allow the left arm to bend thinking they’ll hit the ball farther.

Deliberately keeping the left arm straight brings its own issue -- undue tension. Instead, proper left arm positioning should flow from sound swing mechanics.

If your left arm bends on the backswing, you probably aren’t rotating the hips, torso and shoulders correctly. Provided you’re reasonably flexible, the shoulders should be at a 90-degree angle to the golf target line at the top of the swing, with the hips at 45 degrees.

From here, it’s easy to get the club shaft parallel to the ground without bending the left arm. If you’re unable to reach these angles with the hips and shoulders, spend a few minutes each day stretching those muscles.

Also check into a Brain Trainer to Keep Your Leading Arm Straight. Knowing how to complete the straight arm swing is only half the problem. Completing a consistent straight arm swing on every tee-off, fairway shot and pitch is really difficult for golfers who have bent their arms while playing golf for many years. GOLFSTR happens to be a simple solution to help you through this conversion from an old swing to the straight arm swing. This brain trainer adjusts on any arm and can be worn during practice or as you play 18 holes. It does give you an advantage so it can’t be worn for any competitive match.

Each time that a golfers prepares to make a shot, your subconscious may take over to trigger that extra backswing were the elbow bends to give you the extra length in your hit. This is a subconscious memory from swinging a baseball bat. Of course this slight bend leads to mishits or over rotation which takes all the distance out of your shot (with side spin or top spin).

Keeping a straight leading arm in the backswing and through to impact requires muscle memory. We are speaking of the grey muscle in your head as well as the muscles in your body. Repeating the correct motion with a smooth transition and accelerating through the ball with a straight leading arm is so important for a great round of golf. GOLFSTR constantly reminds you to keep your leading arm straight. If you lose your focus the gentle release from the back of your arm will sound the alarms in your brain. Knowing that you are swinging properly and seeing the positive result will give you the confidence to adopt your straight arm swing. Check it out at: www.golfstr.com.

Golf Swing Tips Slice

It is estimated 90% of the golfing population routinely and uncontrollably slice the golf ball. The fundamental reason the ball slices is due to an open club face at impact. However, the golf swing works with a cause and effect relationship. Often a move created in the set up or even backswing promote a slice. Therefore, the following golf swing slice tips will all help straighten that unwanted slice.

Grip the club correctly. One of the easiest ways to slice the ball is to set up with a weak grip. Begin by gripping the golf club and you will notice a “V” formed between the index finger and thumb on both hands. For a right handed player with a weak grip the “V” on the left hand will point toward the left shoulder while the “V” on the right hand will point toward the right shoulder. In addition, when you look down at your grip you will only see one or zero knuckles on the left hand.

In a neutral grip position you will see 2 knuckles on your left hand and both “V’s” will point toward your chin while a stronger grip position will show 3 or 4 knuckles on the left hand and both “V’s” will point toward the right shoulder. Both “V’s” should work cohesively together and point in the same direction. The result of the weak grip allows you to open the club face throughout the backswing easily, however, it can be nearly impossible to square or even close the club face through impact. A neutral or strong grip will make it harder to open the club face during the backswing and easier to square or close the club face through impact.

An “over the top” downswing complicated by a poor weight shift is one of the more common faults that lead to a slice. The “over the top” move is created from the club head approaching the ball outside to in or above the swing plane and creates a steep swing path during the downswing. Often the player is trying to swing too hard which leads to over rotating the upper body and using the dominate hand to start the downswing. The result is a ball flight that starts left of the target and slices back to the right. Players with an over the top move sometimes complicate the swing with a poor weight shift and leave all their weight on the back leg and foot. In extreme cases, the player might even spin out and allow the front foot to come up off the ground.

Make sure to keep the butt end of the grip pointing toward the golf ball and target line for as long as possible during the backswing, downswing and follow through. Prevent the butt end of the grip from pointing down toward your toes. After impact, take notice where your divot points. If the divot points left, there is a good chance you came over the top in the downswing. Finally, make sure the front foot stays flat on the ground while the body turns and the back heel comes off the ground during the finish. One of the key golf swing slice tips is to maintain the club on plane with the correct weight shift and finish.

Simple Golf Swing Tips

The golf swing is dependent on completing the previous move correctly. Therefore, it is imperative to set up correctly. Many mistakes are compounded by a poor set up position that places the body or club out of position. The golf swing is an athletic movement and begins with an athletic set up. Setting up correctly is one of the most simple golf swing tips.

Begin in an athletic position with the knees bent slightly and solid base with your feet approximately shoulder width. Stability is necessary to maintain balance, therefore, as each club gets longer position your feet slightly wider. Bend forward at the hips to create an athletic spine angle. The spine angle is important to the golf swing since you swing the club in a rotational movement around the body. One of the most common mistakes in the set up results from creating too much knee flex and not enough bend at the hips. Try to keep your lower back as straight as possible while bending at the hips to achieve the proper spine angle. Position the chin up rather than burying it down into the chest. Burying your chin in your chest will restrict a full shoulder turn.

The arms will hang straight down under the shoulders and the hands should be positioned slightly left of center. The arms and shoulders form a triangle while the elbows are positioned close to each other. The triangle between the arms and shoulders staying intact is a key element of a fundamentally sound golf swing. Breakdowns in the triangle such as the “flying right elbow” are created when the right elbow separates during the backswing and the “chicken wing” occurs when the left arm is bowed at impact.

Many amateurs make a simple mistake by creating level shoulders in the set up. When you grip the club the left hand is positioned slightly higher than the right hand. Therefore, the left shoulder should be slightly higher than the right shoulder in the set up position. This is known as “shoulder tilt,” which promotes the correct downward angle of approach that allows you to hit the ball in the air. In addition, the left hip should be slightly higher than the right hip. This also tilts the spine a few degrees to the right and positions the head behind the ball.

Position the ball correctly in your stance. The ball starts in the middle of the stance for the shortest club and moves slightly forward as each club gets longer. Each club should increase in length by a half inch. Therefore, think of ball position moving forward a half inch for each club. Ball position with a driver is just off the inside of the left foot.

Finally, line up correctly! Poor alignment is another common mistake made in the set up. The target line is an imaginary line that runs both directions through the ball and out toward the target. Position the club face square to the target and your feet, knees, hips and shoulders parallel to the target line.

Remember the set up promotes a fundamentally sound golf swing. Failure to set up correctly leads to extra and unnecessary movements throughout the golf swing. Setting up correctly is easy to do and one of the most simple golf swing tips.

Improve Your Golf Swing

There are a number of reasons why golfers fail to improve. Obviously, practice is a major factor that leads to improvement. Practice in golf can be defined as a method to control the golf ball by learning a motor skill through repetition. The key word is “Repetition.” If your goal is to alter a movement that you have done for a period of time it takes practice, dedication and commitment to reach your desired goal. The improvement does not occur in a 30 minute session on the range or after reading the latest article in Golf Digest. The following drills will all help improve your golf swing.

The takeaway starts the entire sequence of the golf swing. However, players create several mistakes before the club is even parallel with the ground. Begin with your set up position and place a tee 20 inches behind the golf ball extended down the target line. Practice starting the club back “low and slow.” During the correct sequence of movements, the club head should knock the tee over during the backswing. This drill helps assure you swing the club at the correct tempo and path. In addition, this is a solid drill that you can practice on the range or your living room. The lower body creates no movements during the initial takeaway.

The correct swing plane, path and release are all essential if you want to improve your golf swing. The grip down drill is an easy drill that you can practice anywhere and will provide instant feedback on your swing.

Begin by taking a normal set up with a 7-iron. Place a club on the ground to represent the target line (the imaginary line that runs through the golf ball in both directions and out toward your target) and another club by your toes parallel to the target line. Next, grip the club on the shaft just below the grip. The grip should be near your stomach and the club head should be approximately knee height. Swing the club back and once the club is parallel to the ground, check the club head is waist high, toe up to the sky and over the club you laid by your toes. Continue swinging the club up and the end of the grip should point down toward the target line. At the top of the backswing (and follow through) the club will not point at the target line, however, once you start the downswing it will quickly return to point at the target line. Practice three quarter swings so the butt end of the grip continues to point at the target line. Swing down and through impact so your body turns toward the target similar to a full swing. The goal is to improve the swing plane where the end of the grip points down the target line for as long as possible. If the end of the grip points toward your toes or other side of the golf ball you are swinging either too steep or flat.

Although these drills are relatively simple, they will ingrain the necessary movements to develop a consistent swing. Both drills represent an easy way to improve your golf swing, even from the comfort of your own home.

Tips on Golf Swing

Watch any tour player and notice how powerful and effortless they swing a golf club. Now visit your local practice range and note how violently many of the players swing. You can swing as hard as you want, however, you need to maintain your balance. Therefore, balance and tempo are both necessary to hit consistent golf shots and one of the most successful tips on the golf swing.

Tempo in the golf swing is the pace of your swing or how fast or slow you swing the club. Balance in a golf swing is defined as transferring weight appropriately while maintaining body control. The correct tempo allows you to swing as hard and fast as you can, while maintaining a perfect balance. One of the easiest ways to swing with the correct tempo is to start “low and slow” with the takeaway.

Improve your tempo and balance with the feet together drill. Set up to the golf ball with both feet together. Position the ball in the middle of your stance and grab a 7-iron. Make a few practice swings so you feel your arms and body work cohesively together. Begin with three quarter swings and hit the ball with your feet positioned together. The swing should be slow and smooth so you maintain a perfect balance during the backswing, downswing and follow through. If you swing too quick the momentum will cause you to fall forward, thus losing your balance. Once you have practiced several swings, change back to a normal set up and swing with the same smooth swing. The drill is designed to improve contact, however, you will be amazed at how far the ball travels with little effort. Practice this drill and you will understand the idea of effortless power in your golf swing.

Relaxation with a smooth tempo and maintaining your balance are all essential tips on the golf swing. Many players fail to stay relaxed and grip the club too tightly. Your arms and body need to work together throughout the swing. If you grip the club tightly with too much tension it will become difficult to produce consistent shots. You restrict many important movements and your muscles will not work properly if you grip the club too tight. Tension starts in your hands and slowly moves up your forearms into your shoulders and upper body. Good players look relaxed and smooth, therefore, their swing appears effortless. On a scale of 1 to 10, grip the club on a scale of 3 to 4. Pressure situations often lead to more tension in your golf game. Take a deep breath and stay relaxed. Staying relaxed and tension free is one of the biggest secrets and tips on the golf swing.

The following drill will help you create a tension free swing. Clench your hand into a fist tightly and hold it for 5-10 seconds. Next, let go and feel the relaxed sensation in your hands and arms. You lose control of your muscles when they are tight. The next time you go out, keep your hands, arms and body relaxed, rather than creating unnecessary tension. Golf Swing Tip
Everyone is always searching for a golf swing tip for the secret of the golf swing. Whether listening to friends or reading the latest golf article, how do you know which golf swing tip is right for you? The following golf swing tips are rather simple, yet will have a huge impact on ball striking and score.

Develop a pre-shot routine. Even the most intense golfers such as Tiger Woods can not focus for an entire round of golf. However, they can focus for the short time frame before each shot. Observe any golf professional and notice how they stay in the moment and always repeat the same routine. Even players in other sports, such as a basketball player shooting a foul shot or a tennis player before each serve repeat the same routine. Annika Sorenstam begins her routine the moment she selects her club from her bag. If she is interrupted she is known to place the club back in the bag and begin again.

During the routine, visualize the distance, direction and trajectory of the upcoming shot. Use a practice swing to mentally and physically rehearse the shot. While the routine will not guarantee a good shot every time, it will help stay focused and eliminate distractions for the 30 seconds before and during each shot.

Many amateurs snatch the club back by pulling the club with their right hand and arm and moving their lower body. Rather, begin the backswing with the left hand and arm pushing the club away with minimal body movement. Once the club is parallel with the ground allow your wrist to hinge while your arms swing up to the top of your backswing. Your shoulders and hips should naturally turn once your arms start ascending past parallel. In addition, maintain stability with your lower body and avoid any swaying motion. The golf swing is a rotational movement, not a lateral motion and the left arm pushing is a vital golf swing tip.

Keep your head behind the golf ball at all times! In the set up, your head is slightly behind the ball and your head remains behind the ball during the backswing. Finally, your head stays back through the downswing and impact. During the downswing, you transfer weight from your back leg to your front leg in an effort to generate additional power in the swing. If you allow your head to get in front of the golf ball there is a weight shift problem and your arms and body are completely out of sync. Players who allow there head to get forward of the ball typically result in a weak slice or even shank. Generate more power and accuracy by keeping your head back through impact.

Finish the golf swing! The golf swing is similar to other athletic movements such as throwing a ball. Imagine a baseball player trying to throw a ball from center field without moving their body. Your body generates more power than just the arms. Complete the golf swing with a balanced follow through. The left foot should remain flat on the ground while the body rotates toward the target. The correct body turn rotates your chest and belt buckle toward the target. The right foot should come off the heel onto the toes as the body faces the target. Finally, finish in a vertical position to assure the proper finish.

One Plane Golf Swing

Players often question the most effective way to swing the club and one or two plane golf swing often finds itself in the middle of the debate. The one plane and two plane golf swings are extremely different and effective. It is up to each individual to determine which swing is appropriate for their game. The following tips describe the one plane golf swing.

Swing plane can be defined as the angle you swing the club around your body. Every time you rotate your shoulders around your spine they move and create a plane. If you stand straight up and turn your shoulders they move parallel to the ground. If you bend at the waist and turn your shoulders you develop a more vertical swing plane. Your arms help determine whether you swing on one or two planes. As the arms swing up they either stay on the same plane as the shoulders or they swing up and create a new plane. If the arms stay on the same plane as the shoulders you have created a one plane golf swing.

During the one plane golf swing the shoulders turn around a bent over spine and swing the arms around the upper torso on the same plane as the shoulder turn. Ernie Els, Peter Jacobsen, Ben Hogan and Sam Snead are all examples of the one plane golf swing.

One plane golf swings should incorporate a neutral or strong grip. The stance requires the feet square or slightly closed to the target line. The hips should be square or slightly open to the target line while the shoulders are square or slightly open to the target line.
The posture in a one plane golf swing requires more bend at the waist with the hands poisoned below the chin. Taller players require more bend at the waist. Matt Kuchar is a good example of a tall player who must bend more at the waist. During the swing the shoulders turn on a more upright angle. Remember, the fundamental difference in a two plane swing creates a more horizontal shoulder turn while the arms swing more upright.

One plane golfers prefer the simplicity of the swing. They believe less can go wrong with fewer moving parts. If you are interested in developing a one plane golf swing try the following drill. Place a towel under the left arm in the set up. Begin by taking short swings while the towel stays in place. Gradually create a longer swing and keep the towel in place. Completing the drill correctly requires the left arm to stay connected to the chest on the backswing and follow through.