Ernie Els shares 5 secrets to hitting the elite ball

Golf instruction is always evolving, but the best tips stand the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Lifetime Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice that teachers and players have shared in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we go back to our June 2011 issue, when Ernie Els shared his elite ball-striking secrets. For unlimited access to the complete digital archive of GOLF Magazine, join Inside GOLF tODAY; you’ll enjoy $140 worth of value for just $39.99 per year.

Ernie Els may have the smoothest swing in all of golf. If you watch him do a few hacks, you’ll be tempted to wonder if he’s even trying. But don’t mistake this indolence for ineffectiveness – Els is one of the greatest players of his generation.

In his prime, there were few golfers who could match Elsie. With 19 PGA Tour wins and four major titles (all coming long Tiger Woods‘ dominance), Big Easy put together an illustrious career.

In 2011, when Els was officially inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, he joined GOLF magazine to share some of his best secrets for hitting the elite ball. Check them out below.

Ernie’s 5 Ball Hitting Secrets

It’s hard to believe that I won the US Open – my second major – at Congressional Country Club so long ago. A lot has changed since then, including my swing, but one thing that hasn’t is my reliance on the key swings that got me my Tour card in the first place, and eventually 64 wins worldwide.

Like any professional — golfer, banker, politician, movie director, whatever — you keep adapting, but you stay true to your core ideals. For me, these are the basics of addressing and returning the club without worrying about positions or complicated angles – my best-kept swing secrets. I’m still going strong after two decades on the pro tour, so I must be doing something right.

1. Take an athletic stance

I know, I know – you’ve heard by now about the importance of the address. Sorry, friends, but success starts here, especially with your driver. Every Tour Pro – every single one! — practices his/her deployment religiously. The secret here is to be fundamentally fit, but still feel relaxed and ready to tap into your innate sense of athleticism. Copy my config keys and you’ll be in a good place to do this.

CONFIGURATION KEYS

2. Swing and step back at the same time

A lot of amateurs see my swing and assume it’s mostly my arms because I have the clubhead so high above my head. The truth is, I rarely think to move my arms at all. I make my best driver swings when I swing the club with my shoulders. Notice here how I’ve started the club again, but the clubhead is still almost hugging the ground. You can’t achieve this by swinging your arms or dangling your wrists to initiate the backswing.

Of course, your arms will move back and lift the club as part of your integrated swing, but thinking more about shoulder rotation will go a long way in giving you more power while you will carry the club on the plane. You need to turn your shoulders! A poor shoulder turn is the number one amateur mistake.

3. Complete your return

A lot of people talk about my transition and how it seems so smooth. Honestly, it just happens – making a smooth transition isn’t something I really think about when I swing, although I know why it happens. Good transitions happen when your body and mind recognize that your return is complete and complete. If you stop too soon, your body senses that you haven’t built enough power in your backstroke, and then it accelerates with a burst of acceleration. The same thing happens when you extend the overdrive: your body senses that you are too long and steps on the gas.

So how do you know when your reversal is full and complete? For me it’s always been when I feel like my left shoulder has caught me behind the ball. When my turn comes at this point, I know it’s time to start down again. No indecision, no hesitation, no rush. If your transition isn’t as smooth as you want it to be, it’s because you’re never keeping your left shoulder behind the ball. Most amateurs come back, but almost none come back enough. Spend an entire practice session forgetting about your swing and just focusing on getting your shoulders back as much as you can. You’ll be surprised how much power you get without swinging harder.

4. Falling pass

In addition to going full and full back, a good way to ensure a smooth transition is to drop your arms straight from the top without doing anything else. This has been a solid key for me since | first took a club. Two things to keep in mind: 1) It’s not just your arms that fall off, but your arms, hand, and shaft; and 2) Everything should fall straight down. You can get away by dropping the arms and shaft slightly behind you, but Bon never in front of you. Even though your weight is shifting forward and your hips are turning as you do this, it’s still a distinct movement to focus on and practice on its own.

5. Synchronize your upper and lower halves

There are a lot of moving parts to your swing, especially when swinging down from above and on the stroke. A little-known secret is that you can move your upper and lower body as fast and as slow as you want—as long as you keep them in sync.

I have trouble with my lower body overpowering my upper body, so I’m constantly trying to keep them working together. Even though my hips are the first to move from the top of my turn, I want my upper and lower body to hit the kick at the same time. I don’t want to be late with my upper body and stay too far to my right side, nor do I want to be too early, rolling my shoulders and hooking the ball to the left.

You know you’re doing it correctly if you feel like your chest is over the middle of your stance as you hit the ball. Since you bring the ball forward in your stance, keeping your chest in the middle gives you just a little bit of stance to hit the ball correctly and maximize your space.

Zephyr Melton

Editor of Golf.com

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Before joining the GOLF team, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists with all lessons and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.