A teacher instructs a student during a golf lesson.
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Whether you’re just starting your golf journey or need some pointers before hitting the balls with friends, there are a few things you need to know to set yourself up for success – and Erika Larkin, a Top 100 GOLF Teacher -it, can help.
According to Larkin, there are only five main areas of the golf swing to focus on when starting out: grip, stance, backswing, downswing and rhythm. And in this quick video, she breaks down each one and gives you some tips that will help simplify your golf swing and even prevent bad habits from forming down the road.
Follow her instructions below to build a strong swing in five minutes or less.
Get a neutral check
The first step to any good golf swing is a proper grip. While there is many hand placements to choose fromLarkin says a neutral grip is the best place to start for a beginner.
To position your hands correctly, Larkin says to take your leading hand (left hand for right-handed players, right hand for lefties) and ‘snap’ the lower wrists of that hand so that create a pocket for the club to rest.
Place the handle in the curve you created, then wrap the rest of your hand around the top of the stick. As Larkin points out, you should be able to lift the club up and swing it back and forth with just this hand on the grip. One key thing is that you always want to grip the club in your fingers, not your palms.
Then we will add to your next hand, or trace. Pinch your fingers again to create another pocket and wrap them around the club. Grasp the stick in your fingers, not your palms, and place your trailing hand on top of your lead thumb. You’ll know you’ve nailed it when both thumbs point down the shaft and your fingers line up on the back of the handle.
From here, you can either leave your hands in a 10-finger grip formation, or try other hand placement options. Some golfers prefer an interlocking grip, where the first finger of your top hand and the pinky finger of your bottom hand overlap. Or maybe you like to use an overlap grip, where the pinky finger of your bottom hand overlaps the first finger of your top hand. Find what feels best for you and stick with it.
Enter your “ready position”
Step 2 is entering your golf setup and with Larkin’s quick check points, it will only take a minute to get into the ready position. Start with your feet about shoulder-width apart and let your knees bend. This will bring you into a stable, athletic position.
Next, you need a forward bend in your stance to induce good spin in your swing. Larkin says you can achieve this proper golf stance by hanging from the hips, similar to how you slide your butt when sitting in a chair.
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The last step in getting into your golf setup is to find your arm position. To do this, Larkin says to let your arms hang naturally. Not only does this help you understand where your arms and hands should be, but it also gives you an idea of how far they should be from your body when you swing a club.
Master the push and turn motion
Now that you’ve established your grip and stance, it’s time to swing, but how you start your swing may surprise you. Larkin explains that your legs are actually what ignites the drive for you to take the club back and through.
“The key to sparking your golf swing is actually in your feet. Especially your lead leg,” Larkin says.
In the video above, Larkin shows how she uses her left leg to get away from the target.
“I’m going to get into my ready position and push myself to the right and roll back onto my right heel,” Larkin says.
As you practice this push-and-turn movement, notice how your arms will naturally begin to respond to this body movement and create a nice rocking motion in your back, says Larkin.
Once you’ve formed your backswing, it’s time to incorporate a club. Take a high iron like an 8 or 9 iron and take small swings. See if you can catch the grass as it swings at an even pace.
“Feel the pressure moving back and forth,” says Larkin.
Let your arms and the weight of the club swing back and through, and remember to stay in your golf stance during the backswing.
Learn to hit the brakes
Believe it or not, being able to stop on the landing is critical to your follow through and is necessary to make solid, center-of-the-face contact. Larkin explains that you need to put the brakes on past influence to create a balanced ending.
“When we go through the leg, we want to engage the front of the body and put the brakes and past impact so you can get into a good balance position and control your shot,” says Larkin.
As you practice doing this stop motion, Larkin says to think about bringing your weight forward and keeping your legs in check. Finishing on your side of the lead with minimal leg movement will lead to a more consistent follow-through, leading to more hits in the center of the face.
Synchronize your movement
Tempo may be one of the most important keys to working out as a beginning golfer. The reason is that poor tempo can lead to throwing off your swing plane, increasing tension and manipulating the clubface.
“Instead, we want to move in a way where we have smooth acceleration,” Larkin says.
One change Larkin mentions that can help is to start out slow and build your speed. You can also use a metronome as you practice to develop a fluid swing.
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