If you want your body to move the right way to hit strong golf shots, there are a few concepts you need to understand. There aren’t many strict “rules” in golf technique, but understanding these basics dramatically increases your chances of making the right swing and hitting the ball the way you want.
1. Hit the ground to get the ball in the air
In many of my lessons, it is clear that there is some confusion about how the golf ball actually travels through the air. This misunderstanding often leads to faulty technique. Many recreational golfers, especially in the beginner ranks, think you have to get under the ball to get it in the air, but that’s not the case. To pick up the ball, you have to be ready to hit the ground running.
If the low point of your swing is above the ground, you can get the ball in the air by catching it below the equator, but it won’t release with proper club loft. To use club loft, the club must move down when hitting the ball.
2. The divot must be in front of the ball
A key part of getting the ball in the air is understanding the order of contact: first the ball, then the ground. With proper contact, the club hits the ball and continues down, creating separation ahead of the ball. If separation begins after the ball, the contact was not clean.
Ball position plays a big part in this, and so does your pressure shift forward during the swing. As your weight moves toward the target, the club can more easily travel down and reach its low point behind the ball. While this may seem counterintuitive, it is essential for consistent movement and consistent contact.
3. Ball position is everything from the sand
On the green bunkers, the position of the ball determines whether you hit the ball first or the sand. If the club contacts the sand before the ball, the shot will travel a shorter total distance than if you hit the ball first and then the sand. The easiest way to check this is by adjusting the position of the ball and understanding why that adjustment works.
If your ball position is more in the center of your stance, a normal swing will allow you to contact the ball first and then the sand. This maximizes launch and total distance.
If you are closer to the green and need less carry, move the ball further into your stance. With your regular swing, the club will enter the sand behind the ball. This allows the sand to act as a buffer between the clubface and the ball, helping the ball release smoothly while reducing total carry.
Keep these keys in mind when trying to add or subtract distance to your shots.
4. Leaning the shaft forward leads to lower ball flight
There is a time and place for tilting the axle forward and times when it works against you. If you bend the shaft toward the target without manipulating the clubface, you reduce loft. Less loft produces a lower ball flight and more release after the ball lands.
I often see golfers trying to clear a bunker and stop the ball quickly, but they bend the shaft forward. This does the opposite of what they intend. It reduces loft and reduces bounce, making the club more likely to dig in when it contacts the ground. Understanding the cause and effect of shaft tilt helps you implement it correctly.
5. The length of the backswing controls the distance of the putt
Distance control on the putt is essential to scoring well. It reduces pressure by limiting the number of mid-second shots you face. The length of the backswing should control your distance.
If a putt comes up short, it’s rarely because you slow down. It is much more likely that your return will not be long enough. If you don’t put enough gas in the tank, you won’t reach your destination. When you leave it short, tell yourself the truth: You needed a longer return.
The opposite is also true. If the ball rolls too far from the hole, your backswing will likely be too long. Keep it simple. Understand true cause and effect. This clarity is what allows improvement to happen.
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