Driving the golf ball might seem to be a simple process, it really isn’t. Only seasoned golfers look at driving the ball as a simple process. The most common phrase that you hear on many tee boxes is “Grip it and rip it”. The most important aspect of the game is driving; it doesn’t mean that putting is not important but a solid start lays the foundation of a good score. So you should be aware of each and every aspect of golf driving basics. Following are the things which comprise the basics of golf driving.
- Getting a Grip
The grip is the foundation of a good swing. A minor change in the grip can be imperceptible to the player and yet it can have a considerable effect on the way the club strikes the ball. So, great care must be taken to make sure that the correct grip is used. For a good golf swing your grip should be neither too strong nor weak, it should be moderate. There are three common types of grips from which you can choose
- Baseball Grip: This grip is same as the grip on a baseball bat. In this grip, hands are placed side by side without any link, so that there is more freedom of movement.
- Overlap Grip: This grip has the index finger overlapping the little finger. This grip is most popular grip among the low handicappers.
- Interlock Grip: This grip has the index finger interlocked with the little finger. It is favored by the golfers with short hands and fingers.
- The Stance
If you start with a bad golf stance, you’ll probably follow with a bad golf back swing, a bad downswing, and a bad follow through. May be your golf stance is not perfect, but you can still get a good swing by staying balanced and relaxed. Staying balanced means the entire body weight must be equally distributed over both of your legs. A good posture always counts. The key part of a good posture is the alignment of shoulders. The position of shoulders dictates the line of swing path, so it is vital that the upper body is aligned correctly.
- Pivot
The pivot is how you move your body from head to toe, without the use of the arms. The correct way to achieve this fundamental is to pivot at the hips when you are swinging at the golf ball. Do not pivot at the back as this can cause some serious spinal damage.
- Backswing
The backswing is the rotation of a player’s body weight towards the right side. It also includes turning of the pelvis and the shoulders, while simultaneously lifting the arms. At the end of the backswing, the hands should be above the right shoulder, with the club pointing more or less in the intended direction of the ball flight. The speed of your back swing should be steady, not fast or slow.
- Driving the ball
Once you develop a sound understanding of the basic fundamentals then you can easily develop your swing so that it is technically proficient and consistent. While driving the ball your swing should be as smooth and controlled as possible. At the impact the left arm and the club should form a straight line.
- Mental game
Mental attitude on the golf course is the most important fundamental of all. Relaxation of the mind and the body is very much necessary as tension always restricts the movements. If your mind is quiet and clear of thoughts then you will be able to swing more freely. You should always try to remain positive throughout the game.
Everybody wants to improve their game whether they are a beginner or a professional. One of the facts is that even the professionals are not totally perfect in their game. When it comes to the game of golf, mistakes are inevitable but with the proper understanding of these golf driving basics, you can definitely improve your golf driving game.
