It seems simple enough — tee up the ball, pick a club, get in your stance, swing, — and — hit the ball. Simple. In theory. For centuries, players have found just how challenging that simple premise really is. From the shanks to the tops to the chunks, hitting a golf ball is more than meets the eye. Or maybe it really is as simple as it seems.
Whether you’ve just been invited to your first outing, need some extra practice or are desperately trying to find your fundamentals, everyone can take a little something from a guide on how to hit a golf ball.
How to Hit a Golf Ball for Beginners
Step up to the ball. Keep your feet planted. Find a grip that feels right. Keep your head down. Rotate your shoulders back and unwind downwards through the ball. Congratulations — you’ve hit your very first golf ball.
When you’re just starting out, it’s better to simplify things. As a beginner, everyone in your group will likely be telling you what to do. Though they mean well, all of that information can quite literally go to your head and wreak total destruction on your swing. A lot of golf is about having a clear head and focusing on the ball.
As you get farther into the game, you might want to start listening to some of that golf advice — some of it may even be helpful — depending on who you’re listening to. It’s good to keep a lot of this compartmentalized. There’s so much to keep track of with a golf swing, from what your arms are doing to the way your hands are placed on the golf club.
Golf uses nearly all parts of the body. This can be a helpful way to compartmentalize your swing to effectively hit a golf ball.
The Head
Your swing starts before you even get in a stance. It starts on the tee box, looking at your target. Are you aiming for the green? A spot on the fairway? A general direction ahead of you that at the very least gets you out of the tee box? Select a spot or an area and stick to it. When you find a spot you like, you’ll have confidence in your aim and focus on the actual swing.
As you get into your stance, keep your head relaxed and focused on the ball. You can glance up a few times to make sure you’re lined up right. When you swing, your head should stay down even as you make contact with the ball. Let the others watch your ball. You know where it’s going — maybe.
The Arms
Your arms are one of the main focuses of your swing. Effective arm motion will allow you to bring the club through the ball solid. You’ll need to make sure you have the three main parts of your arms in position for a good swing:
- Shoulders: The key to a good golf swing is to keep your arms loose — don’t tighten up too much. This starts in your shoulders, where you can relax over the ball and let your hands and wrists do most of the work.
- Wrists: As you rotate your shoulders into a backswing, your wrists should hinge the club backward above you.
- Hands: Keep your hands still and steady as you come through the swing. Some players who don’t have faith in their grip might become unsteady throughout the swing. A firm, trusted grip is the first building block for a great swing.
For amateurs, it can be beneficial to have the arms drive the body. If you do the opposite, the swing can become too confusing. As mentioned earlier — simplicity is always better in golf.
The Feet
Your feet are the base of your swing. A steady, firm stance will help you control the ball. Your feet should be a little wider than the width of your shoulders. Keep your feet square and feel the momentum of your swing transfer from one foot to the other throughout the swing. As your weight shifts throughout the swing, it may be tempting to lift that front foot up. Stay steady and only allow that back foot to lift up on your toe as you finish through the swing.
The Torso
As you rotate your arms, your torso will follow suit, turning back and then forward as you strike the ball. Everyone has a different range of motion, which is why Tiger Woods’ swing looks a lot different than the average golfer. Flexibility can help this rotation and give you some more distance on the ball.
Different Types of Golf Shots
Driving, chipping and putting are the three main types of golf shots. Under these are various other types — draws, fades, flop shots, bunker shots, and a lot more. As a beginner, you can focus on the main types and work your way to the more advanced versions from there.
Drive
On most tee boxes, you’ll be hitting a drive — usually around 200 yards or more (much more if you’re Bryson Dechambeau). Depending on the hole, you’ll probably be using a driver for a par 4 and a par 5. You can also use irons for a driver, however, and you’ll be making mostly the same swing for both a driver and an iron.
Chip
These are short shots that are near the green. For these shots, you’ll want to use a sand wedge or a club with a high degree of loft. For a chip, you may be taking a half-swing or less. Shorter backswings will take some of the power out of your swing and give your ball a gentle approach to the hole.
Putt
There’s that old saying — drive for show, putt for dough. Putting happens on the green, the fringe, maybe even the rough if you really want to avoid chipping. You’ll use your putter and deliver a firm, full stroke through the ball to give your ball the speed it needs to get home.
Fades and Draws
Once you figure out the basics of a golf swing, you can then start to look into how to manipulate the ball’s flight. This is useful when you have a dog leg on a hole that you have to maneuver if you find yourself lost in a forest of trees. If you have the ability to hit a fade or draw, those shots can help you give out of trouble and save par. Here’s a brief overview of each:
- Fade: A fade is a shot that shifts slightly left-to-right for right-handed golfers, and right to left for left-handed golfers. Unlike a wild slice, this is an intentional golf shot that moves gently and often lands softly.
- Draw: The draw is the opposite of a fade, moving right to left for right-handed players and left to right for left-handed players. When done correctly, the shot will gently curl back towards the target.
How to Properly Hit a Golf Ball
For starters, it’s relatively simple — just make contact with the golf ball. As you get deeper into the game, you’ll start to have greater control of your shots, and may even want to delve into fades and draws. The wonderful (and frustrating) thing about the game of golf is that there is always something more to learn and always room for improvement.
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