| To hit the ball, the club is swung at the motionless ball | | | | bent. The front foot should be pointed slightly outward, |
| on the ground (or wherever it has come to rest) from | | | | toward the target, to allow your hips to flow freely |
| a side stance. Many golf shots make the ball travel | | | | through the swing. |
| through the air (carry) and roll out for some more | | | | Tilt your torso slightly towards the ball while keeping |
| distance (roll). | | | | your back straight. The arms should now hang freely in |
| Every shot is a compromise between length and | | | | front of the body to grip the club. The shoulders should |
| precision, as long shots are generally less precise than | | | | be parallel with the ground targets and the toes, and |
| short ones. | | | | your head should be tilted downward with your eyes |
| Obviously, a longer shot may result in a better score if | | | | on the ball. |
| it helps reduce the total number of strokes for a given | | | | These motions described are known as the set-up, or |
| hole, but the benefit may be more than outweighed by | | | | addressing the ball. |
| additional strokes or penalties if a ball is lost, out of | | | | You are ready to begin the golf swing. Keeping your |
| bounds, or comes to rest on difficult ground. | | | | back elbow tucked as closely to your ribs as possible, |
| Therefore, a skilled golfer must assess the quality of | | | | slowly take the club back on a straight line along the |
| his or her shots in a particular situation in order to judge | | | | plain of the ground targets. |
| whether the possible benefits of aggressive play are | | | | Keep your front elbow locked throughout the back |
| worth the risks. | | | | swing and never take your eyes off the ball. This |
| Here are some of the basic elements of the golf | | | | motion should naturally tuck your chin into your front |
| swing that the golfer should use as a mental checklist | | | | shoulder. |
| when taking a shot. The first thing is the alignment of | | | | Hips should remain still and slightly tilted, while the front |
| the body toward the target. | | | | knee will turn inward. At the apex of the back swing, |
| Stand five to ten feet behind the ball, with the ball | | | | allow your wrists to break slightly. |
| directly between your body and the desired target. | | | | Bring the club downward toward the ball, uncoiling the |
| Locate guidance targets on the ground (leaves, blades | | | | wrists, and shifting your weight onto your front foot. |
| of grass, dirt, etc.) inches in front and behind the golf | | | | You should attempt to generate force and speed on |
| ball that should be on a direct line with where you are | | | | your down swing, while never take the clubface off of |
| standing and the target. | | | | the target line. |
| Keep your eyes on those ground targets as you | | | | Upon making contact with the ball, the clubface should |
| approach the ball.Align the clubface behind the ball, with | | | | strike the ground as it moves through, taking a divot |
| the center of the clubface on a direct line between the | | | | from the ground in the area past where the ball was |
| two ground targets you have selected. | | | | lying, and through your second ground target. |
| Grip the club with just enough tension to keep it from | | | | Finish the golf swing with a nice, high follow through of |
| slipping in your hands throughout the course of the golf | | | | the club. Your hips should be turned toward the target. |
| swing. | | | | Your weight should have shifted, and should now be |
| Align your feet on a parallel plain with your ground | | | | firmly on your right foot. Smile and watch the ball fly |
| targets, shoulder width apart, and the knees slightly | | | | toward the target. |