TOP 17 Best Golf Swing Tips to Actually Get Better at Golf

5 min readSep 18, 2023

Introduction

Golf is a sport that requires skill, precision, and consistency. Mastering a proper golf swing technique is essential for lowering scores and getting better at the game. While there are many nuances to a golf swing, following some basic principles and tips can help you develop a more effective and repeatable swing. Here are the top 17 best golf swing tips to help you improve your overall golf game.

1. Grip the Club Correctly

One of the most important fundamentals is gripping the club properly. The grip affects many aspects of the swing, including clubface control, swing path, and the ability to hinge the wrists. Use a neutral or overlapping grip to allow the club to be released through impact. Ensure your hands are in control of the club, not letting the club control your hands. Set your grip pressure to hold the club securely while still staying relaxed.

2. Posture and Alignment

Proper posture and alignment establishes balance and consistency for the entire swing. Stand tall with a slight bend at the hips to allow some flexion in your spine. Avoid dipping the shoulders. Align your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target line. Check your posture and alignment before each shot to ingrain proper setup.

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3. Hinge the Wrists

Hinging your wrists during the backswing loads power into the swing. The wrists should hinge naturally as the arms lift the club. Allow your wrists to fully hinge until they reach their limit of flexibility. Avoid flipping or casting the wrists early on the downswing. Maintaining the wrist hinge longer generates more clubhead speed.

4. Turn Your Shoulders

The shoulder turn initiates the backswing and transfers power into the downswing. Pivot your shoulders around your spine angle instead of swaying off the ball. Turn your back to the target with your weight balanced between your feet. Complete a full shoulder turn to maximize your power. Sync your arms and body for efficient rotation.

5. Transfer Your Weight

Shifting your weight properly during the swing generates power and consistency. Maintain 50/50 weight at address. As you turn back, transfer 75% of your weight to your trailing foot. On the downswing, shift your weight forward to your lead side. Allow the hips to drive the swing while keeping the head still.

6. Swing on Plane

Swinging on plane optimizes your efficiency and clubface control through impact. Match the angle of the club shaft to your spine angle. In the backswing, keep the hands and club in front of the chest and avoid lifting the arms. On the downswing, drop the club to approach impact at the proper angle. Staying on plane minimizes errors.

7. Generate Clubhead Speed

The faster you can swing the club, the further the ball will go. Increase clubhead speed by turning your body forcefully to build momentum. Allow your arms to fully extend at the top of the backswing. Whip the club through impact by releasing your wrists and forearms. A smooth tempo and acceleration boosts clubhead speed for maximizing distance.

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8. Compress the Golf Ball

Compressing the ball transfers maximum energy into your shots. You want to sweep the ball off the turf by brushing the grass slightly after impact. Maintain your spine angle and let the club bottoms out naturally. Keep your head behind the ball and make solid contact to compress the ball first.

9. Follow Through

A proper follow through promotes balance, rhythm, and completes the swing. After impact, continue rotating your body with your arms extended out in front. Allow the club to swing straight through the ball on your target line before releasing. The follow through improves consistency while preventing deceleration that can cost yards.

10. Develop a Repeatable Routine

Establishing a routine before each shot instills consistency in your setup and tempo. Choose 1–2 checkpoints like your grip or alignment to focus on. Step behind the ball and visualize your shot. Approach the ball deliberately and go through the same motions before pulling the trigger. Grooving a repeatable routine is key for ingraining your mechanics.

11. Keep Your Head Still

Limiting excessive head movement during the swing minimizes errors caused by swaying. Set your posture to keep your head still and allow your body to coil around it. As you turn, avoid lifting your head or swaying off the ball. Keep the head behind the spot through impact to make solid contact. A steady head promotes balance and consistency.

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12. Accelerate Through the Ball

Gradually accelerating maximizes your closing speed and solid contact. Build momentum with a smooth takeaway and deliberately increasing speed into the downswing. Release your wrists and forearms to accelerate the club through impact rather than decelerating. Maintaining acceleration generates optimal distance and control.

13. Swing Within Yourself

Swinging within yourself promotes balance, rhythm, and consistency. Don’t overswing by trying to kill the ball on each shot. Focus on making solid contact first before power. Smoothly increase your backswing length as you groove your swing mechanics and flexibility. Developing an efficient motion takes priority over distance early on.

14. Create Lag in the Downswing

Lag stores power into the swing for explosive release. As you begin the downswing, keep your wrists hinged while dropping the club into the slot. The lag stretches the muscles while keeping the clubhead behind. Time the release just before impact to maximize speed through the ball. Lag adds power and consistency.

15. Practice with Purpose

Improving your swing takes quality practice with purposeful reps. Outline specific drills and focus points based on your weaknesses. Train different swing positions to ingrain proper mechanics. Visualize each shot shape and target. Videotape your sessions to analyze your swing. Refine your motions gradually through purposeful practice.

16. Get Custom Fit for Your Clubs

Using properly fit clubs optimizes your consistency and performance. Get fit by a professional who analyzes your swing characteristics. Custom clubs can be tailored to your swing path, speed, and angles to maximize results. Matching your equipment setup translates to more fairways and greens hit.

17. Take Lessons from a Pro

Taking golf lessons is one of the fastest ways to improve quickly. An instructor helps you build a swing tailored to your body type. Train proper grip, posture, alignment, swing plane, and mechanics. A Pro uses video analysis and training aids to accelerate your learning. Investing in lessons prevents ingraining bad habits.

Conclusion

Applying these best golf swing tips allows you to groove an efficient and consistent swing. Mastering the proper fundamentals and mechanics takes practice and patience. Stick to quality reps over quantity. Videotape lessons and training to analyze your progress. With disciplined practice, you’ll lower scores, find more fairways, and enjoy the game even more.