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Posted on: 17 June, 2004

Author: Glen Osborne

The Golf Swing: Phases Of Your Tee-off, Putt, Or Any Other ... yourself in this scene at the first tee of a golf course. * Hold the golf club loosely * Have my left thumb here * Bend my knees The Golf Swing: Phases Of Your Tee-off, Putt, Or Any Other SwingPicture yourself in this scene at the first tee of a golf course. * Hold the golf club loosely * Have my left thumb here * Bend my knees there * Keep my eye on the ball * Get outta here you miserable fly! * Don't talk on the tee * What was that important tip dad told me yesterday? * Good grief! Everyone is staring at me! * What did the golf teacher on the Golf Channel say last week? * Rats! I got my 6-iron instead of my 9-iron! * What did my neighbor's cat say to do? * Aaaaarrrrrrrggghhhh! * There's too much to remember!Don't despair! Below, you will learn an orderly solution tothis confusing state of affairs as you attempt to tee-off,putt, chip, pitch, or play any other type of golf shot.In time you will blend some of the following phases together asone phase. But, never develop thoughts which jump back and forthamong these phases.This is the 3rd article in my series which will lead you towardsgood putting, chipping, and swing skills.In my 2nd article I introduced you to the idea that most of ourpoor golf skills come mostly from one wrong thought which isburied in our subconscious thinking. Much of what I have taughtmy golf students is designed to replace that wrong thinking witha better thought which can become part of our subconsciouscontrol of the golf swing.This article will give you an overview of a very important partof your golfing — what to think about when you try to hit thatwhite round "thingy" on the ground (or in the water or off theneighbor's flower bed.)By following a regular pattern in your effort to hit the golfball you will be able to give more attention to overcoming thatsubconscious, natural desire to push your golf club through theball to make the ball get to point B.You will learn about a basic step-by-step process that you canfollow for every golf shot. This is a bit lengthy but it coverssome important ideas.I want you to know these phases before you get into my puttingand swing instructions. These lesson modules are given in a waywhich follow these phases. You will be able to apply them in yourcurrent golf outings. You will also be able to practice thesephases in a limited way if you practice putting on your carpetat home.This process separates a lot of things you try to remember intoa consistent order of events which will become a habit for youto follow without giving much thought. In fact, at each phaseyou will eventually focus on 1 or 2 ideas which will act as aguide for doing that phase with very little thought.Many of these phases are given in a way so that you can: * do them * know that you are prepared for the remaining phases * and then change your focus to the next phase without going back to any thoughts of the phase you have just doneYour thoughts will be so organized that you will not feel likeyou are running through a checklist of 20 to 50 tips that haveyou fidgeting at the ball as you try to remember what to do.Phase One - DISTANCE: It begins as you arrive at the next tee-off or where your balllies from the previous hit. It makes you think of the distance or the height of yournext hit. When you know your distance or height choose the club which isusually hitting the ball the indicated distance Once the correct golf club is in your hands you eliminatedistance from any further part of your golf swing steps This phase is the first of two phases which deal with you,the golf ball, and where the ball is to land.Optional Phase — PRACTICE SWINGS away from the ball or tee-off: Light, half-swings Practice your posture for the club in your hands Practice your turn movements in posture. So important!Training your back and "tummy" muscles to execute the main partof swinging your golf club is the priority. Give thought to these phases of playing your golf shotPhase Two — POSITION at the ball and DIRECTION: Here you place your feet with 3 objectives in mind: Line your toes of both feet along a parallel line from the ball to it destination. Move closer or farther from the ball to allow you to be in good posture Move sideways to the ball so it is positioned where you want it between your feet. My lesson modules will teach you some ways to do this phase. When you are satisfied that your feet are positioned do notmove them again until the momentum of your club, arms, and bodypull you into an upright posture as your swing is finishing. Once you have completed this phase you can hold the clubwherever you want to prepare for the next phase. DIRECTION and DISTANCE are now complete. You do not want tothink of these 2 elements of your golf swing process again. Theremaining phases focus on you, the golf club, the golf ball,and your swing movements and non-movements.Phase Three — TAKE HOLD of your golf CLUB In this phase you "grip" your golf club in your desired manner. As you do this your feet are not to move. This phase also places the bottom of the club head in thecorrect alignment to your body. My articles and lesson modules will help you develop a desiredgrip on your club. Once you have taken hold of the club you should not move yourhands or fingers on the club for any reason - no fidgeting!Phase Four — POSTURE of your legs, body, head, and arms Here you establish your foundation for controlled movements You establish desired angles of all joints to allow the bestfreedom of movement when you swing the club. You position yourself in these angles while confirming thatyou feel almost the same comfort you do while standing in anatural position. You do not want to feel any stress. If you do then you willmost likely be out of posture in some part of your legs, body,arms, or head. My articles and lesson modules will teach you how to practicea good golf posture at home until you can feel what your postureshould be without going through the practice steps. You will also learn to feel 3 body check points and one visualcheck point so you can be in posture in 1 or 2 seconds once youhave gripped your golf club.Phase Five — SNUG: not "loose" - not "relaxed" - not "rigid"  What is THIS?!!! I have seen golfers "keeping their heads still" so rigidlytheir heads quiver. I have seen golfers so relaxed or loose that every move theytry to make causes other movements they don't want to make. The idea of relaxed means that you are comfortable andconfident in your head that you have done some orderly stepsto prepare you for the best golf swing you can do. It is a"head" thing — not a body thing. You need to snug your joints just enough so that you do nothave unwanted movements when you carry out your intendedmovements. Do you want to learn to do a "one piece takeaway"? Learna comfortable level of snugness in your body and you will beready to do this skill. (I have an article on how to do the"one piece takeaway". Check out my website for its availability.) I also have an article about firming a part of your body whichis seldom referred to in talk about golf swing technique. Watchfor this article.Phase Six — WHERE IS YOUR SPINE? "Whaaaat? Why it is behind my tummy and heart!" Right. But, it is also at a specific angle that you setin Phase Four. To make comfortable, controlled turns in the next 2 phasesyou need to be aware of your spine angle.A pause in the stepsEverything you have done in the phases listed above has beento prepare you for the next 2 phases. You do not have to rushthrough the above steps. But, you do not want to take too longat each stage. Now, you are about to carry out the motion phaseswhich can last less than 3 seconds.If you carefully prepare yourself in the above phases you willbe ready for the stresses you will experience in the takeawayand return swing movements.Phase Seven - TAKEAWAY or Backswing Your golf swing can be ruined within the first inch ofwhatever movement you do in this phase. Here, you need to know how to comfortably do 2 criticalmovements. To maintain top control of these 2 movements you must knowhow to do a whole lot of "don't move this or that". But, the"whole lot" is taken care of in Phase Five. This phase is a positional move which you will learn to doin a rhythmic tempo with the next phase. You do not use power or speed in this phase. You simply want to get your body, arms, and golf club asuitable distance away from your start position from where youcan then apply a desired blow to the golf ball. If you feel a bit weak during this phase and at the end ofthis phase then that is OK -- if you feel comfortable and readyfor the "violence" of the next phase.Phase Eight — THE RETURN SWING If you have executed the phases above to where you feelcomfortable and ready then you have to do a lot of awkward workto ruin a good return swing to the ball. An important part of this phase which you mentally trainyourself at home is to realize that some of the musclesthroughout your body, legs, and upper arms have either bunchedup or stretched out of their position of Phase Six. Part of the return swing involves "unbunching" or relaxingmuscles which tightened to carry out the takeaway phase. Part of the return swing involves tightening the muscles whichrelaxed and stretched to allow the takeaway movements. The above two activity groups have to be carried out whileholding as close as you can to the posture position set upin Phase Four. All through this aggressive activity there are stresses onyour body which are often caused by desired movements in otherparts of your body. Most importantly, you must not give in to the "one wrongthought" I have described in the previous article of the seriesof free articles available on my website. My lesson modules teach you a method of carrying out3 essential movements which are basic to the return swing ofmost of your golf shots.Phase Nine — THE FOLLOW-THROUGH The momentum you create in Phase Eight will determine how youfinish your swing movements after the ball has been hit. If you lose your balance and lean or fall in the directionthe ball is flying then any swing error is minor. If you lose your balance in any other direction then you havedone something very incorrect in Phase Eight. Many of the swing errors of the previous 2 phases familiarto golfers will cause you to have an incorrect finish positionin this phase. The only time I teach you anything about a correct finish toyour swing is when I show you my two basic turning exerciseswhich come with all of my lesson modules.FOCUS Training As You Practice These PhasesAbove, I use the word, "focus". In each phase you are to focuson the purpose of that phase and on any steps you follow for thatparticular phase. When you have completed the step(s) of a phaseyou then change your focus to the steps and purpose of the nextphase. You keep doing this until all the phases have beencompleted.Phases 1 to 6 can be methodically thought out for every golfswing you do for the rest of your life. Phases 7 to 9 happenquickly in which you respond to a feeling or to 1 or 2 keythoughts which you have practiced. You practice the steps ofeach of these last 3 phases at home and at practice facilities.You can use my swing instructions or my exercises to teach yourmind the steps in slow motion. The more your mind canautomatically remember the steps then the better it can directand guide your muscle movements during the quickness of theactual golf swing.Why Should You Practice These Phases?In my lesson modules I will make frequent references to thisprocess as it applies to putting, chipping, pitching,and the full swing.These phases are a good starting point for you to learn as youventure forth to learn to golf or to become a better golfer. Youwill eventually develop your own process for playing a golf shot. Practice these phases at home until each of them becomesautomatic. You will begin to pick a one-word thought or phrasewhich helps you to remember each step.As you become adept at completing the whole routine you willbegin to see a panorama picture of your body, the ball, thetarget destination, and the surrounding golf course ordriving range scenery.Your goal is to be able to walk up to a tee or the ball in thegrass, set up to the ball, and make minor adjustments until youfeel comfortable and until you see the desired "picture". Assoon as you see the "picture" and feel comfortable you willexecute your golf swing before you have time to fidget orto get apprehensive.Apprehension causes nervousness which causes tension whichinhibits your golf swing. Someone says relax or be loose andthe next time you flop around like a rag doll and wonder whyyou hit a poor golf shot.Practice these phases and you will build confidence that youwill make your best swing most of the time.Copyrite June 18, 2004 Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com