Professional golfers make a full shoulder and keep their left arm straight during the swing. A full shoulder turn and a straight left arm enable professionals to hit the ball on the downswing with power. Amateur golfers commonly don't rotate their shoulders fully and make the mistake of bending their left arm during the backswing.
Full Answer
What's the difference between a professional and an amateur golf swing?
Understandably, there are some big differences between the swing of a professional golfer and an amateur. A bent left arm reduces power. Professional golfers make a full shoulder and keep their left arm straight during the swing. A full shoulder turn and a straight left arm enable professionals to hit the ball on the downswing with power.
Can the average golfer swing a golf club?
Anybody can do it—but most of us don't In 1919, reigning PGA champion Jim Barnes put out the first “modern” golf-instruction book. It was called Picture Analysis of Golf Strokes, and it gave the average golfer a chance to see how the best players swung the club.
What makes a good pro golfer good?
Pros are very deliberate with the pace of their practice. It’s not a race; they’re trying to practice with a specific rhythm that matches what they do on the course. 5. They play skill games
What is a full shoulder turn in a golf swing?
Professional golfers make a full shoulder and keep their left arm straight during the swing. A full shoulder turn and a straight left arm enable professionals to hit the ball on the downswing with power. Amateur golfers commonly don't rotate their shoulders fully and make the mistake of bending their left arm during the backswing.
What do pro golfers think about while swinging?
In a recent survey of 24 PGA Tour players, 18 said they didn't think about anything at all during their swing, while those that did have a swing thought said it was to focus on a spot a few inches in front of the ball, to encourage swinging through, instead of hitting at the ball.
Who has the nicest swing on the PGA Tour?
In Sports Illustrated's recent anonymous survey of tour pros (h/t Golf.com), 31 percent of PGA Tour professionals said Adam Scott has the prettiest swing on tour. Twenty percent selected Louis Oosthuizen, 27 percent said "me" and 22 percent picked another golfer.
What does pro golf swing feel like?
The golf swing should feel effortless, with minimal tension. Think of it like a coiled spring: as you rotate and load into the backswing, you are storing up energy (just as a coiled spring would) before releasing all that energy – in one sweeping downswing motion – through the ball at impact.
What is the most important swing thought in golf?
"A good swing thought is to keep your height. Feel tall. Like your chest stays nice and high when you hit shots. This will help you maintain the width of your arms and prevent you from getting scoopy."
What is the best golf tip ever?
Top 10 Swing Tips Ever!#1 – Take Your Time. It is easy to rush in the golf swing. ... #2 – Pick Out a Specific Target. ... #3 – Relax Your Grip. ... #4 – Quiet Hands in the Takeaway. ... #5 – Play to Your Strengths. ... #6 – See the Club Hit the Ball. ... #7 – Stay Perfectly Still While Putting. ... #8 – Don't Slide.More items...•
Does Rory McIlroy have the best swing?
Debate all you want about who has the best swing on the PGA Tour, but for my money, it's Rory McIlroy. Northern Ireland's 23-year-old wunderkind has such a natural, free-flowing swing that it is the envy of anyone who attempts to hack a little white ball around, no doubt.
Should a golf swing feel like a whip?
2:124:46HOW TO REALLY WHIP THE CLUB THROUGH THE BALL - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo basically the more the you direct your hands to the ball shall we say or ahead of the ball theMoreSo basically the more the you direct your hands to the ball shall we say or ahead of the ball the faster that you're gonna potentially be the wider that you go in the hands the slower you're gonna be.
How can I make my golf swing feel more natural?
4:005:34How To Turn Naturally For A Better Golf Swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPoint back and through so with that same mindset and even tempo. I want you to go in trying to hitMorePoint back and through so with that same mindset and even tempo. I want you to go in trying to hit balls. So if you're got on the range just use clubs just like I did grab.
What is a good golf swing tempo?
3:1The right swing tempo is actually all about getting the perfect tempo of 3:1. Here's a quick video from the Golf Channel discussing the 3:1 swing tempo in full. To sum it up, your backswing should take 3X as long as you're downswing. So if your backswing takes three seconds, your downswing should take one second.
Should you swing to right field in a golf swing?
3:014:11Swing to right field or swing left? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen from here all you have to do is rotate. See how the club is going out to right field makesMoreThen from here all you have to do is rotate. See how the club is going out to right field makes contact and then swings left so swinging the right field and swinging left are actually the same thing.
What should I focus on during golf swing?
If you're continually hitting the ground before the ball, focus your eyes on the front edge (target side) of the ball during the swing. It may not seem like much—the diameter of the golf ball is just 1.68 inches—but shifting your sight line forward even this small amount nudges your center of gravity toward the target.
Which pro golfers draw the ball?
A draw is a type of shot in golf where the ball curves from the player's right to the player's left....Rory McIlroy's Draw. Although Rory has recently switched over to hitting a fade/cut, he built most of his legacy off of his powerful draw. ... Zach Johnson. ... Rocco Mediate. ... Patrick Reed. ... Adam Scott.
Why do pros shift the pressure of their swing earlier than amateurs?
As pros get near the top of their backswing, they are shifting the pressure of their swing earlier than amateurs in order to generate torque, and with it, power. “The pressure starts to change direction. As the lead arm is going to the top, they start to change direction,” Yarwood says.
How are pro golfers different from me?
Pro golfers are different from you and me. They play the nicest courses, have the nicest clubs in the bag, and have a seemingly unlimited supply of apparel at their disposal at all times. They swing the club differently, too. The fact goes without saying, but the moves pros make in their swing are fundamentally different from your average Joe.
Do you need to parallel when swinging a short club?
Most amateurs overturn in their backswing, specifically when hitting shots with their irons. Yarwood explains that there is no need to get the club to parallel when swinging these shorter clubs in order to make a proper swing.
Rory McIlroy
"If I have a tough shot or a moment where I really need to hit a good shot, I just think about trying to make good contact, and that's really it. It's as simple as that. Take everything else and try to de-clutter your mind. Just concentrate on making good contact and more often than not it works out okay."
Bubba Watson
"The key is that you have to think about the shot, and when I say that, I mean you have to think about your target, not your swing. You don't want your mind to create the bad shot. You want to think about your target, and that's all you want to think about. You have to think about the target and not focus on anything else.
Rickie Fowler
"I rarely think about mechanics. For me, golf is about feel and swinging free, like you couldn't care less about your results.
Lydia Ko
"David, my coach, always tells me one word: kiss. That means, 'keep it simple, stupid'. Sometimes when I am in a pressure position and I need to do well, I sometimes get a little over-complicated or overthink it. Rather than actually think about something, I try to not think about anything. Sometimes it is hard to not think about not thinking!"
Ian Poulter
"What's my swing thought? Absolutely nothing. That sounds completely corny and rubbish to the outside world, but when your focus point is literally a pin head, and that's where your level of concentration is, you don't need swing thoughts. You just need to be clear on what it is you need to do.
Luke Donald
"I might have one swing thought during my practice swing, but once I get over the ball, I'm focusing on my target and the shot I'm trying to hit. You'd hope to have very little swing thoughts. You're just kind of going on instinct – and that's when you're playing the best.
Padraig Harrington
"In 1997 I read Golf is Not a Game of Perfect by Bob Rotella and I've never had a swing thought since then. When I get on the golf course, I think about the target and try to focus on the target, and that's it. No physical or technical thought whatsoever."
How far do golfers turn their shoulders?
When the shaft is parallel to the ground, they’ve turned their shoulders about 60 degrees. Their shoulders start 7 degrees open to their target (to help avoid hooking the ball) and then rotate 53 degrees away from it. In comparison, amateurs have far less turn when they reach this position.
How many degrees do you turn in a weekend?
Most weekend players, however, turn only a maximum of 15 degrees. This rotation of the shoulders and hips is so important because increasing both increases the two things players need to hit the ball far and straight: time and space.
When was the first modern golf instruction book published?
By Nick Clearwater. August 26, 2019. In 1919, reigning PGA champion Jim Barnes put out the first “modern” golf-instruction book. It was called Picture Analysis of Golf Strokes, and it gave the average golfer a chance to see how the best players swung the club. In the hundred years since, almost everything about the game has changed—including how we ...
Is golf swing like fingerprints?
You’ve probably heard that golf swings are like fingerprints, and each player’s is different. That can be discouraging, because it seems like no advice you might get would be perfect just for you. But the takeaways from all that number crunching we’ve been doing strongly suggest otherwise.
Why do amateur golfers swing down?
Amateur golfers commonly swing down from outside the target line. Because the club is outside the target line on the downswing, amateurs have to pull the club across their body at the last second just to hit the ball. This motion robs amateurs of swing speed and accuracy.
What is the downswing in golf?
Downswing. Professional golfers swing the club down to impact on an inside path. This means the it approaches the ball from inside the target line, allowing the club to swing through impact at maximum speed. Amateur golfers commonly swing down from outside the target line. Because the club is outside the target line on the downswing, ...
What is impact in golf?
Impact. The club shaft should be angled toward the target. Amateur golfers typically strike the ball with the club shaft angled away from the target, which adds loft to the club. This position causes shorter hits and a higher-than-desired ball flight.
Why do golfers bend their left arm?
A bent left arm reduces power. Professional golfers make a full shoulder and keep their left arm straight during the swing. A full shoulder turn and a straight left arm enable professionals to hit the ball on the downswing with power. Amateur golfers commonly don't rotate their shoulders fully and make the mistake of bending their left arm ...
Who is John Wagner?
John Wagner is a certified golf instructor and professional golfer with more than 10 years of experience. As a certified GolfTEC, TPI Level 3 and Chuck Cook Golf Instructor, he has given more than 9,000 golf lessons.
Do amateur golfers have lessons?
Many amateur golfers have never had a golf lesson and don't spend much time trying to get better on the driving range. Understandably, there are some big differences between the swing of a professional golfer and an amateur.
Why do golfers struggle in bunkers?
This is because they have to shut the club from that initial wrist position. If you are one of those golfers make the change as soon as you can.
What to watch out for when you address the ball?
1. Your knees are too bent at address. Bending your knees excessively at address is a golf swing killer.
Do golfers keep their head down?
Unfortunately, when most golfers try to apply this piece of advice they try to do it at the start, during and into the follow through. Good players are not trying to keep their head down, Their chins sit high and out of their chest. This allows the body to turn more on both the takeaway and the follow through.
Why do swing traits of X require Y/Z/A/B and C?
This is because for a swing trait of “X” way also require Y/Z/A/B and C to be in place in order for it to function. Even a very basic professional swing trait such as weight-shift may send chaos into your own game if you are you don’t have other factors in play.
What is poor end position?
Poor end position. Etc can usually be traced to prior events. Trying to fix the above direction can often be an exercise in futility as they are just the symptoms – often in place to compensate for other actions. Early extension (above) can simply be a compensation for prior actions.
Can golfers be physically gifted?
Let’s Get Physical. You have to remember, golf pros at the high end are often physically gifted. They can move their bodies in a way that most average players can’t. Those guys don’t sit at a desk all day, and have likely been swinging a club since they were 2 years old. Not to mention them being the genetic elite.
1. Lots of wedges
I’ve written about this before, but when recreational golfers hit the range, they generally hit lots of 7-irons and a few drivers. Pros, by contrast, generally hit a ton of wedges, and a ton of drivers, and not much else.
2. They use their pre-shot routine
Yes, it’s boring, and you’ve probably heard it before. But it’s important. Don’t just bang balls into the distance. Step into every shot with a specific purpose.
3. They set up swing drills
Especially during practice round days, every pro I saw spent at least a few minutes using a drill to improve their technique, so learn from them. Don’t go nuts though.
4. They pace themselves
Pros are very deliberate with the pace of their practice. It’s not a race; they’re trying to practice with a specific rhythm that matches what they do on the course.
5. They play skill games
Whether it’s setting up tees around the hole, or, as you see GOLF Top 100 Teacher Mark Blackburn working on with one of his students below, an alignment rod straight in front of them which they are trying to curve their ball around, pros are constantly playing games as a way of challenging themselves while they practice.
