how long should you take to setup your golf swing

Full Answer

How to start a golf swing for beginners?

First and foremost you need to have a good set up for your swing. You need to have your feet shoulder width apart and the club a comfortable length away from your body. The club head should be on the ground behind the golf ball so you are ready to start your swing. This is the first part of your swing.

How important is the setup position in a golf swing?

Putting the body in the correct position at the setup position is absolutely essential to providing an efficient golf swing. The grip, body alignment, stance width, and ball position are all important to the setup position, but how the body should bend and tilt are often overlooked.

How to swing a golf club on the correct path?

After the hips are tilted correctly, we must then make sure the shoulders are correctly tilted as well. The right shoulder will sit lower than the left due to how we hold the club. Once the right shoulder is sitting lower than the left, the club will be able to move on the correct swing path in both the backswing and downswing.

How can I shorten my golf swing?

If you stand a bit closer to the ball, your golf club more naturally swings back at a steep, vertical angle. Thus, you get a longer backswing. In other words, if you need to shorten your golf swing, put a little more distance between you and the ball at setup.

How long does it take to perfect your golf swing?

If you're hoping to immediately get out onto the course and start swinging with ease from day one, you might be in for a nasty surprise. It can take up to six months for a beginner to even master hitting the ball the right way. Yes, you read correctly, six months.

How long does it take to make a swing change in golf?

Three months is a good rule of thumb to successfully make a swing change, as I mentioned earlier. That's not exactly overnight, so you do need to be patient.

How long should a golf backswing take?

around 0.75 secondsThe PGATour average time for the backswing is right around 0.75 seconds, with an additional 0.25 seconds for the downswing. Notice that ideally there should be something close to a 3:1 ratio of backswing time vs. downswing time.

What is the proper setup for a golf swing?

5:398:07Golf Swing Basics - The PERFECT Set Up - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAt home maybe use the the windows the patio windows or wherever they are and just get yourself toMoreAt home maybe use the the windows the patio windows or wherever they are and just get yourself to see is the neutral is the neutral posture there.

How much should I practice changing my golf swing?

Generally, I give myself five to ten days in a row of hitting buckets of balls at the range to make a swing change. During this period of time, I don't play at all, because I know that if I tried to play prematurely, my old habits would re-surface.

Why is it so hard to change your golf swing?

3:368:02Why it's so hard to change a golf swing? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow you'll notice there. Just how short that backswing is now the shoulder turn isn't quite full andMoreNow you'll notice there. Just how short that backswing is now the shoulder turn isn't quite full and certainly the arm extension is very short as well now this is something that we've tried to change.

Is a short backswing in golf OK?

Beginner golfers can significantly benefit from a shorter swing. A shorter swing will help to keep the game more straightforward from the beginning. What is this? As you get better and the golf swing feels more natural, you can slowly increase until the club is parallel to the ground at the top of your backswing.

Can your golf swing be too slow?

Despite what you may have heard, your backswing can be too slow. The backswing sets up the downswing, and if you swing too slowly, you will not develop enough clubhead speed to hit the ball a long way.

Should my backswing be fast or slow?

In golf, your backswing is your counter-movement, which is why it's important to get the club moving quickly away from the target. Speed accumulates throughout your swing, so the faster you move the club away on your backswing, the faster your club will be traveling as it comes into the golf ball.

Where should a 7 iron be in your stance?

As a general rule of thumb to base your ball placement off of your 7 iron should always be placed in the center of your stance. Then, shorter clubs (everything from an 8 iron to pitching wedge) you want to play toward your back foot.

Should hands be in front of ball with irons?

The grip and hands must be in front of the clubhead and ball. Many amateur golfers believe that the grip and clubhead come back to the position they are in during the setup. The hands and grip must move forward before the clubhead in order to properly compress and control the ball.

How do I improve my golf swing?

10:4011:45Do this for 5 minutes & It will IMPROVE your golf swing - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTwo things use visualization use props on the range. Use this simple arc you have here to start toMoreTwo things use visualization use props on the range. Use this simple arc you have here to start to kind of help you shape the golf swing. Here grab a basket. Simple things you can do at. Home.

The Grip

Some people prefer to play with a baseball grip or an interlock grip, but I would recommend using an overlap grip.

The Stance

Your feet should generally be about shoulder width apart, with that becoming wider as you use your woods and longer clubs, while becoming more narrow with your wedges and chipping. The stance is one of the less technical parts of your set up and you should do a bit of your own research for what feels comfortable.

Posture

Your posture in golf is a little different to some other sports, like tennis or baseball. In golf you are mainly bending from your waist, so it is less of a squat or ‘sitting down’ posture. You do need to have a slight bend in your knees, but don’t sit too much.

Ball position

Ball position will vary from the center of your stance for wedges, to just inside your front heel for the driver. You can nudge the ball position slightly forward each time you use a longer club. In terms of distance from the ball, that is part of the stance, so you want your arms to be able to hang loosely but with control.

Summary

Each of you will find that you have different tendencies with where you set up is spot on, and where you cause problems for yourself. There are a lot of areas to cover, as you have seen here, so it is a good idea to write down which areas you want to work on or check up on every couple of weeks.

What does it mean when your golf swing is bad?

A bad angle means something in your setup that’s pointing in the opposite direction than it should be. Your shoulders are tilting down in front of the ball, for instance, instead of up and away from the target. High-handicappers tend to have bad angles. With bad angles, golf quickly becomes a game of compensations.

What is a bad angle in golf?

High-handicappers tend to have bad angles. With bad angles, golf quickly becomes a game of compensations. (Shoulders tilted in the wrong direction also pull your head ahead of the ball and point your body left—more bad news.) Mid-handicaps don’t have as many bad angles.

Can a narrower stance increase rotation?

ADVERTISEMENT. Too Narrow: If you’ve got too much lateral movement, a narrower stance can discourage excess weight shift and increase your rotation. But, again, don’t overdo it. If you narrow your stance too much, like I’ve done here with the insides of my feet inside my shoulders, your swing will become unstable.

How to set up a golf club?

First and foremost you need to have a good set up for your swing. You need to have your feet shoulder width apart and the club a comfortable length away from your body. The club head should be on the ground behind the golf ball so you are ready to start your swing. Ask Question.

What should your lead arm be on a golf swing?

Your lead arm should be straight while your other arm should be bent. Your hips should be fully turned away from the target to get the most distance out of your swing.

Why do you want your club head to point down?

You want to the club head to be pointing down at the ball because you want to hit the ball first before the ground. After the ball is hit your club head should slap the ground and create a divot. If this is done correctly the golf ball should then fly up into the air.

What happens if your golf swing sequence is too long?

If your golf swing sequence is too long or too short, you can’t hit a quality golf shot. You’re going to lose some fundamental element of an effective shot, whether you lose swing speed, distance, tempo, balance, or solid contact. But as important as backswing length is, many golfers struggle to find the sweet spot.

How to know if you have a long backswing?

Another sign of a long backswing is lack of balance. The next time you swing one of your irons, take a moment to notice how your body feels at the finish.

What happens if your backswing is too short?

If your backswing is too short, you’ve lost the opportunity to build up that energy. As a result, you attempt to pack speed as you transition from the top of your golf swing into your downswing, throwing off your golf swing mechanics and the rhythm of your motion.

How to get sweet spot on backswing?

Standing farther back from the ball at setup. Working your lead arm just a little lower on a the backswing. If your lead hand is in line with your shoulder at the top of your backswing, you’ve found the sweet spot. Now for the bonus drill.

Can you get a shorter backswing with a golf club?

If your golf club moves around your body at a low angle, you’re going to get a shorter backswing . . . especially as you get older. It comes down to flexibility, especially in the hips. Sure, a remarkably agile golfer might be able to swing at that low angle and still get a good backswing length.

Can you hit your backswing too long?

First, if you’re struggling to make solid contact, your backswing could be too long. Golfers with an over-extended swing often find themselves hitting it off the toe, off the heel, hitting it too high . . . hitting it anywhere but the sweet spot.

Is backswing length a topic?

Backswing length is a huge topic in golf, so I know you must have opinions or experiences of your own to share. Whatever is on your mind, please join the conversation in the comments . Whether it’s a great tip I haven’t mentioned or a question about your own game, I’m always happy to talk golf.

What are the pivot points in golf?

In the golf swing, there are two pivot points: the left and right legs. From the setup position, I like to see the player pivot the torso over the right knee. This gives the player a full body turn around a relatively stable lower body. From the top of the backswing, the player will feel a slight shift into the left side;

Which side of the body does the player sit on when hitting the ball?

The body will continue to rotate, allowing the player to get into a firm left side at impact. The left knee will remain flexed while the right hip and shoulder will sit lower than the left. This allows the player to maintain spine angle for solid contact.

What happens if the body isn't cooperating in golf?

If the body isn’t cooperating, the player will encounter slower swing speeds and less distance. In the golf swing, there are two pivot points: the left and right legs.

How to get a good swing back on a golf club?

Keep the club low to the ground as you swing back. Allow the spine to start to make a turn. Don’t pull the club too far inside; the thought of “low and slow” is a good one to get you started. Make sure that your right arm does not separate from your body; it instead starts to rotate around you.

How far behind the ball should the head be in golf?

Others suggest that the head can move several inches behind the ball to create more power.

What is the most common mistake on a golf takeaway?

he most common mistake on a takeaway is for a player to take the club too far outside. Many times the concept of straight back gets exaggerated, and the golfer just pushes the club back on the line too far. Your golf swing takeaway will end at some point, and the club will have to hinge and rotate around you.

How to takeaway a golf club?

Starting The Takeaway- One Piece 1 Feel as though your left shoulder is going to turn under your chin 2 Imagine the club traveling back along a straight line 3 Keep the golf club low to the ground 4 Allow your body and your spine to start to rotate 5 Don’t feel completely locked in to your position 6 Make sure that you start this process slow; a fast takeaway can lead to issues in other areas of the swing

Why are wrists important in golf swings?

The wrists are an important part of the golf swing. They help us to gain power and create more angles that will give us better distance. The problem is when the wrist hinge happens too soon; the results are not ideal.

What is straight back golf?

The straight back concept is what allows the club to return to this position as the golf swing progresses.

How to feel your left shoulder when playing golf?

Feel as though your left shoulder is going to turn under your chin. Imagine the club traveling back along a straight line. Allow your body and your spine to start to rotate. Make sure that you start this process slow; a fast takeaway can lead to issues in other areas of the swing.

How to position your left thumb on a golf club?

Indeed, you can either position it so that it extends onto the grip or you can leave it somewhat recessed. The first option – the long left thumb grip – sees the thumb extending far down the club’s grip.

What is the grip strength of a golf grip?

Grip Strengths. The way your hands and fingers are aligned in contrast to the center of the grip is called the grip strength and there are three main variants. The default grip strength is the neutral grip. In this instance, the thumbs of both hands are resting more or less on the top – or middle – of the golf grip.

What is the thumb grip on a golf club?

The first option – the long left thumb grip – sees the thumb extending far down the club’s grip. Such a such grip is easily recognizable in that the end of the thumb will extend much further out than the rest of your fingers. This finger setup tends to lead to an All-Fingers Grip, which is explained in the next section.

Where do you put your thumb on a grip?

The first option – the all fingers grip – sees the lower part of the grip pressed underneath the first knuckle of your fingers all the way through, from the index to the small finger.

What side should your grip pressure be?

Indeed, whatever grip strength, grip type or left thumb position you use, your grip pressure should be on the soft or light side . The two common mental images that are used is to imagine you are holding a live bird in your hands, or alternatively that you are holding a tube of toothpaste.

What is a baseball grip?

Finally, the baseball grip – as its name suggests – involves placing both hands on the grip of the club as you would if you were holding a baseball bat in your hands. Indeed, this grip type calls for your two hands to be pressed against each other without any actual link between the two. No overlapping or interlocking fingers here.

What is the only proxy for hitting the ball?

The way you place your hands on the grip of the club provides the only direct proxy available to you for actually hitting the ball. Indeed, the club itself is the one striking the ball and the only link between the club and your body is through your grip. As with most things golf related, there are many options available to you.

Why don't you change your swing?

You don't change your swing because of what your buddies are saying, you don't do it so you can swing like your favorite pro, and you certainly don't make a change out of boredom -- you'd be surprised how many golfers do. Ball flight is really all that matters. Nick Watney, who got his first PGA Tour win in 2007, ...

When did Fred change his golf course?

But Fred took the change right onto the course in 2008, and even though he didn't have a great year, his willingness to use the change in competition will make the long-term payoff come sooner.

Why did Tiger Woods overhaul his swing?

After Tiger Woods won the Masters in 1997, he insisted on overhauling his entire swing to try to become more consistent and versatile. I warned Tiger that he might be in for a very rough time if he did that, and I even suggested that we make one small swing change at a time. But Tiger wanted to do it all at once. The process took patience on Tiger's part, because he didn't see immediate results and didn't have a very good year by Tiger standards in 1998. It took trust that it was the right decision and unbelievable amounts of hard work to make it come together. But mostly it took commitment, a vow to stick with the program come hell, high water or worst of all, high scores. And it paid off: Tiger had a huge year in 1999. It's rare to see that level of commitment, especially among recreational players. But if you don't have at least some of that, you're pretty much wasting your time.

What happens if you snatch the club away too quickly?

If you snatch the club away too quickly or start the downswing with a sudden lunge, you won't give the change an opportunity to work. Regardless of your tempo -- you might have a naturally fast swing or a slow one -- you have to have good rhythm and balance, or you'll cut your potential short.

What is the hardest change for a golfer to make?

The hardest change for the average golfer to make is to stop coming over the top and slicing. Learning an inside-out swing path when you've swung outside-in your whole life is tough because the shape of the swing you want is the dead opposite.

Is a swing tip a swing change?

04 A swing tip is not a swing change. A band-aid fix that gets you through the day, or even through a few weeks, is not a swing change. I've got nothing against tips, but you can't expect them to hold up. They help the outcomes but not the cause.

Who won the 2007 PGA Tour?

Ball flight is really all that matters. Nick Watney, who got his first PGA Tour win in 2007, used to have a tough time fading the ball. He had trouble driving on holes that doglegged to the right and hitting iron shots to back-right pins. Nick had a vision of what a fading ball flight should look like, and when the ball wasn't responding to ...

The Grip

• Some people prefer to play with a baseball grip or an interlock grip, but I would recommend using an overlap grip. In my opinion, this allows your arms to match up better and still gives you a good mix of control and feel in your hands. I will talk you through building the grip, but the detail of an overlap grip is that the little finger of your bo...

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The Stance

Posture

Weight/Balance

Ball Position

Aim

Summary