How to Develop More Consistency in the Golf Swing

Imagine every one of your shots in the middle of the fairway, every chip two feet from the hole, and every putt nailing the center of the cup. Well, maybe some of us dream of never having to ever putt and each approach shot goes into the hole, but I think you get the picture. A consistent swing is probably what many golfers dream of when our heads hit the pillow.

The majority of us are aware that golf is a game that requires consistent shot making to be successful (and have fun). If we are hooking, slicing, and hitting our wedges fat, it can really start to get frustrating. Consistency is key to hitting a low score and enjoying the game. So how do we get there?

First, let us do a little review of the golf swing. To hit the ball squarely on the center of the club head you must take the club through the proper swing path. A proper swing path will allow the club to align itself correctly with the ball to hit the shot you are trying to hit. For more advanced players this could be in the form of a draw, fade, cut, or some other variation. Higher handicappers will be happy with just plain old straight shots. Anyway, this process begins with your address, moves through your take away, into the back swing, onto the transition between back swing and down swing, into contact, and finishes with the follow through.

Quite a complex sequence of events for the body to perform! And we all know that if our timing is slightly off, or we are just a little off mechanically, disaster is the result.

Knowing that a consistent swing requires the execution of these complex moves over and over again is quite mind-blowing. But let's get back to our question: how do we develop a consistent golf swing? The answer is two-fold, and I imagine most golfers are aware of the first point but probably only a few are aware of the second. The keys to a consistent swing are: 1) efficient golf swing mechanics and 2) the body. Got it? Good, now I can stop writing this article and all of us can become scratch golfers, right? Well, not exactly, and I imagine some of you are saying, "I already know all this stuff." Others may be quite intrigued. Regardless of which category you fall into, let me expand on each of these topics a little.

Golf Swing Mechanics

Golf Swing mechanics is probably the easier of the two areas to understand. It is the reason why we take golf lessons and practice so much at the range. Beginning at address, moving through all the stages of the golf swing, and finishing with the follow through, the body is required to move through a specific sequence of movements to perform the golf swing correctly. If the body does not move through this sequence properly then the result will be a poor, inefficient and awkward looking swing. Over time, a poor swing results in poor consistency (every once in awhile you hit a good shot regardless of your swing, that's what keeps us coming back for more). An easy example of this is when you "come over the top" with the club. This usually results in a slice (I know, easy thing to do and very hard to correct).

In addition to the body performing an intricate number of biomechanical movements in the golf swing, timing of these movements is critical for you to hit the ball successfully. Each and every biomechanical movement within the golf swing has a certain sequence and timing. If they are not performed in the correct order or timing, then the golf swing will not be efficient. Poor timing results in those wonderful slices, snap hooks, chili dips and topping the ball that we know all too well.

Now, how do we improve on the mechanics of the golf swing? I would have to say it is through two things:

1) Proper instruction (Find a good teacher and stick with that teacher. Most of the pros do, why not you?) and

2) Practice, practice, practice. As they say "practice makes perfect", and I believe this is true when it comes to the golf swing.

Fix the Engine that Swings the Club

Now, on to the second point when it comes to consistency in golf. Again, this is probably the lesser known of the two points about consistency in the swing. It is also equally as important as the mechanics of your swing. One question might help you realize the importance of "the body" when it comes to the golf swing. What swings the golf club?

Some of the answers I have heard are: "my hands," "the swing," "my hips" and even "the grip." Well, these answers are in the ballpark and are close to being right, but let me simplify it for you. The answer is your body. Quite simple when you think about it: The club head is attached to the shaft, your hands grip the shaft, your arms are attached to your shoulders, your hips rotate through the swing, and on and on we go. It is the body that swings the club. So why is this so important to consistency in your golf game?

We know from our golf lessons, that there are certain positions the body is required to be in during the golf swing. For example, at address we know that the feet are slightly wider than shoulder width, knees slightly bent, back at a certain angle, head in a specific position, and our hands gripping the club a certain way. This is only the beginning of what the body has to do to swing the club correctly. Now, from the address position your body must move the club on the correct path and generate club head speed to hit the ball accurately and with power. Doing this over and over is what we define as consistency.

What most people do not understand is that for the body to perform the golf swing correctly, certain parameters need to be met by the body. The body must have certain levels of flexibility, strength, endurance, balance, stability, and power. If your body does not have the minimal levels of these factors in relation to the golf swing, then what do you think will happen? Well, let me tell you, it will be very difficult for the body to swing the club with the correct mechanics. And what will this result in over time? A large amount of time spent on the range with little improvement on the course and a swing that looks less than desirable.

So what does consistency in my golf swing really come down to?

It is vital to understand that improvements in your golf swing mechanics and improvements in your body specific to golf are equally important when it comes to creating a consistent golf swing. If you ignore either the body or the mechanics, it would be safe to say that your golf swing and game will suffer. Take some time on a routine basis to address both the mechanics of your swing and the body supporting it. I think you will find the benefits to be very rewarding.

If you are interested in more information on better golf swing mechanics and how to improve your level of golf fitness, please take a look at our web site www.bioforcegolf.com

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website http://www.bioforcegolf.com. Check out his manual and DVD, Your Body & Your Swing, at http://www.BioForceGolf.com

---

Golf Exercises - Improving Fitness for Power and Consistency

Perhaps one of the biggest changes in the golf world today is the increased emphasis on fitness for golf. Tour professionals and amateurs alike are practicing regular... Read More

Simple Golf Warm Up Exercise

Golf warm up you say? Aren't you supposed to rush to the course, pull out the BIG DOG, take a few hacks at it and start your... Read More

Why Golf Tips Work Better For The Woman Golfer

Gone are the days when a woman would feel intimidated standing on the same golf course to receive a golf tip side by side with a man.... Read More

5 Easy Steps to Cleaning Your Golf Clubs and Improving Your Game

How can you lower your scores by simply cleaning your golf clubs you ask? It's actually very simple. If you have clean golf clubs you can make... Read More

How Different Courses Can Help You Become a Good Golf Player

Golf is an fulfilling and absorbing sport but, even so, there is a risk that you may become stale or bored if you do not change the... Read More

Golf Exercise And Stretch Program For Total Golf Performance

Golf exercise and stretch. This is a combination I use in all of my golf fitness programs both online and with my personal golf clients. It's the... Read More

A Valuable Golf Exercise In Your Office When You Have A Moment

Golf exercise is not necessarily in a gym. Getting creative with what you have can make all the difference and have a very positive impact on your... Read More

Facts and Fallacies of Strength Training for Golf

Various aspects of golf training have expanded rapidly, but one area of development that has caught on somewhat slowly is golf-specific strength training. Not until very recently... Read More

Getting to the Core of the Problem with Your Golf Game

How do you fix it? Well, there's no magic core strength pill or patch. It takes some good, old-fashioned flexibility training and exercise. Now, I'm not talking... Read More

The Secret To Beating Tiger Woods At Golf ? And, Its Correlation To Success In Business!

The game of Golf, although difficult to master, can nevertheless be narrowed down to three fundamental disciplines: 1) The Power Game [Driving & Iron Play], 2) The... Read More

Becoming an Ageless Golfer

It happens to all of us, even though we do not want to admit it. The reality is we all get older. Some of you may already... Read More

The Impact of Golf Specific Exercise

Golf specific exercises are part and parcel of the modern day golf game. Yet many people associate golf specific exercises with exercises used in other sports and... Read More

Putting Causing You Some Problems?

You can be the greatest golfer alive but if you have trouble when it comes to putting, it doesn't matter. Maybe you just need some golf putting... Read More

Golf Exercise Tip ? How To Warm Up

A useful golf exercise tip to take into consideration is the fact that warming up before your game of golf can dramatically help you improve the quality... Read More

5 Golf Facts That Will Change Your Game

Are you seeing the same decrease in your handicap that reflects your hard work and efforts? Do you consistently fall short on your drives or feel exhausted... Read More

How To Improve Your Golf Swing

So you need a little help with your golf swing. This article will give you some tips that may help with golf swing improvement. Golf swing improvement... Read More

Gifts: Giving To The Beginner Golfer

It's golf season again! And you might be looking for a gift to give to someone who's just starting off in golf. So, here are some suggestions.... Read More

Online Golf Lessons Save Time And Can Be A Great Help

Online golf lessons have grown tremendously in popularity, for the simple reason that they address a problem faced by most golfers. The problem is that of finding... Read More

Mental Toughness Training for Golfers: How to Conquer Pre-Game Jitters

The first tee shot can often make or break a round because it sets up your performance on the first hole, which can have a bearing on... Read More

Creating A Golf Fitness Program

For the average golfer embarking on a total golf fitness program may sound a little overwhelming. Fitting the program into your schedule on a regular basis may... Read More

Core Strength For Golf

When someone talks about core strength, they're referring to the strength of the muscles that go deep within the abs and back attaching to the spine or... Read More

Are You Fully Committed to Playing Your Best Golf?

After taking golf lessons and/or attempting to make changes in one's swing, many players have a difficult time fully committing to executing the new swing on the... Read More

A Golf Exercise Program Will Leave Your Playing Partners In Envy

It's no secret that a golf exercise program can put you heads and tails above your playing partners and competitors. Why do you think all the Pro's... Read More

5 Golf Fitness Tips That Work

If you have turned on the television to watch any golf tournament over the last couple of years, you obviously already know the strong role that fitness... Read More

Senior Golfers Can Still Play Great Golf. Do You Want To Know How?

If you're a senior golfer?don't give up and don't give into the perception that's it's all downhill from here.No way!You have a lot of GREAT golf years... Read More

Golf Tips ? Tips to Improve Your Putting

If you are seriously considering lowering your scores, then you must take your putting seriously, as roughly half the strokes you play in a round of golf... Read More