In golf, every motion or movement of the swing is dependent on the one that precedes it. Players want to have a cohesive and repeatable swing that goes smoothly from one step to the next. To accomplish this, you must be both balanced and confident at all stages of the swing.

The stance

Your body must be balanced at address. In order to feel confident in your stance, your feet should be shoulder length apart and your knees should be slightly flexed. This is an athletic position that will allow you to begin your swing while feeling both confident and strong.

The backswing

A right handed golfer begins the swing while turning his hips back and to the right. If the hips are the engine of the swing, the golfer should not have a problem remaining balanced. However, if you speed up the swing and lead with the hands or arms, you may effect a weight shift by swaying backwards with the hips, which could result in a loss of balance.

The downswing and follow-through

It is important to focus on the backside of the ball throughout the downswing motion and after contact with the golf ball. Many times the golfer is interested in seeing the results of his shot and will pick his head up too soon in the downswing process so he can see where the ball has traveled. Picking up your head will almost certainly result in a loss of swing rhythm and a loss of balance.

Trying to put too much power behind the swing will also result in your balance being impacted. You should allow the natural rhythm of your weight shift to direct the speed of your swing, not the speed of your arms.

This month’s golf tip is provided by Tiburón Golf Club.