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The 5 Essential Golf Fundamentals

Updated: Dec 1, 2023


Golf is a sport that has been around for centuries and continues to be loved by many individuals all over the world. To excel in this sport, it is important to have a solid foundation of the core static golf fundamentals (the things you do before you swing the club) These fundamentals are essential for every golfer, from beginners to professionals. Here I will discuss these key fundamentals that every golfer should know, practice and regularly review.


Connection to the Club

Most often referred to as the grip, it is one of the most important aspects of a golfer's game. It is the foundation of your swing and can greatly impact the direction and distance of your shots. Positioning of the hands is therefore vital to your success. There are three main ways of linking the hands together (overlapping, interlocking, and baseball) each with its own advantages and disadvantages. However, regardless of which you choose, it is crucial to maintain consistent pressure and keep your hands relaxed throughout your swing.

Posture

Similar to proper connection to the club, good posture is also important. Having good posture can help you maintain balance and stability throughout your swing. Your spine should be relatively straight with your chin up, your weight evenly distributed on both feet with slightly bent knees and a slight tilt forward from the hips. It is also important to keep your arms relaxed and hang naturally from your shoulders.

Stance

Having a proper stance is essential for balance and stability during your swing. The weight should be evenly distributed on both feet, with the majority of it on the balls of your feet. A proper stance can help you generate power and accuracy in your shots. A common flaw with stance is to place the feet too far apart which restricts movement and can cause you to sway

Ball Position

Where the ball is positioned in relation to the feet is another important fundamental. Consistency is key to your approach and finding the spot where the ball can be struck on the downswing of the club with all clubs except maybe the driver. Famous Canadian PGA Tour star George Knudson described it well in the diagram below.

Alignment

Proper alignment ensures that you give yourself the best chance of hitting the ball to your target. Alignment involves placing the club face at right angles to your target line and your feet, hips and shoulders parallel to the target line. This may seem simple enough but is challenging due to the fact that we are standing to the side of our target line which creates what is called visual parallax. It is important when practicing that we always pick a target to align to. Otherwise we will fall into some poor alignment habits.

Wrap Up

Learning and mastering these fundamentals will greatly improve your game and help you become a better golfer. It is important to consistently practice these techniques, as they are the foundation for a successful golf swing. Remember, even professional golfers continue to work on perfecting their fundamentals, so don't get discouraged if it takes time to see improvement in your game. With dedication and persistence, you will be able to master them and take your game to the next level. So keep practicing, keep learning, and most importantly, have fun on the course!

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