GOLF TIP by Nan Ryan
LPGA Teaching Professional
Little Peoples Golf

"Good Balance is Essential"

Good balance is essential to a good golf swing.

Start by placing your feet together. Take some short swings, letting your body turn as the club swings freely back and forth. Keep your feet together and lengthen your swing until you reach your full back swing. Hit a few shots, keeping your feet together.

Now move your feet so the heels are about shoulder width apart. Make short swings, expanding again to full swing. Feel the balance. Notice your weight moving naturally to the right and left and back again. Hit a few more shots, letting your arms swing and weight move naturally back and forth.

Your follow through is as important as your starting position or top of your back swing. You should have good balance in all three positions.

Imagine how you would want to look if someone was taking your picture at the end of your swing. You would want to look like the pros on TV...weight on your left (for right-handed golfers), belt buckle facing the target, club over your left shoulder. Assume that position. Feel it. Now do it, swinging the club to a full backswing and through to that great finish.

Click! Congratulations! The camera just recorded your balanced golf swing.