Understanding golf swing mechanics is key to any player’s game. The professionals make it look easy (most of the time), but the reality is a perfect swing doesn’t just happen- it’s a combination of movement, analysis, and practice.
In fact, if you’ve been playing for some time now, it’s probably happened to you: you tee up, grab your perfect driver, get in your golf stance, line up your shot, and hit the ball – you can feel it – the perfect swing. The result is a shot that has the distance and aim of the hits you see on TV. You chase that feeling each time you’re on the course, hoping to recreate that moment and achieve the perfect swing.
There’s a problem though: there is no such thing as the perfect golf swing. Rather, each player needs to find a swing that optimizes for the best performance as consistently as possible for their ability and play style, regardless of how the swing looks.
Evaluating Your Existing Golf Swing Mechanics
There are many ways to build an excellent golf swing. As such, the outcome of understanding and improving your swing should be increased performance and consistency. Keeping this in mind, we need to focus on the following key performance metrics:
- Shot Accuracy
- Repeatability in the Outcome of Your Shot
- Shot Distance Ability
- Ball Flight Trajectory Ability
- Injury Prevention
Golf Swing Mechanics – 5 Key Elements
A golf swing has five key components:
- The Takeaway
- The Backswing
- The Transition
- The Downswing and Impact
- The Follow Through
We’ll break these down and review each stage to help you better understand the importance of all five in your swing.
Golf Swing Mechanic #1: The Takeaway
After setting your club at the back of the ball, you take away your club backward until it’s parallel with the ground.
This first step in your swing has a lot of effect on how your swing ends up, so it’s important to get your takeaway in order.
Nothing much should be happening in your takeaway – boring is better here. Keep your hands quiet, turn your shoulders away from the target, and keep your lower body stable.
Simplicity as what we’re after here – too much hand action during the takeaway will result in your club being too far inside early in your backswing. This results in cramped arms and club lift at the top of the swing, forcing your club coming down on an outside-in path, resulting in a slice spin on your ball and ultimately results in a less than desirable shot.
Here’s a great video from Danny Maude on the mechanics of your takeaway and how to improve your consistency:
Golf Swing Mechanic #2: The Backswing
This is the point in your swing between the takeaway and the top of the swing, where the club gets lifted into position and when you finish turning your shoulders. The backswing is key to getting maximum power on your swing.
Speed in your golf swing is created through rotation, and you can’t achieve that rotation if you’re off balance. A lack of balance will result in you sliding out of position, which translates to a lack of power at impact.
The key to a good backswing is in your lower body – most golfers begin to slide away from their target here. Maintaining balance throughout your backswing is critical, so be sure to keep your weight on top of your legs and ensure you’re not sliding your weight out of position.
Here’s PGA Coach Rick Shiels giving a good breakdown of the backswing:
Golf Swing Mechanic #3: The Transition
The swing transition is the point where your club changes direction from backswing to downswing. This stage plays a big role in your ability to strike the ball consistently.
Pause briefly at the transition, preparing your body to surge down toward the ball in one combined movement. At the peak of your swing, the club shaft should be parallel to your arm facing your target (your left arm if playing right-handed), and your other arm’s elbow should be close to your side.
Focus on the motion of your lower body during the transition, rotating your lower body toward the target. Keep concentration on your lower body – if you let your hands lead in the transition you’ll be sacrificing consistency will your ball contact.
Eric Cogorno breaks down the transition and gives some great drill examples in the video below:
Golf Swing Mechanic #4: The Downswing and Impact
This is the portion of your swing where everything comes to fruition, and the club makes impact with the ball. These stages are so intertwined that they comprise the same section in this guide.
During your downswing, build your speed gradually, focusing on achieving maximum club speed at the moment of impact. Pushing too hard at the beginning of your downswing will result in you reaching maximum speed before the impact zone. Shift your weight to your side facing the target (your left side if playing right handed) and allow your arms to drop naturally in front of your chest.
Visualize your hip rotating toward the ball while making sure your body doesn’t slide toward the target.
Keep your focus on getting your hands past the ball before impact – you can do this by relaxing your grip pressure, which allows the club head to lag behind your hands. Hold on to your club just tightly enough to keep control of the club, but not tighter.
If playing right-handed your left wrist should be flat and your left hand should face the target at the moment of impact.
Rick Shiels again provides an excellent demonstration of the downswing and impact:
Golf Swing Mechanic #5: The Follow Through
At this portion of your swing, the ball has left the club. Balance is important here, and can tell you a lot about your swing.
As you finish your swing, you should be balanced on your leg facing the target (your left leg if playing right handed). Aim to hold your balance at the end of your shot until your ball hits the ground.
Ideally, your belt buckle will be facing your target, and your shoulders will be at a 90 degree angle to your lower body. If your body is twisted any further, this can be a sign of pushing too hard at the beginning of your downswing, resulting in your club lagging too far behind in your swing.
Chris Ryan gives a great analysis and lesson on follow through in this video:
Additional Swing Mechanics to Keep In Mind
Keep Your Head Down
Raising your head changes your spine’s tilt, which can cause your swing to go off target. Practice maintaining your stance and posture while going through your backswing and follow through without straightening your upper back. This will allow you to keep consistent swing trajectory.
Course and Shot Conditions
Playing on a slope, using different clubs, playing different lies (fairway versus rough versus green), and even your fatigue over the course of a round means no two shots are exactly the same, even in a single round of golf.
Focus on adapting your swing mechanics to each shot, keeping in mind where you’re at within the game for the best outcome.
Here’s a good example from Andy and Piers at Me and My Golf putting all the swing mechanics together:
Conclusion
Building and focusing on each stage of your process will allow you to create a swing that works consistently. Work on improving each stage and experiment with different techniques to perfect your swing and elevate your game.
Selecting the best driver for your game can also make a big impact on your score – take a look at our reviews of the most forgiving drivers you can pair with these swing mechanics to take your game to the next level