3 simple things that could be ruining your golf swing

Your swing is one of the most complicated elements of golf – and it’s also one of the hardest things to perfect. Getting the right swing is a combination of technique and lots of practise, which is why it’s always a good idea to focus on it when you’re out on the green.

However, there are plenty of things that can affect your golf swing, from the wrong alignment to gripping your club too tightly. Here are three simple things that could be ruining your swing…

Not warming up
You won’t be able to enjoy a full, powerful swing if you haven’t warmed up properly. As well as a proper session of stretching – as much as 30 minutes, if you have the time – you should be hitting balls as part of your pre-round routine, working up from short irons to drivers. As well as loosening up your body and lowering the risk of injury, warming up in this way can tell you how your body is feeling on that day – for example, if you have stiffness from sleeping strangely.

Using the wrong club
Selecting the right club depends on a huge number of variables, from its weight – you don’t want your club to be too heavy for your body weight – to the distance you’re hitting. Problems with using the wrong club extends to the grip, too – a larger grip means you need less grip pressure, and a problem for female golfers in particular is that the grip is normally smaller than average. To avoid problems with your club, make sure you’re fitted correctly by a professional.

Bad timing
Perfecting the timing of your swing requires a lot of practise, but it’s a simple thing that makes a huge difference to your performance. You need to be careful to swing back fully and follow the movement through with your body, rather than rushing at top speed – which ultimately leads to poor results. Take the time to practise your timing and the repetition will pay off when you’ve got a fluid, unhurried swing on the course.