Golf Downswing Tips – How to Approach the Impact
Every component of the golf swing is as important as the next one. In the same way, a solid backswing can set you up for a solid downswing, a solid downswing does the same for impact. We all know that good impact leads to a good golf shot. Check the golf downswing tips below that can help you to approach the impact in a better way.
There are many things that can go wrong with a golf swing. The same goes for each and every part of it. A downswing that goes wrong can lead to a lot of mis-hits.
One of the essential things that a terrible downswing can lead to is a wrong club path. That usually translates to slices and hooks, which are not the best outcomes.
Luckily, it is never too late to fix things in your downswing. Yes, it might take some time to implement the changes. That is all good in the end when you can see some improvement.
The sooner you start with the changes, the sooner you will play better golf. Find out below what you can do to tweak your downswing and make it solid.
Start the Weight Shift Before the Downswing
This is something that might take time to perfect, but it is worth it. If you start your forward weight shift before the start of your downswing, you can gain extra power in your swing. Besides that, it will help you with solid contact in the form of hitting the ball first and then the ground. Who wouldn’t want that?
Ideally, the weight shift starts just before you finish your backswing and goes on through the downswing. That way you will get into the prime position to hit the ball better. The mis-hits might still happen but on a less frequent basis. Be patient until you get it going and once you do golf will become more fun.
Keep Your Trail Elbow Close to Your Body
When you keep your trail elbow close to your body it helps your swing in a few different ways. First, it helps you to keep your arms close to your body and to each other. Second, it helps to get your club in a good position for the impact. Third, because of both previous points, you will have more power to release in your swing.
It is not just important that you keep your elbow close to your body, but to have it positioned the right way. That means not having it on the side of your body but in front of it. A good checkpoint is to have your elbow pit pointing straight ahead of you and not toward the target.
Keep Your Lead Arm as Straight as You Can
If your lead arm bends on the downswing it causes a couple of things. For one, it is harder to hit the ball in the right spot which can cause thin shots. Additionally, you can lose power in your swing which will rob you of distance. Both situations are good reasons to keep your arm as straight as you can.
Now, you do not have to keep it straight to the point when it becomes too tight. Your swing will benefit the most if your arm is straight and a bit relaxed at the same time. Keep it straight to the point that it keeps your swing structure intact and helps your ball strike. Some professional golfers can make it work with a slightly bent arm, but straighter is better.
Don’t Release Your Club Early
Releasing your club early can lead to a few situations that can come together or separately. One of those is adding loft to your club which will make your shot shorter. Another one is hitting the ground before the ball which will lead to poor contact. The last one is releasing less energy which will contribute to less power in the shot.
Most of the time releasing the club too early is caused by improper weight shifting through the swing. If you notice you are releasing the club too early, start by looking into your weight shift. One way to check at what point you release your club is to listen to the swoosh sound your club makes.
If you are releasing your club at the right time, you will hear the swoosh sound just after the club makes contact with the ball. Do a test without the ball and listen to at what point you hear the swoosh sound. It is easier to hear it when you are not hitting the ball.
Stay Tilted With Your Trail Shoulder Lower
You can notice how your shoulders are positioned in your downswing closer you get to the impact position. As you are starting your downswing, your trail shoulder should start dropping lower than your lead shoulder. That means you are keeping the tilted position which will help you with ball striking.
If your shoulders stay flat through the downswing your ball striking will not be consistent and there will be a lot of mis-hits. When you are not tilted through the downswing it is impossible to execute all the parts of the swing correctly. Your relationship with the ball will not be the same as on impact which will lead to all sorts of issues.
A Solid Downswing Leads to a Solid Contact
Every part of the swing sets up the next one. In the end, they all form what looks like one seamless motion. In order for every piece of the swing to be solid, the previous one has to be solid. That is why for a solid contact you have to have a solid downswing. Without a solid downswing, you will most likely not achieve the outcome you want.
If you are not sure what is not working in your downswing you can make a video of your swing and check it out. Alternatively, you can ask someone to have a look while you are swinging. Once you know what needs to be improved start working on it. Find the proper drills, work on one thing at a time, and be patient. As soon as you see the improvement you will enjoy golfing even more.
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