Golf is a fun game but unfortunately we can turn it into a game of frustration and heartache. There is no need to have these emotions when playing. The reason some golfers have these turns of emotion is because there is too much pressure and tension created by the player from the high expectations that they put upon themselves. We all fall into this trap.
Each golfer should go out to have fun and feel relaxed about their game. I see too many golfers get very tense with their swing. Unfortunately, this can cause poor swings and a loss of distance. Injuries to the body can also occur with a
tense swing, commonly. lower back pain and a sharp pain in the elbow can occur. Having a soft grip pressure is an important key to a relaxed swing.
My advice for playing good golf and feeling relaxed with your body and mind is to hit each shot with no care in the world. What I mean is, pick your target and your club and swing freely without trying to steer the ball down the fairway or onto the green. Usually when a player tries to steer the ball, your body movement halts and your hands take over which will cause you to lose distance and lose control. Trusting your swing and your technique is easier said than done, but practicing and playing social rounds with no pressure, will help your mind get rid of anxiety and tension in your game. You will find that flowing through your swing will feel easier on your body and will give you better accuracy and distance!
One of the biggest mistakes that I see with golfers is that they try to control the length of the shot by the speed of their arms on the downswing. Swiping at the ball with your arms causes your body to stop moving which restricts your body rotation which prevents you gaining any distance or control. Many players hit the ball too low or “top” the ball. This is usually caused because golfers rush their downswing, which causes their hands to rotate too soon causing them to de-loft the club hitting the ball with very little loft. Another body reaction, because the hands move too fast, is that the body gets cramped causing the body to straighten which causes the club to rise and hit the ball above the middle of the ball.
The correct sequence of body movements in the downswing makes the swing easy and gives the player the best result. You do not need to be athletic or strong, all you need is to time your movement, in the correct sequence.
The correct sequence of body movements in the downswing are as follows: 1: Unwind the hips 2: Unwind the upper body 3: Unwind the arms.
The usual club golfer has the following sequence:
1: Unwind the arms, 2: Unwind the upper body: 3: Unwind the hips.