The golf swing has many parts than can be analyzed. This does differ from player to player. There is no “technique” that suits every player, but there are some fundamentals that need to be met so a player can score on a consistent basis.
I believe that most problems that occur in the golf swing occur from the initial movements of the back swing. If you start your swing on the wrong path, you will find yourself trying to make compensating moves during your swing to try and hit the ball. Unfortunately, if your timing is off, you will end up hitting some shots that will not help your score.
The easy way to think about your backswing and downswing to hit a good shot, is this: “The path your club takes on the way back, should be the same path you use on the way down.”
The most common mistake that I see from players, is that they are too upright with their backswing, which then makes the player come down to the ball in a very steep manner, which causes a lot of heavy shots or some skinny shots, because the player is trying to save the shot by using his/her hands to scoop the ball into the air.
There is a feeling in the golf world, mostly with club golfers, that the swing is a vertical motion. The golf swing is actually a rotary motion. To achieve this, your swing should be more on a flat path. This will help you rotate your body better and it will help you attack the ball at a better angle, which will ultimately give you a better compression of the ball.
Having the club on the right path coming into the ball will help you know where the ball will start and end. Many golfer stand up to a shot hoping to hit the ball to a particular target, but the problem is, they are not sure where the ball will go. On the other hand, you have golfers that know that if they start the ball left, it will come back to the right and vice versa. These players have a massive advantage over the rest of the field.
I will give you a tip that will allow you to work at getting the most out of your downswing. The first move down is the slight rotation of your left hip. If your hips do not initiate the first move down, your arms will come down faster, preventing your body to rotate which can then make you block the ball right or for other golfers, because they get cramped, they use their hands to try square up the club, but they tend to hook the ball.
The secret is to continue the rotation of your body during your downswing. Never try to slow your motion down. Maintaining a positive momentum through the ball will get you hitting some really good shots. If you can finish your shot and be balanced for 3 seconds, it means that your timing and rotation worked well. Practice this drill a few times to find out what speed your body can handle so you can get the maximum out of your shots.