LEVANTE LIFESTYLE

GOLF - KEEP YOUR ANGLES PARALLEL

By Colin White, PGA Golf Professional, Valle del Este Golf Resort

Many people are concerned, sometimes over concerned, with where the golf club should be throughout the swing. Here I highlight a few positions you can use as a guideline to try and achieve more consistency in your swing. They are not exact for every player, but I will go into more detail in a later issue.

Taking your address position (Picture 1) you need to place an old shaft, or similar, into the ground a couple of feet behind the ball and just inside the target line so that it lies on the same angle as the club in your hands (you will need the help of a friend or a mirror for this). From here you can check the following swing positions:

• In the early part of the backswing your club should reach a position where it is parallel to the ground and parallel to the target line. The leading edge of the clubface should lie on an angle between your spine angle and vertical. (Picture 2).
• As your backswing reaches the halfway back position, your club should be parallel with the shaft in the ground (its position at address) while the hands appear in the middle of your chest. (Picture 3).
• At the top of your backswing your left arm should be parallel with the shaft in the ground. (Picture 4).
• At the half way down position in the downswing and at impact, your golf club will again be parallel to the shaft in the ground. Remember, this is its original lie angle – things are consistent! (Pictures 5 & 6).
• Even into the follow-through your golf club again moves through a position parallel to the shaft in the ground with your hands in the middle of you chest (Picture 7) until you reach a high and balanced end of swing position. (Picture 8).

Use this advice in your practice sessions and you will start to find more consistency in your swing and golf shots.