Not much has changed in the game of golf during the last 30 years as far as the basic golf swing is concerned. Early on, the golf slice was dominating my game and was one area I really wanted to improve. I ran across an old training video produced in the 1960's recently and the same advice beginners are receiving today was being dished out then!



It was the same video I was given to watch and yes, the advice virtually helped me eliminate the golf slice from my game. You see, the basic golf swing is a simple procedure which doesn't need to be re-invented. It's stood the test of time and will continue to do so. Let's try and eliminate the golf slice from your game!

Basic Golf Swing Etiquette

The stance and the golf club grip are the two important elements in correcting the golf slice. Get one or both of these wrong and you'll be forever searching for your ball in the bushes or even having to venture onto the adjacent green to play your next shot.

The Stance

It's pretty simple but it's an area beginners have trouble getting right. There's no magic formula to achieving a proper stance. In practice, make a mental picture of your target and where you want the ball to land. Your shoulders should be in alignment with your target.

Footwork is crucial but it's simple. For right handers,the right foot points straight ahead and the left foot is deviated slightly to the left. For left handers, it's left foot straight ahead and right foot slightly to the right. It doesn't get any easier than that.

The Swing And Grip

Grip the club too tightly and you'll more than likely hook the ball. Grip it too loosely and you'll slice it. You need to find a happy medium between the two. This is where the practice range is handy.

The club grip is important but many golfers seem to want to improvise thinking they've got it right. As mentioned before, not a lot has changed in basic golf swing technique so don't try and re-invent the wheel. The club grip is simply gripping the club with your left hand and placing the thumb along the shaft while placing your right hand over your left with the left thumb nestled in the palm of your right hand. The reverse applies for left handers. That's it!

It's a good idea to go through the club grip with a mentor; perhaps an experienced golfer at your local club or even a playing partner. Ask them to watch you go through the motions and point out any deviation from the correct process. Golf is a game of getting into good habits and once you do, you'll be amazed at how natural the process is.

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice the stance and grip until it feels natural. Combining it with the basic golf swing will complete the process. Continued practice will help you lower your score. The amazing aspect about golf during the learning phase is how quickly you can get your score down in the initial stages simply by applying the correct swing, stance and grip techniques.