Setting the golf club correctly is the first step toward a powerful, accurate, and consistent golf swing. This isn't about one secret move, it's a sequence of connected fundamentals that build upon each other. This guide will walk you through the essential checkpoints of the swing, from how you hold the club to your final, balanced finish, giving you a clear roadmap for improvement.
Think of your grip as the steering wheel for your golf shots. It has the most significant influence on where the clubface is pointing at impact, which in turn dictates the starting direction of your ball. If your grip is off, you’ll constantly be fighting to make compensations in your swing. Getting it right from the start makes everything else much easier.
Before you even place your hand on the club, make sure the clubface is square to your target. You can use the logo on the grip as a guide or, more importantly, ensure the leading edge of the clubface is perfectly vertical and aimed where you want the ball to go.
Now, let your left arm hang naturally at your side. Notice how your palm faces slightly inwards. This is the neutral position we want to replicate.
A word of warning: if you're new to this or changing an old habit, a proper grip will feel strange. It’s unlike how we hold nearly anything else. Resist the urge to revert to what feels "comfortable" if it doesn't align with these fundamentals. If a player’s primary issue is shot direction (big hooks or slices), the grip is the first place a coach will look.
Just like with the left hand, let your right arm hang naturally. The palm will also face slightly inwards toward your target. This is the position we want to maintain as the hand goes onto the club.
What you do with your right pinky and left index finger is mostly a matter of comfort. There are three common styles, and none is definitively better than the others:
Experiment to see what feels most secure and comfortable to you. The goal is for your hands to work as a single unit without slipping or separating during the swing.
Your setup is your body’s foundation for the swing. A repeatable, athletic setup paves the way for a repeatable, powerful swing. Like the grip, it can feel odd at first because we don't stand like this in any other part of daily life. The goal is to look and feel athletic, poised, and ready for action.
Once you are in this position, take a deep breath and let go of any tension. You want to be athletic, not rigid.
The backswing isn't about lifting the club with your arms, it’s about rotating your body to create and store power. The golf swing is a rounded action, a rotational movement around your spine. If you can master this idea, you're well on your way.
Lots of good things happen in the first few feet the club moves away from the ball. This is where we "set the club" on the proper path.
Imagine you're standing inside a barrel or cylinder. As you make your backswing, you want to rotate your body *inside* this cylinder. You don’t want to sway your hips to the right or lean your upper body away from the target. The goal is to turn, not sway. Your weight will shift toward your back foot, but your body’s center remains stable. Rotate your torso as far back as you comfortably can. Forcing more rotation than your flexibility allows will only lead to poor balance and inconsistency.
You’ve stored all this energy in the backswing, now it’s time to deliver it to the golf ball efficiently. The downswing sequence happens in a flash, but it has a distinct order.
The first move from the top is not to swing your arms down. It’s to shift your weight.
Focus on finding the sweet spot. You could make a great-looking swing, but if you consistently miss the center of the clubface, you’ll leak distance and have poor accuracy. Try spraying some foot powder or using impact tape on your clubface during practice to see exactly where you are making contact. This feedback is invaluable.
The finish position isn't just a pose for the camera, it's the natural result of a well-sequenced, balanced swing where nothing has been held back. A good finish tells you that you transferred your energy correctly through the ball and toward the target.
As you swing through impact, keep rotating. Don’t let your body stop at the ball. Your hips and chest should continue to turn until they are fully facing your target.
Practice holding your finish for a few seconds after every swing, even on the range. This builds balance and reinforces the feeling of a full, committed motion.
A solid golf swing isn’t one single move, but a connected sequence you can learn and groove. By focusing on these fundamentals - from your grip and athletic setup to a full rotation and balanced finish - you build a motion that is both powerful and, more importantly, repeatable.
Building these habits takes practice and clear feedback, and we know it can be tough to figure it all out on your own. For that, we a made a tool designed to give you that expert guidance anytime. With Caddie AI, you can get an instant analysis of your setup at the range or, when you’re on the course, snap a photo of a tricky lie from the rough and get simple, on-the-spot advice. Our goal is to remove the guesswork so you can focus on swinging with total confidence.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
