Thinking about picking up a golf club but not sure where to start? You’ve come to the right place. Golf can seem like it has a secret language and a complicated set of moves, but the truth is much simpler. This guide will walk you through the fundamental building blocks of a solid golf swing, breaking it down into easy, manageable steps so you can walk onto the course with confidence and the feeling that, yes, this girl can golf.
Let's address the elephant on the fairway: starting golf as a woman can feel a little intimidating. You might be worried about looking awkward, slowing people down, or not knowing the "right" way to do things. It's a common feeling, but it’s one we can leave in the clubhouse. Many of the positions in golf feel strange at first precisely because they are athletic and powerful.
A perfect example is the setup. When a coach tells you to bend from your hips and push your bottom out, your first thought might be, "I feel ridiculous!" It’s a very common reaction. But here's the secret: what feels weird to you looks like a proper, athletic golf stance to everyone else. The best players in the world stand this way. It’s a position of strength and balance - the perfect foundation for a powerful swing. So instead of feeling self-conscious, reframe it. You’re not looking silly, you’re looking like a golfer. Embracing these new moves is the first step to owning your game and feeling like you belong - because you do.
Your grip is the one and only connection you have with the golf club. Think of it as the steering wheel for your golf shots - it has the biggest influence on where the clubface is pointing at impact, which in turn determines where the ball goes. Getting it right from the start saves you a lot of trouble down the line, as you won't have to build bad habits into your swing to compensate for a poor grip.
It can feel very strange at first because you don't hold anything else in your daily life quite like a golf club. Trust the process, and give yourself time to get comfortable with it. Here’s a simple, step-by-step way to build a great, neutral grip for a right-handed golfer (if you’re a lefty, just reverse the hands).
First, place the clubhead on the ground behind where the ball would be. Make sure the bottom edge of the clubface (the leading edge) is pointing straight at your target. Most grips have a logo on them, a good starting point is to have that logo facing directly up. This ensures the club is "square."
Now, let's place your left hand. Let your left arm hang naturally by your side. Notice how your palm faces slightly inwards towards your body. We want to maintain that natural position.
This neutral position is your base. It encourages the clubface to return to a square position at impact without you having to manipulate it.
Now, bring in your right hand. Just like with your left hand, let it approach the club from the side, maintaining its natural hanging position.
You’ll often hear about interlocking, overlapping, or using a ten-finger (baseball) grip. Honestly, don't get too worried about this. Overlapping (where your right pinky rests in the space between your left index and middle finger) is most common, followed by interlocking. Try them out and go with whatever feels most secure and comfortable for you. The engine of the grip is how your palms and fingers are positioned on the club, not what your pinky is doing!
Once your hands are comfortably on the club, it's time to build your stance. Your setup is your foundation. A good setup pre-loads your body for an athletic, rotational swing and promotes consistency, a bad one forces you to make corrections from the very start. Like the grip, it feels a bit unusual, but it's designed for a specific purpose.
Start with your clubhead behind the ball, aiming at your target. Now let's get your body in position.
Resist the urge to stand up too tall! Not tilting enough is a far more common problem than tilting too much. This forward bend creates the space your arms need to swing freely and puts your body in position to rotate powerfully.
Where you place the ball in your stance is also important. For beginners, we can keep this very simple.
For now, while you're learning, simply focusing on a centered ball position for most of your iron shots is a perfect way to build consistency.
So many people get lost in a thousand different swing thoughts. Let’s simplify it. At its core, the golf swing is a rotational movement. It’s a turning motion, not an up-and-down chopping motion. You rotate your body away from the ball, and then you unwind your body through the ball. That's the main idea.
The goal of the backswing is to wind your body up like a spring to store power. Forget trying to "take the club back" with just your arms.
You’ve stored all this energy in your turn. Now it’s time to release it. The downswing should feel like a simple unwinding of the turn you just made in the backswing, with one small starter move.
Don't stop your swing at the ball! Your finish position is an excellent indicator of how well you performed the rest of your swing. A great swing ends in a great finish.
As you swing through impact, keep rotating your body all the way around until your chest and hips are facing your target. Your right foot will naturally pivot up onto its toe, and almost all of your weight (around 90%) should be on your front (left) foot. Hold this finish! See if you can comfortably hold that pose for a few seconds. If you can, it’s a brilliant sign that you’ve stayed in balance and transferred your energy through the ball efficiently. Not only that, but it also looks fantastic - the perfect trophy pose for a well-struck shot.
Building a golf swing is about putting together a few simple, repeatable pieces. By focusing on a neutral grip, an athletic setup, and a body-led rotational motion, you create a swing that is both reliable and powerful. Walk through these steps, be patient with yourself, and remember that every swing is a chance to learn something new.
As you get out on the course, you'll find every shot presents a new puzzle. What club do I use from the fairway? How do I play a ball in the high grass? In those moments of uncertainty, having an expert opinion in your pocket makes all the difference. That's why we created a tool to provide that guidance instantly, with Caddie AI, you can get 24/7 coaching feedback or snap a photo of a tricky lie on the course and receive tailored strategic advice in seconds. It allows you to ask any question and get clear, simple answers, helping you play with more confidence and turn those "what-if" moments into "I got this."
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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.
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