Lesson No. 1 - Getting Started

There is a great deal of physical motion in the golf swing. It is great fun to hit the golf ball and watch it fly far down the fairway. Even more fun is launching a shot from the fairway and watching it loft high and drop on the middle of the green. There are secrets to these shots that need to be learned before they can happen.

I was playing golf at Prestancia Country Cub in Sarasota back in 1985 as I prepared for my PGA Senior Tour efforts. One of my partners was Dick Rhyan, a Senior Tour veteran. He was incredibly accurate and very consistent in making shots. I asked him what he thought of when he needed a good long drive from the tee box. His answer was simple. He said, " I think of balance." It was the best advice I'd ever heard on the subject of shot making.

Today, we are going to start with that subject; the matter of balance. A large human body has quite a task in staying over the little golf ball during the golf swing. Ernie Els suggests we practice by standing on a 4 ft. wooden 2x4 and practice making our swing without falling from the 2x4. Great advice. One learns about posture and turning away and back through to the target by using this little inexpensive method of practice. Since balance is paramount, learning to swing without losing your balance is the best way to start your golfing experience. If you are a seasoned golfer having difficulty hitting the ball straight or consistently well, this simple device will vastly improve your game.

Now, as to maintaining your balance! You will need to have your weight evenly distributed between the soles and heels of your feet. While you must bend at the waist, and have slight flex in your knees, you must not be hunched over. Rather, we like to say, "Be proud!" A slight arch in your upper back helps to maintain balance. We dare not fall forward or backward in the golf swing. You must then turn away into your back swing or you will hang up on your right foot. Weight transfers to the right foot and then back to the left in the downswing. Jack Nicklaus says, "Act like you are swinging in a barrel." I like to say, "Act like you are swinging away around the barrel." The downswing requires that you intend to finish high.

That advice should keep you squarely on the 2x4 and let you begin correctly so as to have a decent balanced golf swing. There is more and you will read about the many other options and tips in future columns.

RHE

The author is also a composer of great symphonies. For more information, please go to the Englefield Symphonies web site at the top left of this page. Just click & Go!