I have a nephew in Toronto who is athletic, but not a golfer. Here’s how I’d teach him to play.
There are four components to the game: driving, approach shots, chipping, and putting. The basic swing applies to the first two. Chipping is a modification of the basic swing, and putting is something completely different.
Basic Swing
The basic swing has eight parts.
Eye on the ball
- “Keep your eye on the ball” is the oldest adage in golf. It was designed to help players make proper contact between the ball and club.
- Your head should be tucked, looking directly at the ball, until at least a half second after you’ve made contact. Then, your back shoulder will naturally make your head turn forward as you complete your follow through.
- Hit the middle of the ball with the middle of the club. (Easy when using a tee. Also why you make a divot when shooting off the grass.)
Feet position
- Stand close to the ball (you’re not playing hockey).
- Your front foot position varies by club: with short irons (6-9 iron), the ball stays in the middle of your feet. When hitting long irons, woods, or drivers, the ball should be closer to your front heel.
Front arm straight
- For right-handed golfers, your left arm should be mostly straight (but do bend your wrists).
- Your club should be on the same plane going up as coming down.
Closed face
- The club head can be either open faced, straight, or closed. Try it all ways and you’ll find the ball goes further with it closed.
Knees bent
- Keep your knees bent throughout the swing. They’ll naturally rise back up as part of the finish.
Turn your hips, turn your wrists
- Drive your hips through the swing and turn your hands over as you make contact.
Hit through the ball
- Don’t just hit the ball and stop. Hit all the way through on your way to the finish.
Finish your swing
- Your chest should be facing the hole, all puffed out like a rooster, with your club’s shaft touching your back just like Rory McIlroy.
Practice the basic swing by concentrating on each component, until the whole thing feels natural. Start by hitting the lower clubs (e.g., wedges) and then gradually move up to drivers. Hit each club at least 8 times. After hitting a hundred balls or so, every day for 3 weeks, you’re ready to play.
Chipping
- Pop the ball up using a short back swing, firm wrists, and a little hips.
- Still bend your knees.
- The trick is to hit the bottom of the ball with the bottom of the club (not the middle of the ball with the middle of the club).
Practice in your backyard by lightly popping up a ball for no more than 5 feet. Do this a million times over and you’ll become good.
Putting
- There are two parts to making a putt: line and weight. Weight is how hard you hit the ball, and line is where you put it.
- Putt with your arms and shoulders (not wrists). Your wrists should be straight (and don’t break them).
- Line up the ball by pointing its arrow (or lettering) towards the hole. This way, during your actual stroke, you’ll only worry about weight.
Practice putting on a practice green at any golf course. Remember, it’s line and weight. If you line up the ball properly, you only have to worry about weight. Place your feet one step back from the ball, and take 2-3 practice strokes for weight. Then step forward and hit it.
P.S. Tiger is getting old.