After teaching golf for over two decades, I’ve watched thousands of beginners take their first swings. Some look like they’ve been playing for years while others … let’s just say they remind me why I keep a first aid kit in my golf bag.
The truth is that most new golfers overcomplicate the swing from Day One. They’ve watched too many YouTube videos, read too many conflicting tips and convinced themselves that mastering the golf swing is akin to rocket science.
It’s not.
I’ve seen beginners tie themselves in knots trying to remember ump-teen different swing thoughts before they’ve even learned how to hold the club properly. That’s like trying to run before you can walk, except in golf it usually ends with divots flying everywhere except where they should.
Let me walk you through the fundamentals that actually matter for your first full swing. These are the same basics I teach every beginner, whether they’re eight years old or 80.
Start with your setup, not your swing
Before you even think about swinging, you need to look like a golfer. I tell my students that good golf starts from the ground up and I mean that literally.
Your feet should be about shoulder-width apart, maybe a touch wider. Think of it like you’re getting ready to jump as high as you can. You wouldn’t stand with your feet together or spread like you’re doing jumping jacks, right? Same principle applies here.
Here’s where most beginners go wrong: they stand too far from the ball or too close. When you’re in your setup position, your arms should hang naturally from your shoulders. If you’re reaching for the ball like you’re trying to grab something off a high shelf, you’re too far away. If your arms are cramped against your body like you’re hugging yourself, you’re too close.
The ball position is simpler than most people make it. For your first swings, put the ball right in the middle of your stance. Don’t worry about all that advanced stuff about moving it forward or back for different clubs. Middle works just fine while you’re learning.
The takeaway sets everything in motion
Here’s something that might surprise you: the first 18 inches of your swing are more important than everything that happens after. I call this the takeaway and it’s where good swings are born or destroyed.
Most beginners either snatch the club back like they’re starting a lawnmower or lift it straight up like they’re raising their hand in class. Both are wrong and will make the rest of your swing a disaster.
Instead, think about turning your shoulders and letting your arms follow along for the ride. Imagine you’re slowly opening a heavy door with your lead shoulder (the left for right-handers). The club should move back low and slow, staying connected to your body turn.
I tell my students to practice this takeaway motion without a ball first. Just make that slow, connected move back about waist high and then return to your starting position. Do this 20 times and you’ll start to feel what a proper takeaway should be like.
The magic happens in the middle
Once you’ve got that takeaway down, the rest of the backswing is about continuing that shoulder turn while keeping everything connected. Your lead arm should stay reasonably straight but don’t make it rigid like a board. Think firm, not stiff.
At the top of your swing, you should feel like you’ve made a good shoulder turn and your weight has shifted slightly to your right foot. Don’t worry about getting the club parallel to the ground or any of that technical stuff. Just make a good turn and stop when it feels natural.
The downswing is where beginners usually panic and try to kill the ball. Here’s the secret: let gravity help you. Start your downswing by shifting your weight back to your left foot and letting your arms drop naturally. The power comes from your body rotation, not from your arms trying to swing as hard as possible.
Finish like you mean it
A good finish tells me everything I need to know about a golf swing. If you’re balanced on your left foot with your chest facing the target and the club wrapped around your left shoulder, you’ve probably made a decent swing.
Most beginners either fall backward, spin around like a top or finish with all their weight still on their right foot. These are all signs that something went wrong earlier in the swing.
Practice swinging to a balanced finish position even if you don’t hit the ball perfectly. Your body will start to learn what a good swing feels like and the ball striking will improve naturally.
The practice that actually works
Here’s my favorite drill for beginners and it doesn’t involve hitting a single golf ball. Take your setup position and make slow-motion swings, focusing on each piece we’ve talked about: Good setup, smooth takeaway, connected backswing, weight shift down, balanced finish.
Do this 10 times in slow motion and then gradually speed up until you’re making normal-speed swings. Only then should you put a ball down and try to hit it.
Remember, golf is a game of repetition and patience. Your first full swing won’t be perfect and that’s completely normal. I’ve been playing for 30 years and I’m still working on mine.
The key is building good habits from the beginning rather than developing bad ones you’ll have to fix later. Trust me. It’s much easier to learn it right the first time than to unlearn bad habits down the road.
So take your time, focus on these fundamentals and don’t worry about how far the ball goes. Distance comes naturally when you’re swinging properly. For now, just focus on making solid contact and finishing in balance.
After all, every great golfer started exactly where you are right now.
Leave A Reply