3 handy keys to improving your ball-striking ability

By Kim Jeong-kyoo

Korea Times Golf Columnist

To be a better player, you need to learn to swing back smoothly, carrying out an unrestricted swing. Importantly, you need to know how to control your ball-flight trajectory at will. Three simple keys here will help you hit better and get your playing ability to go up to the next level.

Imagine pail of water

A good visual cue helps trigger smooth backswing and ensures on-plane swing. For a smooth takeaway, imagine you’re swinging a bucket filled with water. Picture you’re swinging a bucket full of water toward a target on the left without spilling a drop of water.

To swing the bucket back as smoothly as you want, you must first swing it forward left a few inches. An abrupt move will make the water flow over the edges of the bucket.

Similarly, pretend you’re a basketball player shooting a free throw. Trying to swing it back without flexing your knees, you are susceptible to a jerky movement. The same holds true with your golf swing. You need the same reflexive movement.

For a graceful takeaway you need to move your body subtly toward the target before you start back. That is, you must shift your bodyweight left to shift it right. Avoid swinging your arms, hands and clubhead back from a static position. Every movement in your swing is reaction to an action. For a correct weight shift to the right on the backswing, you need to transfer your bodyweight left first.

A correct takeaway with proper weight shift encourages an effortless body turn, helping you pull off the shots called for.

Focus on your finish

Leaving you consumed with anxiety, you are likely to lose sight of your supreme goal: hitting your ball solidly. A great way to relieve your anxiety about your shot result is to focus on your finish. You don't hit your ball with your finish. However, by paying more attention to your finish, you can hit your ball better.

Thinking of a good finish will promote good rhythm and tempo, plus balance. That also encourages a good weight shift, allowing you to hit more solid shots. Focusing on your finish purges your mind of uneasiness and anxiety

Aiming to swing into your sound finish, you will produce more solid strikes without exerting yourself. A golf swing without a finish position in mind is like a car trip without an intended destination.

Control your trajectory

To take your playing ability to the next level, you need to learn to create different ball-flight trajectories on command. That will enable you to tackle diverse problems calling for a high shot or a low knockdown. Here are several requirements you need to meet to hit your ball high or keep it low.

To keep your ball low, position it somewhere from dead center of your stance to your right foot. Place most of your weight forward. That helps you de-loft the clubface.

Keep your shoulders level. Get your shoulders to match the horizon, leaning your club shaft forward toward the target. That also helps de-loft the clubface.

Importantly, try to swing slowly. A more leisurely swing tempo lowers the ball’s spin rate, thus preventing a high flight. To this end, swing with an even, pendulum-like rhythm, and finish low. You need to try to keep your clubhead low below your waist after impact.

To hit your ball high, position it forward toward your left heel. That helps catch the ball on the upswing. Position your weight back on your right side at the address.

Keep your right shoulder lower than your left at address. Picture a shot flying high, and rotate your head to see the imagined shot as you address your ball. That will drop your right shoulder properly.

Try to return the club shaft to its original address position. That way you will retain the loft built into the clubface at impact. Importantly, hit your ball aggressively. You need to whack your ball down full tilt to make it soar high into the air. Finish high in balance, with your hands over your left shoulder.

An easy way to control your ball flight is to choose the right club. For lower shots, go for a two more club than needed. Then, choke down on the handle, with your right hand almost touching the shaft. Then, just carry out your normal swing.

Also, to hit a higher shot, use a shorter club. Shorter club has more loft than longer clubs, making it easier to hit higher shots.