I can’t stand being in a static position over the ball. It’s a real killer, because it upsets the rhythm of the swing. That’s why I like to stay “fluid” at address. I don’t ground the club and I make sure I waggle it a few times before I start my swing. You should do the same. It stops you getting stuck at address. From there you’ll find you can flow into your backswing a lot more smoothly and the rhythm of your whole swing improves as a result. Hover the club at address to promote a smooth first move.

Remember this-Don’t ruin that smooth start by trying to hit the ball too hard. You should only ever swing your driver at a maximum 90 per cent power. Never go above that. If you do, chances are you’re going to hit a seriously bad tee shot right there, which is damaging enough in itself. Worse still, you can upset your rhythm and that can be tough to get back.

Ian Poulter

Try adopting an athletic position without a club- like a goalie would stand. This drill

will help you get a feeling of a good posture position at address.

Hands should be forward to encourage a good body position.

Feel the weight on the balls of your feet-you could even lift your heels off the floor

to exaggerate this feeling.

Bend forward from the hips, keeping your spine straight.

Nick Dougherty

Try to enjoy the moment, that’s the first thing. Take a few deep breaths just before

you set up to the ball; that always helps. And try to swing the club smoothly. Most

amateurs swing way too hard anyway, and if you’re nervous that usually just makes

things worse. Make sure you get to the tee in good time, as well. That’s a simple

thing, but it’s important; rushing around won’t do you any good. Find time to hit

a few practice shots beforehand. Remember that you don’t have to prove anything to

anyone, and that will help you relax a bit too. I often say this to pro-am partners

if they’re nervous on the first tee. I mean, we all know how difficult the game is

so don’t put extra pressure on yourself!

Bernard Langer

This tip is based on a Faldo video I watched as an amateur in the late 1980′s. In

the film, Faldo hit 10 shots in a row but you didn’t  see the club he was using. It

was easy to assume he was hitting the same club, as his swing didn’t change. In

actual fact he hit 5 different clubs, from his wedge to his driver. His tempo and

swing didn’t change. That’s a great piece of advice. We all try to help the ball into the air with our long irons and swing to fast with our driver, but our best shots come when we just swing the same with these clubs as we do with a wedge. The only

difference is the length and the loft of the club. Ignore them both, for the ball doesn’t recognize which club is hitting it! The difference you feel is all in the mind.

Imagination-Each club in the bag should be swung exactly the same. If you worry

about hitting a 4-iron, simply imagine you have an 8-iron in your hands.

Timing and tempo- Next time you go to the driving range set your swing like a

metronome and keep your timing and tempo exactly the same with every club.

Gary Evans

To hit the fade shot I simply do the opposite of the draw shot. So, I keep the ball

and clubhead pointing along the outside track and then aim my feet, knees, hips, shoulders and forearms to the left of the inside track. I then swing along the line of my body, which means that I attack the ball more from the outside, and because the

face is now open to the line I am swinging on, it will produce cut spin on the ball.

The backswing-Keep the club tracking slightly on the outside as the hands and arms take away.

At the top-The clubface is wide open to the target line at the top of the backswing.

At impact-The hands should stay firm, resisting the release. Do not allow them to

roll over.

The follow-through-This will be higher as a result of the out-to-in swing path, as the hands resist the release.

Paul Lawrie

Starting with target line and body parallel, as if following the lines on a railway track, to hit the draw I simply keep the ball and clubhead pointing along the outside track and then aim my feet, knees, hips, shoulders and forearms to the right of the inside track. I then swing along the line of my body, which means that I am now coming around the ball with the swing coming from the inside. And because the face is now closed to the line I am swinging on, it should produce a consistent and smooth draw on the ball.

The backswing-Keep the club tracking slightly on an inside path as the hands and arms take away.

At the top- The hands are lower at the top, encouraging a flatter, more rounded

swing plane.

At impact- The body stays back, allowing the hands and arms to release through

the hitting area.

The follow-through-Swing through to a balanced position facing the target and watch the ball draw.

Paul Lawrie

It’s been said that the top of your backswing can make or break any shot you might be taking on. So this is a area of the swing I’ve paid a lot of attention to because it really is that important. A good drill to give you a feeling for starting the downswing

is to adopt good posture without a club in your hands. Your arms should hang down with the palms facing in. In slow motion make a swing where your hands and arms work in harmony with your body. The one single key to focus on during the down

swing is to make sure the hands stay in front of your body as you swing back and

down. That helps me time the swinging arms with the turning motion of the body.

Then complete the follow-through. Now grab a club and make slow motion swings,

again trying to focus on the same feeling of everything moving together. It takes

some perfecting, but the intention alone should be enough to see an improvement,

and with regular practice of this drill, you should find yourself  striking the ball

much more clearly.

Adam Scott

I’ve always had a tendency to get a little “handsy” at the start of my swing, picking

the club up a little too steeply and not in tune with my body action, which I know

is something a lot of club golfers do as well. It’s one of the major reasons a lot of golfers slice, because it sets the club outside the line at the start of the swing and

it’s tough to recover that. So, what I’m trying to do to prevent that happening is

concentrate on maintaining the triangle in my forearms for longer into my

takeaway. It gives me more width in my swing and also keeps the club going back

on the correct path. That first part of the swing is so important. If your hands play such an active role in the takeaway, it’s inevitable that the club is going to go

back on an incorrect path, which means you have to make compensations later

in the swing. So save yourself that problem and focus on the first move away from the ball. Keep that triangle intact by feeling that you take the club back with your arms and shoulders, rather than your hands. It will help the club stay more on line and your whole swing benefits as a result.

Peter Baker

Any golfer who slices the ball is failing to release the club properly through the

hitting area. That’s an indisputable fact. And as any sufferer knows, it costs you distance as the ball leaks frustratingly to the right on pretty much every long shot you hit. Basically, you need to think in terms of trying to shake hands with the target as you swing through impact. By doing that, you’ll generate a much freer release of

the clubhead, which increases your speed through the ball, enabling you to hit it

further. Also, you’ll have less of a tendency to meet the ball with an open clubface.

With practice, your slice is slowly eradicated. Visualize this image as you make practice swings, then try to replicate it in your actual swing.

1. Pleased to meet you visualizing shaking hands with the target ensures your

hands get through the ball, releasing the clubhead and eliminating the dreaded slice.

Ian Poulter

Retief  Goosen hasn’t got a coach, but that doesn’t stop this gifted player finding some textbook positions in the swing. None are any better than that. No wonder Retief

long irons is one of the finest sights in golf. Given a pupil who doesn’t set the club correctly at the top of the swing, with perhaps too much body motion and not enough arm swing. Try to feel that you point the club at the target at the top of the

swing. With that objective in mind, the arm swing starts to work more in harmony

with the body motion and the result is a hugely improved top-of-the-backswing position. Try it. You’ll be amazed how effective this simplest of swing thoughts

can be.

1. Your club should be pointing directly at the target at the top of the backswing.

Try to hold that thought during the swing-it will help prevent overswinging,

which usually leads to a poorly struck shot.

2. Feel your left shoulder under your chin. This ensures a full upper body turn, making the arms and hands less active.

3. The right knee stays flexed throughout, allowing the upper body to turn but

not permitting too much rotation.

Retief Goosen