Don't Rush; Start With Small Swings

To get your swing back on track if it becomes erratic, it's always best to begin with a small arc. This approach is also effective when a beginner is learning the golf swing. It’s a similar approach to the way we learn to walk: Newly born, we first lie on the bed, then, start to move upside down, we begin to crawl, sit, stand up, toddle, walk, gradually walk fast, run and then finally jump.

This type of step-by-step learning progression helps you not only learn the golf swing without coming up against much difficulty, but also develop a movement that suits you. You will learn a natural golf swing of your own that perfectly fits your body shape. Golf swings vary from individual to individual depending on everyone’s physique.

You will struggle with a full swing unless you don't know how to hit the ball with a half swing. Similarly, you'll have difficulty striking the ball solidly with a half swing unless you learn to hit the ball with a mini-swing.

Golf is a game that is rather time-consuming to learn. Therefore it's best to learn to master small swing shots first such as chipping and use a half swing. Small swing motions allow you to develop coordination among your hands, eyes, arms and legs during the swing, particularly at point of impact. Lack of co-ordination among all parts of the body inhibits solid ball-striking.

What has to be done first is hit the ball solidly with a small swing and keep the right wrist bent on impact. This keeps the hands inclined forward toward the target through the shot, resulting in a descending strike. Maintaining this angle on the right wrist also encourages your body to turn toward the target with more weight shifted to the left foot.

Once you start to hit the ball solidly using this chipping motion, proceed to make a half swing, in which you swing your arms only waist-high by going back and forward.

To do this properly assume your normal full-swing address and swing your arms and club back to the halfway point of the backswing so your left arm is horizontal to the ground and parallel to the target line with a...