Coaches Corner: Master the Basics: Build a Reliable Golf Swing.

Start with a Solid Setup - Your swing is only as strong as your setup, yet many golfers rush through it like they’re late for a tee time. Take the time to get it right. Your stance should be roughly shoulder-width for most clubs. Position the ball properly: forward in your stance for drivers, centre for irons. A flawed setup will sabotage even the most technically sound swing.
 
Keep Your Lead Arm Extended - The lead arm (left for right-handed players) controls the width and arc of your swing. You don’t need it stiff like a board—just comfortably extended, as if reaching for something across a table. Letting it collapse or bend too much leads to loss of control and consistency. Keep it extended for better contact and more power.
 
Turn, Don’t Lift - One of the most common mistakes is lifting the arms instead of rotating the body. A proper backswing is built around turning your shoulders—not hoisting your arms. Rotate your upper body so your back faces the target. Your arms should move in sync with your torso, staying connected instead of swinging independently.
 
Start the Downswing from the Ground Up - The downswing should begin with your hips, not your hands. As your lower body initiates the move, your upper body is still completing the turn. This creates the necessary lag and stores power for impact. Think of it like cracking a whip—the energy travels from the ground up, not the top down.
 
Keep Your Head Steady (not keep your head down) - "Relatively" is the key word here. Your head doesn’t have to stay locked in place, but it shouldn’t bounce or slide excessively. A stable head position helps you make consistent contact. Think of it as the centre of a wheel—everything else rotates around it.
 
Extend Through Impact -Too many golfers stop their swing at the ball, like they’re just trying to hit it instead of swinging through it. Trust the loft of the club. Swing through the ball and let your arms extend toward the target after impact. 
 
Finish in Balance - Here’s a quick test: can you hold your finish for three seconds without wobbling? If not, something’s off earlier in the swing. A balanced finish (as much as you can) —with your weight on your front foot, chest facing the target, and back foot on its toe—means you stayed in control the whole way.