Holding your follow-through position until the shot has finished - ala Sergio Garcia - will help your ball striking and distance. (Brandon Tucker/WorldGolf.com)

Finish the golf swing for improved ball striking and power

By Les Miller,
Contributor

As a golfer, it's easy to be consumed by all the information available concerning the swing. Before we hit a shot, our mind wanders through a list of golf tips: Is my grip correct? What about my alignment, my posture, swing plane, etc., etc., etc.?

With all these thoughts running though our minds, we tend to lose sight of the overall objective, which is to strike the ball squarely and hit it where we are aiming. When you watch good players play, they all have something in common: They finish their golf swing in good balance with their weight on the left side and their upper body facing the target. The key to consistent ball striking is to focus on the finish.

If you take the time to practice your finish position, you'll develop a repeatable swing that leads to solid ball contact for increased distance - not to mention lower scores.

Here's a drill that will help you complete your golf swing into a good finish position:

Start by addressing the ball and taking a short, half backswing, and then swing forward to the finish. Hold the finish for several seconds, then swing back down into the half backswing position and repeat the swing to the follow through position, and hold the finish. Let yourself feel a smooth, natural tempo as you swing the club.

Before you play or practice, warm up for three to five minutes using this drill to relax and groove that follow-through position. As you address each shot on the course, focus on swinging the club to your follow-through position.

The next time you watch Sergio Garcia on TV, see how he holds his follow-through position until his shot has finished. Do this, and you will hit the ball solid and longer more often.

April 3, 2009

Les Miller was a longtime Golf Writers of America member who covered golf instruction for several newspapers and golf publications. His many years of experience as a golf professional, director of product development and tour relations for several major golf companies gave him a unique background and ability to help golfers increase their enjoyment of the game.