Improve Your Golf Swing: Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Hello friends, welcome back to another Address The Ball post! 

As we attack the August swing of golf up here in the Northeast, you're probably swinging away at the range, grinding with a post-work 9-hole round, and enduring a dreaded 5-hour round on the weekends just to say you hit the course. What more could you ask for? 

Some of you are probably thinking, "Just a few more yards.", or "I wish I could find the fairway in regulation.". Well, today we're going to tackle a checklist of swing advice to get you back on track when the normal routine just isn't working. 

We're going to focus on six areas of your golf swing that can be overlooked when you're trying to fit the most golf possible into your jam-packed Summer schedules.  


Poor Grip & Hand Position

Some common mistakes with your golf swing can be corrected with a simple fix to your grip. 

Are you gripping the club too tightly? How about too loose? Are your hands aligned correctly? These are problem areas that may go unnoticed. Your grip should be firm but fair. Clubface control is crucial, and the more control you have, the better you will be at hitting the ball, consistently striking the face, and you'll be able to have more confidence when you're on the course. 

For right-handed golfers, a proper neutral grip is ideal. The grip should make a "V" pointing to your right shoulder; this is a good checkbox to ensure you're setting up in the same way every time. 

A simple checklist for this is as follows: 

1. Hold the club out in front of you. 
2. Check your knuckle count depending on your grip type. 
3. Practice 10 slow-motion swings. 

Remember, slow is smooth and smooth is fast. Focus on your grip, and maybe you don't need to reinvent the ever-turning wheel that is your golf swing. 

Incorrect Stance & Posture

The proper stance is an integral part of your setup at address. Standing too upright will not provide you with the range of motion necessary to apply the clubhead. Hunched shoulders? Those are going to dip when you make a pass at the ball. Are your feet too close together? Or too far apart? All of this can be overwhelming to a beginner. But if you address these issues now, things will be much easier down the road. 

The wrong stance promotes bad swing tendencies such as a lack of rotation and balance. Your stance should be athletic, with knees slightly bent, your spine tilted from the hips, and your weight balanced on the balls of your feet. 

Next time you practice, use an alignment stick or, if possible, a mirror to check your posture before hitting balls. 

Over-Swinging

In the simulator or at the range, we see a lot of people trying to maximize their distance. Trying to kill the ball will only get you so far. 

Tour players properly sequence and get their hands in the right position to make the ball go far. You'll see Bryson DeChambeau trying to hammer tee shots, but remember, you are not Bryson. 

We also see overextension, over-rotation, and people trying to "kill it" with a maximum backswing and exaggerated follow-throughs. 

This can be a problem, breaking your rhythm, and results in reducing your locus of control. 

Focus on a smooth swing tempo, control your backswing length, and avoid overextending. It might feel like you're doing more and adding something, but you're also adding to where your miss will go whenever you add uncontrolled speed to the equation. 

When you're on the range, implement the 1-2-3 tempo drill. Counting to "3" on the backswing, "1", and "2-3" on your follow-through. Trust us, and give this drill a chance.

Early Head Movement

Want to know where your ball is going? That's a dilemma if you actually have no idea where your errant shot will end up. "Keep your head down" is one of the most overused and irrelevant tips to a lot of new golfers. However, it is crucial to get your foundations down. 

Looking up before making contact with your ball just to see it fly? Well, let's just say it's not going to fly where you think if you commit to this. 

This leads to thinned shots, topping the ball, and genuine mishits. 

Keep your eyes focused on the back of the ball until after contact next time. We promise, the ball is going to actually get somewhere. 

If you have a chance during your next practice session, place a tee in the ground an inch ahead of the ball. When you go to make a swing, keep your eyes on this tee during impact. Bingo. Your head is now staying down through the process. 

Poor Weight Transfer

Are you hanging back in your swing or lunging forward? Either one of these things will impact your performance. 

Hanging back or lunging at the ball can rob you of distance, promote a slice or a hook, and really put you in a bind when you come across a damp area of a golf course. 

Shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot smoothly throughout the swing. Easy enough? 

It sounds good, but here's how to actually practice this and implement it into your routine. 

Try a "step-through" drill. Take a normal swing at the range, but really finish with your front foot bearing most of the weight. Take that step-through! 

Neglecting Follow-Through

Are you stopping after impact? If so, you are causing yourself a disservice. You're cutting power, affecting your swing direction, and disrupting the rhythm of your golf swing. 

Commit to a full finish with your belt buckle facing the target. On the range, hold your finish; there's no time limit. Take 3 additional seconds after each shot where you are facing your hips to the target. Build the habit, brick by boring brick. 

You've got the time, you've got the tools, now swing your swing. 

Final Thoughts

Improving your swing is not about stripping everything out all at once and implementing a new set of strategies-it's about identifying the one mistake that is causing the most significant problem and fixing that first. 

Film your swing, get feedback from a coach or trusted playing partner, and keep practicing these drills until they feel natural. 

Remember: every intentional swing you make is a step forward to your best golf, your best version of yourself. Keep working, stay patient, share your wins, roadblocks, and the results will speak for themselves. 


Quick Checklist

- Neutral Grip 
- Athletic stance and posture 
- Smooth tempo, not max speed
- Eyes down until after impact
- Weight shift frontward 
- Full, committed follow-through








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