How To Hit A Golf Ball Like A Pro With Power And Accuracy

Does the fiesta of Japanese cartoons attract you to golf?

Do you wish to enjoy the game’s richness with its exciting equipment? But you need to look at how to hit a golf ball. If yes, then I have covered you all!

I grew up watching Japanese cartoons, which instilled the spirit of playing golf in my childhood. However initially, I found it impossible to hit the golf ball, but with proper guidance, I nailed it.

Whether you are just starting or have hit the ball but are unable to do so correctly, there are easy steps I’ve mentioned. By the way, I now have a lot of experience with playing golf and training others for it!

8 Steps On How To Hit A Golf Ball For Beginners

Hitting a golf ball is not as easy as it sounds. There are several steps involved in it. Following it carefully and with consistent practice helps you nail them!

Without any further ado, let’s dig into the details!

Step 1: Get Your Stance

Stance is the base of golf swings. An improper stance would lead to an incorrect swing. Therefore, whether you are just starting out or already in practice, your stance might be incorrect.

With my experience, I’ve outlined a simple process to resolve it 

• For the driver, place your feet a bit wider than your shoulder width and maintain a strong position.
  Note: Your feet should align to where you aim to hit the ball.
• For irons, bring your feet slightly closer, almost to the width of your shoulders.
• For chipping near the green, bring your feet closer to each other, which should be narrower than your shoulder width.

Further, you would have one foot, which you would have placed closer to where you aimed the shot.

This should point a bit in the direction of your aim. Doing so ensures that your hips take up a better position. 

In contrast, the foot farther from the target should be square (90°s aligned towards the target line). 

Moreover, the process is simple, yet the implementation seems challenging initially. Hence, getting your stance right takes practice, but it’s worth it for a better golf swing!

Width Of Your Stance

In the process of hitting a golf ball, it’s crucial to remember that you have set the width of the stance correctly.

For instance, setting the stance with a narrow width would cause you to lose your balance. Similarly, if the stance is wider than usual, it disrupts your hips position.

Consequently, you aren’t able to take a stronger stance. Therefore, per the standard width, your stance should be slightly wider than shoulder width. 

Moreover, as per your physique, there can be variations to it. If you are tall and skinny, you can have a wider stance. Rest assured, you can alter the stance to suit your swing!

Step 2: Proper Posture

Having a proper posture is another necessity for hitting the golf ball appropriately. Stance is one aspect of it, but there’s more as well.

• To begin with, bend your knees a bit such that most of your body weight is on the front part of your feet.
• Hold the golf club in front of you and lean forward on your hips till your club touches the ground.
• During the above step, your back should make an angle with the ground. It should be such that it helps you turn your shoulders and hips to a good stance while swinging.

Furthermore, slightly tilt your body away from where you aim your golf ball should go!

This seems tricky at the beginning, yet you must not forget that every sport is a matter of practice in the correct direction.

Step 3: Visualize Your Perfect Grip

How you hold your golf club determines several essential things about your swing. This is because it’s the only physical link between you and your golf ball, known as grip.

Hence, the significance of a proper golf grip cannot be compromised!

Here’s a simple way of ensuring a hoof standard grip:

• Lead Hand: If you are a right-handed golfer, your lead hand is left and vice versa. You should place your lead hand on the golf club such that its palm should be ½ inch distant from the club’s end. Moreover, when you grip it, your fingers should be crossed around the club at a diagonal angle. From this perspective, your 2½ knuckles of the lead hand should be visible.
• Trail Hand: For right-handed golfers, the right hand is the trail hand and vice-versa. You should place the trail hand over the lead hand. Further, this hand’s palm should cover the lead of the thumb. Also, the trail hand’s right thumb and index finger should make a V shape pointing towards the middle of your chest (sternum).

Golf Grip Options

There are different gripping styles that golfers use while gripping.

The most common is overlap and interlock, yet you can choose the one you find comfortable and with which you can hit a ball in golf with greater ease! 

For these styles, consider that it’s mentioned for right-handed golfers, and if you are left-handed golfers, follow the opposite!

Overlap

Overlap grip is the most common gripping style. For it, you have to use your left hand to hold the top of the club.

Next, with your right hand, hold the club such that the hand should lie below the left hand.

Further, your right hand’s pinky finger should be over your left hand’s pointer finger. This creates an overlapping grip, and you can control your swing better. 

Interlock

Interlock grip is quite similar to overlapping one, yet there’s a difference! Hold the club with your left hand on the top like an overlap grip.

Further, interlock both hand fingers with your right hand to fit like puzzle pieces. Different golfers use different gripping ways as per what suits them, and interlocking is another common style. 

10-Finger Grip

As the name implies, in a 10-finger grip, you place all your 10 fingers on the club. Your two hands should touch each other but shouldn’t overlap or interlock. 

Though there are different gripping styles, you should use one that feels comfortable!

Step 4: Get Ready (Address The Ball)

When you want to hit the ball, how you address it depends upon the club you use!

• Longer Clubs: When using longer clubs like the driver, your hands and club should form a straight line. Further, your lead foot is the one that is closer to the target, and the ball should be near to it. The target is where you aim your ball to go! 
• Shorter Clubs: The club and its shaft should tilt slightly towards the target for shorter clubs like irons. Therefore, here, the way of addressing the ball differs.

Hence, it’s apparent that how you stand and position yourself while addressing the ball depends mainly on the length of your club. 

Step 5: The Takeaway

Takeaway is the initial part of the backswing, which is the first 12-18 inches. This is essential because it can improve swing or fail. 

For a successful takeaway:

• Use your shoulders and arms together to move the club back and away from the ball 
• Your arms should be straight, yet your wrists should bend slightly 

This sets up your club for a good swing, and you can successfully hit the ball.

Step 6: The Backswing

Keep the club backward from where you are standing for a backswing in golf.

• Don’t bend your lead arm (left arm for right-handed golfers) as you move back.
• Bend your lead knee slightly as you move towards the ball and slightly turn your hips. Further, try to exert your body weight on the back foot.
• Your head and body should be in a straight line.

This ensures a smoother and seamless backswing. 

Step 7: The Downswing

After the backswing, it’s time for the downswing, which is the fastest due to the shot’s power and speed.

• Try to exert your body weight on the front foot.
• Turn your hips in the direction where you want the ball to go.
• Your arms and shoulders follow this hip tilt.

The downswing is more like unwinding the backswing in a reverse direction. You can use it to hit the ball farther and faster.

Step 8: The Follow Through

Just hitting the ball correctly isn’t enough; you should wrap up your swing correctly.

Here’s how you can do so:

• Your hips should face in the direction of the target.
• Swing your club upwards and over your front shoulder.
• Your body weight should be on the lead foot, and the tip of the other foot must touch the ground.

Maintain this follow-through position correctly for up to 10 seconds or more. It helps you to balance even after the ball is in the air.

Conclusion

If you were looking for how to hit a golf ball straight or an excellent way to swing for beginners, you would have got your answer! Yet, it’s noteworthy that golf is not a one-time game.

You must implement it frequently and practice consistently to hit a golf ball correctly and efficiently. I have spent 1.5 years practicing at the course despite the weather and, thus, have nailed hitting it.

Further, when you learn to hit, you can gradually practice different shape shots.

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