Imagine every one of your shots in the middle of the fairway, every chip two feet from the hole, and every putt nailing the center of the cup. Well, maybe some of us dream of never having to ever putt and each approach shot goes into the hole, but I think you get the picture. A consistent swing is probably what many golfers dream of when our heads hit the pillow.

The majority of us are aware that golf is a game that requires consistent shot making to be successful (and have fun). If we are hooking, slicing, and hitting our wedges fat, it can really start to get frustrating. Consistency is key to hitting a low score and enjoying the game. So how do we get there?

First, let us do a little review of the golf swing. To hit the ball squarely on the center of the club head you must take the club through the proper swing path. A proper swing path will allow the club to align itself correctly with the ball to hit the shot you are trying to hit. For more advanced players this could be in the form of a draw, fade, cut, or some other variation. Higher handicappers will be happy with just plain old straight shots. Anyway, this process begins with your address, moves through your take away, into the back swing, onto the transition between back swing and down swing, into contact, and finishes with the follow through.

Quite a complex sequence of events for the body to perform! And we all know that if our timing is slightly off, or we are just a little off mechanically, disaster is the result.

Knowing that a consistent swing requires the execution of these complex moves over and over again is quite mind-blowing. But let’s get back to our question: how do we develop a consistent golf swing? The answer is two-fold, and I imagine most golfers are aware of the first point but probably only a few are aware of the second. The keys to a consistent swing are: 1) efficient golf swing mechanics and 2) the body. Got it? Good, now I can stop writing this article and all of us can become scratch golfers, right? Well, not exactly, and I imagine some of you are saying, “I already know all this stuff.” Others may be quite intrigued. Regardless of which category you fall into, let me expand on each of these topics a little.

Golf Swing Mechanics

Golf Swing mechanics is probably the easier of the two areas to understand. It is the reason why we take golf lessons and practice so much at the range. Beginning at address, moving through all the stages of the golf swing, and finishing with the follow through, the body is required to move through a specific sequence of movements to perform the golf swing correctly. If the body does not move through this sequence properly then the result will be a poor, inefficient and awkward looking swing. Over time, a poor swing results in poor consistency (every once in awhile you hit a good shot regardless of your swing, that’s what keeps us coming back for more). An easy example of this is when you “come over the top” with the club. This usually results in a slice (I know, easy thing to do and very hard to correct).

In addition to the body performing an intricate number of biomechanical movements in the golf swing, timing of these movements is critical for you to hit the ball successfully. Each and every biomechanical movement within the golf swing has a certain sequence and timing. If they are not performed in the correct order or timing, then the golf swing will not be efficient. Poor timing results in those wonderful slices, snap hooks, chili dips and topping the ball that we know all too well.

Now, how do we improve on the mechanics of the golf swing? I would have to say it is through two things:

1) Proper instruction (Find a good teacher and stick with that teacher. Most of the pros do, why not you?) and

2) Practice, practice, practice. As they say “practice makes perfect”, and I believe this is true when it comes to the golf swing.

Fix the Engine that Swings the Club

Now, on to the second point when it comes to consistency in golf. Again, this is probably the lesser known of the two points about consistency in the swing. It is also equally as important as the mechanics of your swing. One question might help you realize the importance of “the body” when it comes to the golf swing. What swings the golf club?

Some of the answers I have heard are: “my hands,” “the swing,” “my hips” and even “the grip.” Well, these answers are in the ballpark and are close to being right, but let me simplify it for you. The answer is your body. Quite simple when you think about it: The club head is attached to the shaft, your hands grip the shaft, your arms are attached to your shoulders, your hips rotate through the swing, and on and on we go. It is the body that swings the club. So why is this so important to consistency in your golf game?

We know from our golf lessons, that there are certain positions the body is required to be in during the golf swing. For example, at address we know that the feet are slightly wider than shoulder width, knees slightly bent, back at a certain angle, head in a specific position, and our hands gripping the club a certain way. This is only the beginning of what the body has to do to swing the club correctly. Now, from the address position your body must move the club on the correct path and generate club head speed to hit the ball accurately and with power. Doing this over and over is what we define as consistency.

What most people do not understand is that for the body to perform the golf swing correctly, certain parameters need to be met by the body. The body must have certain levels of flexibility, strength, endurance, balance, stability, and power. If your body does not have the minimal levels of these factors in relation to the golf swing, then what do you think will happen? Well, let me tell you, it will be very difficult for the body to swing the club with the correct mechanics. And what will this result in over time? A large amount of time spent on the range with little improvement on the course and a swing that looks less than desirable.

So what does consistency in my golf swing really come down to?

It is vital to understand that improvements in your golf swing mechanics and improvements in your body specific to golf are equally important when it comes to creating a consistent golf swing. If you ignore either the body or the mechanics, it would be safe to say that your golf swing and game will suffer. Take some time on a routine basis to address both the mechanics of your swing and the body supporting it. I think you will find the benefits to be very rewarding.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. To lesrn more about Sean Cochran and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com

Technorati Tags: Consistency, Developing, swing

Imagine that each of his shots in the middle of the fairway, each chip two feet of the hole and each shot preach the center of the glass. Well, maybe some of us never dream of ever having to putt and each will approach shot to the hole, but I think you get the picture. A consistent balance is probably what many players dream of when our head hit the pillow.

Most of us are aware that golf is a game that requires consistent shooting to be successful (and fun). If we are linking, cutting and hitting our fat wedges, it can really start getting frustrating.Consistency is key to achieving a low score and enjoy the game. so how do we get there?

Firstly, let’s do a small review of the golf swing. To hit the ball squarely in the center of the club head, you must take the Club through proper swing path. A proper swing path will allow the Club to align properly with the ball to hit the shot that you are trying to hit.For more advanced players, this could be in the form of a tie, fade, hack or some other variation. top Handicappers are going to be happy with simply old straight shots. Anyway, this process begins with your address, moves through their examinations in rear balance, to the transition between back and down swing, swing in contact and ends with follow-through.

Quite complex sequence of events for the body to perform! And we all know that if our time is a little off, or are a little off mechanically, disaster is the result.

Knowing that a consistent swing requires that implementing these complex moves repeatedly is completely mind-blowing. But let’s get back to our question: how to develop a consistent golf swing? The answer is two-fold, and I imagine that most players are aware of the first point, but probably only a few are aware of the second.The keys to a consistent balance are: 1) effective golf swing mechanics and 2) of the body.Caught? well, now you can stop writing this article and all of us can become scratch golfers, right? well, not exactly, and I imagine some of you are saying, “I already know all this stuff”. Others can be quite puzzled. Regardless of which category you fall, let me expand a little on each of these themes.

Golf Swing mechanics

Golf Swing mechanics is probably the easier of the two areas to understand is why we take golf lessons and practice both in the range. Starting at address, go through all steps of the golf swing and ending with the follow-up, the body is required to move a specific sequence of movements to perform correctly the golf swing.If the body does not move through this sequence correctly, then the result will be a poor, inefficient, and strange looking swing. Over time, a record of poor results in poor consistency (once in a while you hit a shot good regardless of your swing, which is what keeps us coming back for more). an example of this is easy when you “come over” with the Club.This typically results in a slice (I know, easy thing to do and very difficult to fix).

In addition to the body to perform a complex number of biomechanical movements in golf swing, timing of these movements is crucial so that you can hit the ball successfully.Each biomechanical movement in golf swing has a certain sequence and timing. If they do not run in the correct order or timing, the golf swing will not be effective. Poor time results in these wonderful slices, snap hooks, chili depressions and topping the ball we know very well.

Now, how can we improve the golf swing mechanics? I’d have to say that it is by means of two things:

proper Instruction (1) find a good teacher and stick with that teacher.Most professionals do, why not?) and

2) Practice, practice, practice.As they say “practice makes perfect” and that this is true when it comes to golf swing.

Fix the mechanism that Swings Club

Now, for the second point when it comes to consistency in golf.Again, this is probably the least known of the two points about consistency in the balance sheet.Also it is equally as important as the mechanics of your swing.A question can help you realize the importance of “body” when it comes to golf swing which oscillates the Golf Club?

Some of the answers that are heard: “my hands,” “swing”, “my hips” and even “the grip”.Well, these answers are the baseball stadium and are close to be right, but let me simplify it for you.The answer is your body.Very simple, when you think about it: The club head is attached to the shaft, shaft grip your hands, your arms are attached to their shoulders, your hips rotate through the swing and about and we ‘ll. It is the organ which oscillates Club. Then why is it so important for consistency in your golf game?

We know from our golf lessons, there are certain positions the body is necessary during the golf swing.For example, at the address we know that the legs are slightly larger than the width of shoulders, knees slightly bent, back at a certain angle, head at a specific position and our hands gripping the Club in a certain way; This is just the beginning of the body have to do to swing the Club correctly.Now, the position of the address of your body must move the Club on the correct path and generate club head speed to hit the ball with precision and power.Do it more and more is what we define as consistency.

What most people don’t understand is that, for the body run correctly, the golf swing certain parameters must be completed by the body. the body must have certain levels of flexibility, strength, endurance, balance, stability and power. If your body does not have the minimum levels of these factors in golf swing, then you will happen? well, let me tell you, it will be very difficult for the body to swing the Club with the proper mechanics. and what this will result in over time? A great amount of time spent in the range with little improvement underway and a swing that seems less than desirable.

So what consistency in my golf swing really comes down to?

Is critical to understand what improvements in your golf swing mechanics and improvements in your specific body of golf are also important when it comes to creating a consistent golf swing. If you ignore the body or the mechanics, it is safe to say that your golf swing and game suffer. take some time on a routine basis to meet both the mechanics of your swing and the body support it I think you’ll find the benefits of being very satisfying.

Sean Cochran is one of the golf fitness instructors most recognizable in the world today; he travels regularly with PGA Tour 2004 Masters champion Phil Mickelson .for more about Sean Cochran and your golf fitness programs go to lesrn http://www.seancochran.com

Technorati Tags: Consistency, Developing, swing