Simple Golf Swing Tips To Help Your Consistency
A simple golf swing is a wonderful thing to behold, you just have look at Luke Donald’s swing to see what I mean, an uncomplicated and consistent swing.
And the beauty of golf is the simplicity of the concept; hit a small round ball from Point A to Point B and ‘putt’ it in a four and quarter inch hole in as few strokes as possible. The reality however could not be any further from the simplicity of the concept – it’s hard, very hard. The fact is, over 80% of golfers will never break 90 and it is mainly down to an inconsistent swing of the club.
A simple golf swing is the key element to consistency
This is a swing that can be relied on time and time again, with little unnecessary movement, which can be replicated easily whatever the situation. Remember the old saying ‘keep it simple stupid’, well that’s your swing in a nutshell. Consistency in your golf swing allows you to hit the ball straighter and longer more often, which in turn will reduce your handicap.
One of the secrets to a good simple golf swing is to have a stable spine which you can work around. Keeping it straight will enable you to use your spine as an axis for your body rotation. Most golfers with high handicaps have a lot of unnecessary movements, swaying as they swing. This makes them waste a lot of energy in those movements and not let them focus on the ball itself. The best way to achieve that consistency is to coil around your spine and limit hip rotation. This will let you put power into your golf swing.
Follow These Simple Golf Swing Tips
There are 3 basic keys to a simple golf swing, the first is keeping your spine still, this lets your body work around it. You should keep the spine straight also; it is then used as the axis for your body to rotate. If you watch anyone with a high handicap you will see a lot of excessive movement during the swing, this causes a loss of energy and power.
The second is to limit hip movement. Having a stable spine allows you to do this, you should be looking to stop that side to side movement you see in poorer players. A good way to focus on this is to imagine yourself inside a barrel and then try to swing the club without touching the sides of the imaginary barrel. Or for a more real drill, put two poles into the ground either side of your hips and swing, you will soon find out how much sway you have.
The backswing is the last key to a simple golf swing. By not taking your club all the way back as far as you possibly can, you limit what can go wrong at the top of the swing, as this is where you are most likely to lose your balance and increase hip movement. Try to think of making a three quarter swing only, you would be surprised how far back your swing actually goes anyway. This will give you more control and power.
So, if you follow these three keys to a simple golf swing, you should be able to add accuracy and power to your game as well as the consistency that you are looking for. Remember to keep it simple and limit the movement in your new perfect golf swing.
Here’s a great video showing hip movement during the swing and a top tip on how to rectify it – enjoy! For more info: Simple Golf Swing






Love your vids Herman. Very fundamental stuff.
Thanks. My “Grip, Flat Wrist and Release” video series should help. Also check “over-the-top or in-the-slot” and “how to stop blocking golf shots.”
Hi Herman,
I love your techniques, they are really helping. Please do a video on preventing a slice for beginners.
Randal
Thanks mate. Been to different teachers and no one ever explains this they just say stop scooping at release. Thank you again
Your description should work fine. I always want people to remember those hands have to work in concert. Left forearm rotates and back of hand bows outward and downward; right wrist stays bent until impact and rotates thru in an over handed fashion. Key on whatever you need to do to get that to happen. Of course, all of this depends on your grip. So it sounds like you understand it better now and can keep training in the right direction. Good luck. – Herman
Herman I commented on one of your other videos about the right hand but I think this answers some of my question. I think a fundamental problem was in my grip I would re grip and all the rest and right hand would slip off . Would I be right in saying one purpose of having the right hand like this is so that it releases in a rotational manner and not scooping? Can I therefore focus in using the right hand to to trigger the release from the hand and not think about the left hand ?if grip is right
Generally when you keep the trailing hand “palm down” as this video describes, the face stays closed and outside. So it’s very unusual to be under the plane if you execute this correctly. Keep your hands “in” and the clubhead “out” is my best advice without seeing you swing.
Herman, I have been working on properly hinging my wrist and in doing so am noticing the club jerking way too much to the inside and under plane. It has been brought to my attention that my right arm/elbow are rolling to the inside. I’m wondering if you have thoughts about a proper takeway, combined with the proper right wrist action so that the club does not jerk inside and under plane. Thank you.
200 -225 may be ok for what you have to work with. Stronger grip may help since wrist is immobile. Defintely keep snacking, drinking while playing. 4 hours is a long time to go with nothing, especially with all the walking and swinging. It’s more athletic than people give it credit for.
ok because of a bad fall and surgery on right wrist for cp tunnel syndrome I no longer can bend the right wrist as you are saying…I have slowed down my swing and concentrating but I continue to pull the entire club and even body goes to the left…shots are fairly straight but no distance maybe 200-225 longest with driver…any help would be appreciated…by the way…I’m 67 now and also need a boost after 9 holes…should I eat or what…thanks !!! fredagainlol@yahoo.com
Champion, your right no one talks about the right wrist. so important. This has been my problem for a very long time. thanks alot.
You make several good points but I would tend to disagree when you deal with a large cross section of physical abilities, ages & talent levels as I do. Faster hips for most players lead to open clubfaces. The hands are your only attachment to that club & will have the most immediate & dramatic influence on what happens to it. I definitely want as much power as possible coming from leg drive & hip clearing, but not until the player has hands that are ready for it.
Taly has a good video showing that one does not need to roll over the arms. The face can flatten by virtue of the hips moving around. As I see it, Harman, your shot becomes an arms shot, rather than gathering force from the body. Matt Kuchar’s article in Golf Digest in the June 2011 issue seems to be promoting a shot where the power comes from the hip and body movement, not from the release of the arms and wrists. The hips come around squaring the club face. Would you agree?
You are probably fine … I have a permanent thickening of that skin on the first joint of the trigger finger. At impact that finger is rolling into the shaft and pressing firmly; this calousing is likely for most of us.
Herman glad to see you addressing the right hand. I have noticed that during the last season I developed on my index finger (pad closest to my hand) (of the right hand) a rather substantial calous. Is this an indication that my grip is not correct…or that it is? or that my swing is off plane?
Thanks for watching and commenting. The short irons are naturally easier to release and unfortunately easy to come over the top due to their shorter length shafts. The result will be pulls. I would first focus on driving the butt of the club targetward to see if that will keep your path online while also delaying your release. Simply imagine jamming the handle to the target prior to impact to delay that release & keep the shaft straight over your toeline. – Herman
Great tips. Thanks for sharing.
All clubs.
Are lag swings used just for the tee shots? or even the fairways?
I am hermanized
howfaht
As you start down, the hip movement should be lateral not rotary – feels like your buttocks faces the target as you shift. This falling into target should prevent shoulders from opening too quick. But if you need more ammo, you can think about the left shoulder moving up, not open, as right shoulder moves down. This starts immediately as the targetward shift is underway. Arms fall right in the slot and the chest stays closed as long as possible. Good luck … thanks for watching. – Herman
Herman, excellent video. Your ideas of “falling” into left side and getting elbow in front of hip have been very helpful. Also lag concept very good. How do i stop my shoulders from opening too fast?
High hands typically make it easier to coordinate the movement of the club, swing plane, etc for more consistent straight shots but might inhibit some of the wrist action that creates distance. I’m generally ok with high hands for most players if they think it’s comfortable.
Great to be in touch with such a knowledgeable teacher. My wife plays with her hands straight out like Moe Norman, . Is this OK or should I try to get her hands a little lower and closer to her body? Pro’s and con’s of high hands/low hands? Most teachers don’t go into this.
If your grip is strong enough, you may only need to unhinge versus trying to bow the wrist. An image you might use is trying to drive the butt of the club targetward until your hands feel like they are even with the ball. Then unhinge like driving a nail sideways into a wall.
I fall into the lack flexibility need distance group. I tried the strong left hand neutral right hand grip with medium pressure both hands and cupped left wrist to get some angle at the top.
I tried to pop the left wrist into a bowed position at the bottom, didn’t work too well. Can you elaborate on how you “let it rip”?
Your advice was very usefull
Thanks for watching & commenting. We get the most views on Youtube & my website for wrist action in the golf swing & wrist related information. This is tough to describe in print so I’m sending you to my website. Then I’ll try to do a video specifically addressing this. Go to my site at hermanwilliamsgolf [dot] com and search for the article “Flat Wrist at the Top of Backswing …” it describes all the wrist movements including how the right wrist stays bent back.
Dear Herman, I thoroughly enjoyed your videos. I think they helped me a lot so far. One point of focus in my swing is the hand action through the ball. Somehow it doesn’t seem right and I see that in the follow through my left wrist collapses. How can I correct my hand action to avoid collapsing left wrist? I feel this could be due to my right hand overpowering my left hand. I would really appreciate your advice on the correct hand action. I’m right handed golfer watching your video from Singap
Your description is perfect. For swings that get loose or wrists too flexible, flat wrist is the way to go. Don’t worry too much about lag; you’ll probably spray it around more if you go for that. Keep practicing and thanks for watching & commenting. – Herman
@hermanwilliamsgolf I really like your golf instruction you break everything down in a way i understand well. I don’t lack flexibility if anything I have way to much and the flat wrist swing seems to control my over swing a lot more and in turn the ball is starting to go exactly where I aim most of the time. I just need to give the flat wrist more time & work on my impact position. In my swing it felt like my left wrist had no lag. If was on the east coast I’d be in your office Asap
Obviously there is more than one way to do it. When I’m teaching one-on-one, I try to assess whether a player needs more help with control, solid contact or distance. Usually everybody needs to get better at all of these. But if you have good distance & want control/consistency, I like the flat wrist choice. If you lack flexibility, hit it pretty straight but pick it thin & hit it short, go with stronger grip, cup it at top & let it rip. Great question … thanks for commenting. – Herman
I use to play with a somewhat strong left hand and grip until watching your flat wrist series video’s took me about 4 day and a lot of practice to get that wrist flat and to feel comfortable. I just took a look at this video and gave it a try and it feels great. The flat wrist swing feels good as well I feel like I know exactly where the club face is at all times in my swing especially at impact but the swing you show in this vid feels so much more normal. So flat wrist or grip & rip?
I love it … thanks for the support.
Herman
Another excellent video Herman. Can’t wait to try to give a few of the ideas you mentioned a go. I tell everyone my coach says this…or that…They ask..”who is your coach?” I tell them Herman Williams! I live in California