Think back one more time to that perfect drive. Do you remember the stars and planets aligning in a single moment of absolute perfection? Since we have limited control over the planetary orbits, we will focus on something which we can control – positioning before initiating the swing – and hope that the universe takes care of itself.

Begin by taking two clubs other than your driver out of your bag and laying one club on the ground aimed towards your target. Position your toes touching the shaft of this club in a stance about 3-4 inches wider than shoulder width. Let the hand of the arm that would normally grip the top of your driver hang freely (left arm for a right-handed golfer). Use the opposite hand to hold on to the shaft of the second club so that it is touching the front of both of your shoulders. Compare the direction of the club being held against your shoulders with the direction of the club at your feet. The directions of the two clubs should be identical. Keep the first club at your feet and bring out the driver.

Now, in addressing the ball, make sure you are in an athletic position so that you are set up well to execute the next two steps – backswing and control.

Backswing

The backswing should be slow and feel as smooth as silk while keeping the club head low to the ground as you extend back. Envision the same path that an airplane would take from a stopped position if it were taking off on a runway (but be sure not to accelerate the same way!) At waist height, the toe of the club head should be pointed towards the sky and should stay on this plane through the remainder of the backswing.

Control

When following through on your swing, adopt the same rhythmic movement of a pendulum. This will help you maintain control over the motion. As difficult as it is to believe, the golf swing is a prime example of the old adage “less means more”.

By keeping these tips in mind, less effort will translate into more distance, accuracy, and most importantly, more smiles on the first tee leading to more enjoyment of your next round!