Off the Wall

By: Golf Guru

You can use a wall to improve your golf swing.
You can....

Check your aim and alignment
Using a wood, take your address position with the toe of the club touching the wall. Check that the club face is at right angles to the wall. You should see and feel you are standing parallel to the wall. Check your toes, knees, hips and shoulders are all pointing in the same direction - that is parallel to the wall.

Keep tabs on the start of your back swing
With your 5 iron take your address position so that your toes are parallel to the wall. Place the club 20mm or 2 inches from the wall. Start your back swing and monitor the path the club takes in relation to the wall. Swing the club back a foot or 25cms and see that the club is the same or about the same distance from the wall and you have made a solid start to your swing. If the club head hits the wall or you see it has moved well away from the wall you have some work to do with this phase of your swing. It may be a faulty grip, a problem with your posture or over active hands that cause the problem
You can do the same with your putter, monitoring the path the putter head takes in relation to the wall.

Check the progress of your swing.
Swing the club back until it reaches a point where it is parallel to the ground. If it is parallel to the wall you are on track to completing a solid back swing. If the leading edge of the club is vertical as well your swing is in great shape!! The club isn't parallel to the wall? The leading edge isn't vertical? Check your grip. Your posture at address may need some adjustment too.

See how your wrists hinge as you swing back.
Once your left arm reaches a point where it is parallel to the ground your wrists should almost be fully hinged. To check this make a back swing with your 5 iron so that your left arm is parallel to the ground, then rest the knuckles of your hands on the wall. The shaft of the club should be vertical at this point. Get into this position without a club to stretch your shoulder muscles.

Improve your pivot
Take your address position with your backside resting against the wall. Make half the swing back and stop. What has your backside done as you swung back? If it moved along the wall you have a sway. Your hips are moving laterally as you turn. You don't want this move as part of your golf swing.
You should feel your backside turn against the wall, not slide along it. Go back to your address position and concentrate on turning your backside against the wall as you swing back.

Feel your weight shift as you swing down
Wedge a cushion between your leading hip and the wall. Without a club make a back swing so that your hands reach just above hip height. Gently push your hips back against the cushion so that 70% of your weight is back on your leading foot. This is where you want to be just before you hit the ball.
It is a pre - impact position which allows you to feel where your weight should be at a crucial stage of your down swing.

Find your finish position
Stand side on to the wall with your feet hip width apart. Place your trailing foot against the wall with your toe on the ground and the sole of your foot resting against the wall. You will find this turns your body around away from the wall. Lift your arms above your leading shoulder and you should find yourself in a classic finish position.

Keep your head still as you putt
Place the cushion on your forehead and rest it against the wall. Make some strokes with your putter feeling how steady your head is as you complete each stroke.

Article Source: http://www.bettergolfarticles.com

My name is Paul Hartstone. I am a double A rated member of the NZPGA. I coached the New Zealand Secondary School team that won the World Collegiate Golf Championship in Northern Ireland in 2000. I have designed and developed the Griperfect Gloves. They have patterns in the palms of both hands to show the golfer where the club should be positioned. The golfer can use them to align their hands correctly to the club. The gloves conform to USGA rules. The gloves can be viewed at www.aagolf.net

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