An amazing drive during the 1974 US Senior National golf tournament landed Mike Austin in the history books. The record shot was a 515 yard drive, yes it sounds unbelievable, and he hit it when Mike was 64 years old! This feat alone should make looking into the Mike Austin swing worth a little effort.

It was a scientific based approach that Mike Austin applied to the golf swing. He had a degree in kinesiology and applied the study of human motion to golf. He also made sure that he was not breaking any of the laws of physics.

Even back in the early 1960s Mike Austin was critical of his teaching peers claiming that they simply did not understand how the golf swing actually worked. Many aspects of the swing most people are taught today are almost the opposite of the Mike Austin method. Let’s look at some of the conflicting ideas between Mike and what most golf pros believe.

People now try to restrict lower body movement in the golf swing. If you try to keep the bottom of the spine centered it will cause your head to move. The sequence in the Mike Austin pivot is shift, turn, shift back, turn back. This action creates a stable head position and a lot of lower body action into the swing.

Mike Austin will tell you to release the club immediately, at the beginning of the downswing. Nearly any golf pro would tell you this is wrong. The idea of the late release is almost universal among conventional golf instructors. Mike despises the idea that there is a “late release” and that this is the biggest lie told about the golf swing.

The Mike Austin hand action is a twirling motion where the wrists are freely released through the hit. This is unlike conventional teaching, where we are encouraged to maintain a flat left wrist throughout the follow through. Keeping the left wrist flat, as Ben Hogan suggests, will impede the swing and slow the club head down. You will lose distance and direction when impeding the release of the club by keeping the left wrist straight.

The Mike Austin golf swing is a very precise and specific way of hitting the golf ball. It is truly a one swing fits all approach. We all have the same joints and the swing uses them to their design. Working your joints in the right way will allow you to hit the ball longer and straighter with less effort and no strain on the body. As Mike always said, “it is the most efficient way to hit a golf ball”.

You can learn Mike Austin swing from golf pro Steve Pratt. Take golf lessons online or meet Steve for live lessons.

The swing is built on the sciences, using the body the way it was designed. There is an optimum way to use the joints to create power and consistency. The beauty is that doing this right is also easy on the body.

Mike used his expertise in kinesiology to study the golf swing. It is this knowledge that he applied to the swing that helped Mike build a swing system that he states is “the most efficient way to hit a ball”. He has challenged anyone to prove him wrong, and no one has.

Having worked in the sciences as well, Mike was well versed in physics. So he used this knowledge in addition to the kinesiology to build his swing. The combination of properly applied physics and a deep understanding of human motion are perfect for creating a masterpiece of a swing system.

Mike was a maverick in many ways and he was particularly at odds with the PGA and the teaching methods they use. A classic example of his differing opinion is on the “conscious delaying of the release”. Mike believes a conscious effort to delay the wrists is inaccurate. This is almost an axiom in golf to most teaching pros.

Mike Austin will explain that if you shift your weight to the left as you should, the release should start immediately in the downswing in order for the club to catch up to the left arm at contact. Mike states “there is a period between stimulus, action and response that must be adhered to”. He eventually proved this by studying players muscle responses when hooked up to an Electromyography machine.

As much as almost all PGA pros would tell you, releasing the club early is wrong. Yet none other than Jack Nicklaus, the best golfer of all time, agreed with Mike. Nicklaus (who had a very Mike Austin type swing) has said “that as long as you properly shift your weight to the left on the downswing you CAN NOT RELEASE THE CLUB TOO EARLY”. Strong words from the best golfer ever, confirming what Mike was trying to tell everyone.

Learning the basics of the mike Austin swing can be done quickly. With the basics you will soon be hitting the ball longer and more accurately, and your back and joints will thank you too.

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Mike Austin is famous for hitting the record drive (that is still in the Guinness Book of World Records) in a sanctioned competitive golf event. When he was 64 years old Mike hit a drive that went an unheard of 515 yards. Was there something special about how his swing worked? It is worth looking into, isn’t it?

Mike Austin studied the sciences, and based his swing method on the things he learned. Mike was way ahead of most golf instructors because he had studied Kinesiology and was applying this to the golf swing. His understanding of physics helped complete the picture.

Much of what Mike taught was in opposition to what your typical golf pro would say you should do. The modern swing is a vastly different swing than the Mike Austin swing. Below are some cases where Mike is thinking very differently than other golf professionals.

Mike believed that you should release the wrists immediately, at the start of the downswing. This is considered a big mistake by almost all golf pros. We are taught that we store energy by delaying the release until just before impact. Mike despises the idea that there is a “late release” and that this is the biggest lie told about the golf swing.

The modern swing has the lower body staying very still, and only rotating. This will cause the head to move. Mike believed we should swing the lower spine laterally in both the backswing and fore swing, and then turn, a compound action he called it. This action creates a stable head position and a lot of lower body action into the swing.

The Mike Austin hand action is a twirling motion where the wrists are freely released through the hit. The flat left wrist is only a position at impact and should not be held onto. Holding on to a flat left wrist impedes the club. If you let the wrists react naturally you will gain club head speed. The club is free to whip through the hit zone.

The set up for the Mike Austin swing is unique, critical and quite brilliant. Mike has a very well thought out process to get you set up properly. Taking the steps insures a consistent and correct set ups. The precision of the set up makes performing the swing correctly much easier.

The Mike Austin is done virtually the same by everyone. The limited differences in how the looks when different people is due to the different body shapes. We all have the same joints and the uses then to their design. Working your joints in the right way will allow you to hit the ball longer and straighter with less effort and no strain on the body. As Mike always said, “it is the most efficient way to hit a golf ball”.

If you want to learn more on the Mike Austin golf swing I think Steve Pratt is who you should turn to. He is available for in person golf lessons in Los Angeles or online golf lessons at his website Hit It Longer (.com).

Hitting a draw means the actual golf ball goes from right through to the left, much like a hook shot but with some control as well as deliberation. Several pros invest hours and hours learning this particular shot, as it could add considerable length on their fairway drives. When performed effectively, hitting a draw permits the actual ball to soar lower to the ground and to rotate more though out the course. As you begin to learn more on how to hit a draw shot you will see a noticeable advancement with your game.

To master this specific very useful golf shot, you should ensure that a couple of certain things are occurring with your golf swing.

The 1st step to hitting the draw shot is always to achieve a solid golfing hold through turning both hands a bit to the right upon the club shaft. It is important to not spin the shaft of your golf club, only your hands.

Next you want to close your current address foot position slightly. This enables one’s body the room it requires to turn entirely and get the appropriate inside to outside golf swing path.

As the club head comes into contact with the ball, permit your hands to carry out the task. Your right hand will naturally move to the basic position, allowing the actual golf club face to be able to shut a bit. This is where the strong grasp comes in handy.

Whenever you’re hitting a draw, keep the head down whenever completing the follow through. In the event that proper form is used, the actual ball can effortlessly commence a path to the right; after it reaches its top, it will begin to come back to the left, halting its contour through the center line.

If you see the ball is actually bending immediately left, you happen to be performing a shot that is certainly closer to a hook, and you have to continue practicing.

A great hint would be to look down on the divot you leave. While shooting with the irons, the divot should be a little to the left of the goal line or perhaps directly in-line with the goal line. It should not end up being aiming off to the right.

Hitting a draw shot effectively demands practice, and the best golf club to make use of is really a mid-range iron. The 6 is an excellent option for the majority of players. If you’re still finding yourself having a hard time refining the shot, take a look at your golfing grip. Bigger, softer golfing grips could make it more challenging to get the sought after motion on the ball.

Never become disheartened if you see a great deal of hook shots at first. This really is to be predicted. The technique of turning the hands right while you make your golfing shot will take regular, continual training. It is best to make small adjustments, hit a number of golf balls, see what happens, and make additional alterations as required.

As you start to perfect the shot with your mid range irons, proceed up towards your driver. This really is the most challenging club to master in relation to hitting a draw, yet practicing using the easier golf clubs first will make it a lot easier to master your driver. Don’t quit. Once you have the technical skills down, you will be able to manage this particular shot as well as your game far better.

If you are keen to know more on hitting a draw shot or different golf tips. I would recommend checking out more golf tips so you can play better golf.. Free reprint available from: Simple Steps To Hit A Draw.

To find the accuracy and precision, as well as get the force behind your swing movement, it’s imperative for you to switch your weight onto your left side (right side for lefties) in your transition (the moment when you change from the backswing in to the downswing).

The shifting on the left knee on the downswing will move the arc for the swing plane forward and really helps to strike down into your golf ball, which in turn generates additional distance in both your drives and your iron shots. You’ll be able to perfect this weight transference if you should start your downswing well.

How You’re Going to Perform the Golf Downswing

The transition out of the golf backswing in to the downswing is an essential phase of your golf swing technique. Get this wrong and then chances are you will wreck all of your swing. This transitional phase for the swing is that significant; many videos, articles, and training lessons happen to be developed to correct the movement. You’ll have heard about a number of the methods, like for example , starting the downswing using the arms or perhaps the hips as many PGA professionals swear by. On the other hand, starting with the left knee is amongst the most popular techniques in the golf swing transition. Below you’ll find a transition drill which will make it easier to begin your golf swing correctly.

How the Professional Golfers Do Things

For the majority of golfers you’ll see a brief pause at the moment between the backswing and downswing as the golf swing changes direction. From this temporary stop, many people are convinced that focusing on driving from the left knee could very well be the very best option. Any time you observe a professional player on film, you will realize precisely how his/her left knee comes away from the right knee as their weight begins to move forward. To receive a far better feel with this crucial movement for the transition of your golf swing, stick to this familiar drill.

The Golf Swing Transition Drill You Need to Apply

So that you can better understand just how you move the left knee throughout this phase, enter your familiar golf pose (golf wedge at hand), get your hands on a football (soccer) and put that in between both your knees. At this time try a couple practice swings while focusing on holding the ball with your knees through the backswing. Next at the beginning of the downswing drive your left knee toward the specific target succeeded then by the remainder of your body. This will form the space amongst the knees and the soccer ball ought drop to the floor.

This valuable action (often known as the golf swing lag) will allow the lower part of the body to start your downswing, which actually creates more power as well as sets the club on the ideal swing plane.

It’s going to feel weird to begin with but keep using this transition drill before you’ve mastered it. When you finally feel comfortable then simply start to strike a number of golf balls devoid of the help from the football. Start out with the smaller irons, if possible a seven. When you have the confidence on this you’ll be able to proceed onto whatever golf club you like.

Rigorously practising this specific area of the golf swing definitely can get you shooting further and significantly more continually.

If you would like to read on about the golf swing transition and other golf swing tips you may want to head on over to GolfingValley for more info.

A good golf grip is something you gain with practice and time. It cannot be too loose or too tight. It’s also not the same for two different people. Every golfer has different size hands and different strength and use different size golf clubs. Playing with the same set of golf clubs will help you to determine the correct golf grip. Most golfers will use the same golf club for specific shots and therefore get accustomed to a certain grip, which works for them. There are many tips you can get on golf swings and golf grips. I use the two terms together because one affects the other.

Relaxation is very important in golfing. If you find that you are constantly reminding yourself how to grip the club during a game, this may be very distracting and make your grip worse, especially if you begin to sweat. One important key to remember is to not grip the club when it is next to the ball and ready to hit. When you grip it at this time, you will be putting the club in the palm of your hand instead of in your fingers, where it should be. The club should be in the upright position facing up when you put your fingers around it to get the grip.

If the grip is slick or sweaty, this may cause you to squeeze the club too hard, which will give your arms and shoulders tension. The result of this is usually a quick and short swing, which will not go very far. It takes a lot of practice to not get too large of a grip or too slow of one, which will both result in inaccurate and ineffective swings. Your hands and consequently your swings react by the kind of grip that is put on the golf club.

Practice is the best way to work on your grip. When you are alone either on the driving range or on the course, you are relaxed and will shoot better. The more you work on your grip and swing, the better it will become. When you are on the course during an actual game, your grip will come natural if you practice in between games.

Greg Hansward pens mainly for http://www.alicante-spain.com , a website about golf in benidorm . You can discover his contributions on denia golf and blanca costa golf in on his site.

2. Simplify Your Swing Thoughts: Go in with a easy game plan. Copy it down and refer to it before each full shot. Pre-shot: Try to see in your mind what you want the shot to do. Address: Align the club face square on your target line. Swing thought: Swing the club head freely.

3. How to survive the First Tee Jitters: When you’re tense you tend to go a little faster and that will effect your accuracy and consistency. Try taking several deep breaths as you’re getting ready to hit, inhaling through the nose and out of the mouth. Now swing your driver smoothly saying to yourself “I am only going to swing at 50%”. You’ll see a good result and you may want to utilize this approach on every tee.

4. Make more of those Tough Short Putts: When you play a format where you must putt everything out, do this. Set the putter face square on your target line, then square your shoulders and feet with that line. Now, make a smooth stroke while looking at your target, not the ball.

5. Take more club on those Par 3′s: Most amateurs come up a little short on Par 3′s and very often hit through or over the green. Look at the yardage to the back of the green and choose a club that will give you that yardage. If you hit the ball well you’re on and if you don’t hit it well you might still make the putting surface.

6. Lower your score on Par 5′s: Take a “do the math” approach. Most Par 5′s are 500 yards. You want to try to make your 3rd shot your most favorite yardage to the green. On your second shot, going for the green will take one of those “miracle shots” which will most likely end up with you in trouble. Check the yardage to the green from where you are and subtract that favorite yardage that your are most comfortable with. Now hit your 2nd shot to get you to that spot on the fairway. With this strategy, you’re hitting lofted clubs to the green, that are easier to hit and more accurate.

7. Get Out of the Sand in One Try: You need to accelerate the club head through the shot, letting the sand “splash” the ball out, in order to be consistent at getting out of green-side bunkers. Set up with the face of the club slightly open and the ball just forward in your stance. Now, hit the sand behind the ball and complete your swing like you are hitting a full 5 iron.

8. Use a Putting Stroke When You Are Chipping: To avoid chunking or skulling your chip shots, take a lofted club like a 7-, 8- or 9-iron and grip it like your putter. Lean the shaft and your body toward the target for a slightly descending blow. Make your putting stroke, allowing the loft of the club to carry the ball over the unpredictable turf onto the green.

9. Get Your Shots Airborne: Most topped shots occur when you try to help the ball into the air with a scooping motion. To hit down on the ball, set up with more weight on your left foot than your right. Take the club back more vertically and return it on a downward angle of attack.

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Golf slice have a number of causes. To begin with, try noticing the simple body alignment. An indication that you are properly positioned is that your left shoulder is aimed straight to the target. This is important because once it goes out of line, you will end up with that dreadful slice. The grip is very crucial for your perfect swing. Look at your left hand. If you can see two or three knuckles bumping up the surface of your left hand then that is an indication that your grip is correct. Check if this can resolve your problem.

When you are first learning how to play golf for beginners, remember that you should not tighten your grip of the club. This will affect your ability to release upon hitting the ball. An improper, weak grip will also result in a club head that rocks as it strikes the ball which will result in a slice. Another part of the swing that most players overlook is the full hip turn. It is a requirement to turn your hips completely once in the strike zone. As a result of failing to complete this movement, the ball is sent flying to the far right. The reason for the full hip turn is that it allows you to hit the ball squarely. Get used to finishing high to allow your hips to turn completely. Do not think that the faster your motion is the better outcome you will get. Concentrate to swinging slowly so that your hands do not get ahead which is improper. It will result in an opened face club which leads to a golf slice.

Learning how to play golf for beginners is hard, but not impossible. This next tip and is quite often said. Unfortunately, some golf players fail to listen. Your head should be down until you have finished with the swing. Try not to be curious to want to look how your shot was because you will get disappointed with the poor quality. In some instances, players make an awful habit out of this that they are not even aware of it anymore. You might reason that your shoulder keeps bumping into your chin causing you to instinctively move you head up. However, that is not valid. Avoid moving your shoulder to prevent lifting your head.

You need time and lots of practice before you can say farewell to those awful slice days.

Are you looking for ways to improve your golf game? Check out our free guide today. We focus on the following golf topics: how to play golf for beginners and peak performance golf swing

The majority of golf players are right-handed (upwards of 90 percent) and therefore equipment is made for them. In fact, on the golf course you’ll probably be teased a bit and told you’re standing on the wrong side of the ball. Don’t let this get you down. If you are left-handed then there are options for you.

The first choice (and least desirable unless you’re ambidextrous) is to play as a right-handed player. This should only be an option if you are able to make a golf swing and putt at the same skill level from the left-handed side. If you’re able to master this then you will have no trouble finding equipment for your golf game.

Buying left-handed golf clubs is a real challenge especially if you live away from a major city with well stocked pro golf shops. You will most likely need to order your equipment; most golf equipment manufacturers have catalogs from which to order or you can search the internet for their website. Either way, you run the risk of not getting the best set of clubs for you since you’re not able to see if they “fit”. Also, when you want to upgrade an individual club (from metal to graphite, for example), you’ll need to have this ordered as well.

Don’t think you can get by with just left-handed drivers and use right-handed putters. Even though putting seems like an easy task, it takes great skill and precision so you’ll need the proper equipment. Don’t practice with the wrong equipment or you’ll just be compensating.

If you are really serious about your game (more than just a weekend warrior) then you’ll want to get a custom made set of clubs. Most pro golf shops offer this service as well as direct from golf equipment manufacturers.

Lastly, don’t listen to those who say that right-handed golfers play better than left-handed ones. Sure, there are statistics but those are skewed since there are so few left-handed golf players to take a proper average. Get the correct equipment and you’ll be playing your best game – even with your left.

Eric Slarkowski writes principally for http://www.alicante-spain.com , an internet site with topics around golf courses around alicante and golf courses near alicante. You might find out more about his publications on golf courses around alicante and alicante golf courses over at http://www.alicante-spain.com .

Usually, golf players use the square stance characterized by aligned feet, hips and shoulders to the target. With this stance in use to address, a forward motion of the left feet will cause the club face to open upon striking the ball leading to that undesired slice. The sign you should be looking for is the left foot precisely positioned below the left shoulder. The same applies for the hips in relation to the shoulder. A square posture is required for a proper shot. After the address, check your grip. It is a common misconception especially among beginners that you need to tightly hold the club. However, it always ends up in an opened club head which will only send the ball to the far right. On the other extreme, a weak hold of club will result in the head rocking towards striking the ball. The outcome is also a golf slice.

As you continue to learn how to play golf, make sure you are always checking your grip. The correct grip unlike many misinformed beginners believe, should not be too tight because it will open the club head. The same holds for holding the club too loosely. You want a grip that is neutral where only two or three knuckles are showing from the left hand. If there are none, then you already know you are grasping the club incorrectly. Using these “knuckle-less” grip will rotate the hands into a neutral position as you return to the strike zone. You will again, end up with a slice from an open club face. Move your hands around to readjust and correct your grip. After this, check if you have achieved the desired position by hitting a few balls. Something as minor as changing the grip will have a great influence on how you play. Keep the right grip in mind once you have found it.

The tempo of the golf swing is very crucial. Do not get the power of your shots from using your arms. This is a common error among players. Then their hands initiate the downswing motion. Inevitably, this results in the open club face. Avoid suddenly swinging your club down from your top. Movements from the beginning up until the end need to be fluid and relaxed. Looking at your divot is also a helpful pointer. If you see it directed anywhere but towards the target then go back to checking your stance. Once you find the reason for those dreadful slice shots, it will be quite certain that you will be able to get the right shots in the future. Of course, you need to practice and master these basic strategies first. Then you are off to finding that new found joy in playing golf.

Keep the above tips in mind as you perfect your golf game. They will take you far in the quest to correct your game.

Are you looking for ways to improve your golf game? Check out our free guide today. We focus on the following golf topics:how to play golf and golf lessons for beginners