Golf Swing Basics for Total Beginners

I’m going to save you the 3 weeks of confusion I went through. When I started, I thought a golf swing was just… swinging. You pick up the club and hit the ball. How hard can it be?

Very hard. It can be very hard.

But here’s the thing — once someone breaks it down into pieces, it clicks way faster. My coach broke it into 4 parts, and I’m going to share exactly how he explained it to me.

Part 1: The Grip

This is where 80% of beginners go wrong (my coach’s words, not mine). I held the club like a baseball bat for my entire first lesson. Wrong.

How to actually do it:

Take your left hand (if you’re right-handed) and wrap it around the grip so your thumb points straight down the shaft. Not to the left, not to the right — straight down. Now take your right hand and place it below, with the pinky of your right hand overlapping or interlocking with the index finger of your left hand.

It should feel weird. My coach said, “If it feels natural, you’re doing it wrong.” He wasn’t joking. The correct grip feels unnatural for about 2 weeks, then suddenly it’s the only thing that feels right.

Pro tip from my coach: Practice the grip at home while watching TV. Grab a pencil or ruler and hold it the same way. By week 3, your hands should automatically find the right position.

Part 2: The Stance

Your feet should be shoulder-width apart. Ball position depends on the club, but for a 7-iron (which is probably what you’re starting with), put the ball in the center of your stance.

Here’s what nobody told me: bend from your hips, not your knees. I was squatting like I was about to sit in a chair. Coach Park adjusted me and suddenly everything felt more athletic, more balanced. Your arms should hang naturally — don’t reach for the ball.

Weight distribution: 50/50 on both feet at address. This changes during the swing, but start balanced.

Part 3: The Backswing

This is where I kept messing up. I’d lift the club with my arms instead of turning my body. The backswing is a rotation — your shoulders turn, your hips turn slightly, and the club goes back as a result.

Think of it this way: imagine someone is standing behind you and you’re trying to show them the logo on your shirt by turning your chest toward them. That’s the feeling. Your arms go along for the ride.

How far back? For beginners, don’t try to get the club parallel to the ground. That comes later. A three-quarter backswing with good rotation beats a full backswing with spaghetti arms every time.

Part 4: The Downswing and Follow-Through

Here’s the biggest lesson I learned: don’t try to hit the ball hard. I spent my first 3 sessions trying to murder every ball. The result? Topped shots, slices, and one time the club actually flew out of my hands (sorry to the guy two bays over).

The downswing should feel like you’re pulling the club handle down toward the ball, not throwing the club head at it. Lead with your hips — they start turning toward the target before your arms come through.

Follow-through: after you hit the ball, let the club swing all the way around until it’s over your left shoulder. Your belt buckle should face the target. Your weight should be on your front foot. Hold this pose for a second — it helps you check your balance.

Common Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)

1. Gripping too tight. Hold the club like you’re holding a tube of toothpaste without squeezing any out. Tension kills your swing.
2. Looking up too early. I’d lift my head to see where the ball went before I even hit it. Keep your eyes on the ball until AFTER contact.
3. Swinging too hard. 70% power, 100% smooth. The ball goes farther when you swing easy. I know it doesn’t make sense. It’s true anyway.
4. Standing too far from the ball. If you’re reaching, you’re too far. If your arms are cramped, you’re too close. The right distance feels like your arms are hanging naturally.

Quick Summary

• Grip: Left thumb down the shaft, right hand overlapping. Feels weird = correct.
• Stance: Shoulder-width, bend from hips, arms hanging.
• Backswing: Turn your body, not just your arms. Three-quarter is fine.
• Downswing: Lead with hips, don’t muscle it. 70% power.
• Follow-through: Belt buckle to target, weight on front foot.

That’s it. Four parts. Each one takes about a week to feel comfortable with, so don’t try to fix everything at once. My coach worked on just my grip for the entire first lesson. Just the grip. And it was the most valuable lesson I’ve had.

Go hit some balls. You’re going to be terrible. That’s completely normal. I’m still terrible. But I’m terrible in a way that’s improving, and that’s the whole point.