The golf swing can be reduced down to two building blocks. The first move is a simple body turn back and through with your front arm swinging to about parallel on the backswing. The second move is adding a slight hinge wrist as if you were slapping something. When you combine the body and arm movement with a slight wrist hinge, you have a repeatable, simple swing.
Golf can become one complicated game!
Does the scenario below sound familiar?
You chase swing thought after swing thought trying to find your secret to the golf game. You might be able to play a solid round of golf or two in a row, but then that swing thought stops working.
You head to the driving range for your next swing thought or try old swing thoughts that have worked for in the past.
Eventually, you might land on a swing thought that works again, but you continue on this journey throughout a season or even many years in a row.
Recently, I came across the teachings of Milo Lines and an excellent video that Be Better Golf produced on his youtube channel. It really simplified the swing and the practice you can implement to build a solid, consistent swing that is reliable.
With this approach, I believe most will be able to start playing golf, instead of golf swing when they are out on the course. This means the golfer will be able to look at the shot necessary, taking all of the factors into play (wind, lie, distance, etc.) and try to hit the shot, without worrying about mechanics.
There is nothing better than playing golf free of mechanical thoughts!
How To Simplify Your Golf Swing
Update: I would recommend two post round activities in addition to the two steps below: 1) write down your swing thoughts in a golf journal. Take detail notes of your best swings, your worst swings and the feels that you had. You can reference this throughout your golf journey. 2) take video of your swing frequently and also note in your journal swing keys and feels. Once again, reference this throughout your journey! You can own your swing and “swing your swing!”
Here are 2 simple steps
Step 1
- Setup to your shot and have your hands ahead of the ball, up by your front leg.
- Take your arms back as your body turns.
- Rotate and swing through the ball.
- This will feel like a half swing.
You should be able to make this simple motion back and through without much effort, but you might be surprised how far the ball will fly.
Too many golfers make way too much effort trying to create something extra at the top of the backswing that simply just creates inefficiencies, leading to inconsistent golf and the golfer chasing swing thoughts all golf season.
Step 2
- Once you have hit enough shots and have become successful with step 1 you can add some slight wrist hinge.
- Swing your arms back to where you were in step one.
- Now simply hinge your wrist as if you were going to slap something.
- Swing down and through utilizing your body for turn.
How The Wrist Hinge Works
- Go ahead and put your right arm and hand out in front of you, parallel to the ground.
- Now hinge your wrist, so you can see the backside of your hand.
- This is the wrist hinge that occurs in a golf swing.
- You will hinge on the way back and then slap on the way through. This is the simple release and will happen somewhat naturally through the hitting zone.
- There is no rolling of the face as was taught for many years.
Resource: Milo Lines Review
One of the best golf videos to help you simplify the golf swing!
How To Simplify Your Golf Swing: Next Steps
Head to your local driving range or golf course and practice these two moves. Make sure that you use video on the side and back view to ensure you aren’t taking a massively long golf swing that creates many of the issues.
At this point, we are working on creating the simple building blocks involved in every swing. What you will probably find out is that your swing might be longer than you think you are making. As you can see in the video above, this naturally happens as you train these two building blocks.
A golfer, if he or she is able to build some proficiency with these building blocks, could play an entire round of golf with a 1 swing or a 2 swing.
It is advised to start at 75% speed and then work your way up. You might decide to 5 hit number 1 shots and then 5 number 2 shots, working back and forth on the different feels.
Ultimately, you are building a solid, easy to repeat golf swing that will provide you with the simplicity and the consistency that we all desire.
I truly believe that with the two motions explained above and found in the video that golfers can decrease their golf handicap and their overall scores. If you watch some of the most simple swings on tour Jon Rahm and Tony Finau come to mind. Work on this simple motion and se what type of results you can get!
There would be nothing better than going to the course knowing your motion and the basic swing you are going to utilize to hit fairways and greens all day long!
Resource: How to release hands in golf (5 options)
The Golf Swing Isn’t What you Think It Is!
How Did The Golf Swing Get So Complicated
There is nothing more refreshing than seeing instruction like the video above. It simplifies the golf swing, when so many people out there are making the swing way too complicated. The golf swing only last around 1 second to 1.3 seconds and you don’t have time to have 2-3 swing thoughts.
This simple back and forth motion with some added wrist hinge is a great foundation for a golfer of any swing ability.
The golfer that is advanced will love the return to the basics and the beginner golfer will appreciate having 2 simple moves to focus on to build a quality swing that will hold up when they play their rounds of golf.
The golf swing has become overly complicated because we have so much information at our fingertips and golf instruction. We are able to get instant feedback on every shot we hit via launch monitors, video, body motion technology, etc. and this isn’t always a bad thing, but overall many golfers get lost in the weeds and never find their way out.
Resource: Different golf swing methods (5 options)
2nd Option: Target Based Golf
A 2nd option is to shift your golf swing from a mechanical based swing to a target based swing. Nobody teaches this better than Shawn Clement. His approach is all based on making a natural, free flowing swing where gravity is your friend. You take the natural movement of swinging a grass whip or clipping a dandelion and adjust your setup for the shot that you want to hit.
For a draw, the stance would be slightly closed with the club face aimed down the start line. For a fade, the stance is slightly open with the face just a bit closed. The golfer than swings along his or her stance line to launch the ball in the desired direction. He doesn’t talk about getting into certain positions, but rather has a focus on sending the ball and “throwing the club down the fairway.”
Many golfers spend years chasing positions in the golf swing. Both of these options above by Milo LInes and Shawn Clement can be great options for those seeking a free flowing, easy, simplified swing that can produce results!
Resource: Shawn Clement Review: Can He Help My Game?
How To Measure Your Swing
If you are someone ready to take your game to the next level, I would highly recommend a launch monitor. While many can’t afford a Trackman, there are some great alternatives available in the 500-2000 dollar price range that will give you the following feedback on every swing:
- Ball Speed
- Distance
- Spin Rate
- Spin Axis
- Launch Angle
When you are able to combine one of the two approaches above with real time feedback, you can live in the world of simplicity with results that prove your simplicity is working. If you visit any PGA Tour event you will find that just about every golfer uses a launch monitor at one point and for good reason. A golfer can do the following:
- Dial in distances with each club in the bag
- Check spin rate with all clubs
- Work on gaining distance and having an accurate reading.
- Controlling their start line and curve of the ball
I have found my SkyTrak to be great for building a stock shot with a simply motion. Using the teachings of Milo Lines and Shawn Clement, I have been able to build a stock shot where I can start the ball on my target line and control my curve around 70% of the time. I am working on increasing this number through a simple motion and with my mind focused on the target.
Here are the top 3 options to check out:
Final Thoughts: How To Simplify Your Golf Swing
When you combine the simple motion advocated by Milo Lines and used a target based system taught by Shawn Clement, you have a rather powerful combination that can bring consistency and lower scores to your golf journey.
Stop the madness and chasing swing feel or swing thought every time you practice and play. Start to learn more about your game and spend time dialing in distances with a launch monitor, working on gaining distance with SuperSpeed golf, or controlling the curve of your golf ball!
Check current pricing on SuperSpeed Golf to increase your swing speed at 5-8%!
The game becomes much more fun when you stop chasing the positions and start focusing on what is actually going to make you a better golfer!
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.