Add Flexibility to Add Consistency to Your Swing

Imagine every one of your shots in the middle of the fairway, every chip two feet from the hole, and every putt nailing the center of the cup. A consistent swing is what many golfers dream of when our heads hit the pillow.

The majority of us are aware that golf is a game that requires consistent shotmaking to be successful (and have fun). If we are hooking, slicing, and hitting our wedges fat, it can really start to get frustrating. Consistency is the key to hitting a low score and enjoying the game. So how do we get there?

First, let's do a little review of the golf swing. To hit the ball squarely on the center of the club head you must take the club through the proper swing path. A proper swing path will allow the club to align itself correctly with the ball to hit the shot you are trying to hit. For more advanced players this could be in the form of a draw, fade, cut, or some other variation. Higher handicappers will be happy with plain ol' straight shots. Either way, this process begins with your address, moves through your takeaway, into the backswing, on to the transition between backswing and downswing, into contact, and finishes with the follow through.

Quite a complex sequence of events for the body to perform! And we all know that if our timing is slightly off, or we are just a little off mechanically, disaster is the result.

Knowing that a consistent swing requires the execution of these complex moves over and over again is mind-blowing. But let's get back to our question: how do we develop a consistent golf swing? The answer is two-fold, and I imagine most golfers are aware of the first point but probably only a few are aware of the second.
The keys to a consistent swing are:
1) efficient golf swing mechanics and 2) the body.

Golf Swing Mechanics
Golf swing mechanics is probably the easier of the two areas to understand. It is the reason we take golf lessons and practice at the range.

Beginning at address, moving through all the stages of the golf swing, and finishing with the follow through, the body is required to move through a specific sequence of movements to perform the golf swing correctly. If the body does not move through this sequence properly then the result will be a poor, inefficient and awkward looking swing. Over time, a poor swing results in poor consistency (every once in awhile you hit a good shot regardless of your swing, that's what keeps us coming back for more). An easy example of this is when you "come over the top" with the club, which usually usually results in a slice.

In addition to the body performing an intricate number of biomechanical movements in the golf swing, timing of these movements is critical for you to hit the ball successfully. Each and every biomechanical movement within the golf swing has a certain sequence and timing. If they are not performed in the correct order or timing, then the golf swing will not be efficient. Poor timing results in those wonderful slices, snap hooks, chili dips and topping the ball that we know all too well.

Now, how do we improve on the mechanics of the golf swing? I would have to say it is through two things:
1) Proper instruction. Find a good teacher and stick with that teacher. Most of the pros do, why not you?
2) Practice, practice, practice. As they say, "practice makes perfect," and I believe this is true when it comes to the golf swing.

From Sean Cochran, for About.com