Golf Stroke Mechanics – The Actual Stroke

This article discusses what is involved during the actual stroke (pre-stroke (golfer's preparation prior to attempting to strike the ball) covered in a separate article), which is the act of actually striking the ball to send it to the desired destination.

The processes a golfer goes through during their time at the tee and subsequent plays, are collectively known as golf stroke mechanics. These processes involve the golfer deciding on things like feet position, stance, weight distribution, club choice etc. There are two distinct phases during the golfer's play; pre-stroke (discussed in another article) and actual stroke (discussed here).

Actual Stroke Judgements

During the actual stroke the golfer needs to decide on what type of stroke is required (chip, putt, flop, pitch etc.) based on current position on the course (at the tee, on the green, in the sand etc.). 

A normal stroke for the right and left handed golfer

When teeing off, the golfer would use a normal stroke, which involves a backward swing to the right shoulder (right handed golfer), then a forward swing bringing the club to the middle, striking the ball, and following through with the club, ending with the club on the left shoulder. 

For the left handed player, they would use a backward swing to the left shoulder, then a forward swing to the middle (same a right handed golfer), striking the golf ball, then following through and ending with the golf club on the right shoulder.

Hazards

If the golfer needs to avoid a hazzard, then the shot of choice is the flop shot, which with the aid of a suitable club (sand wedge, lob wedge), sends the ball up at a high angle and comes to an abrupt stop on landing, and therefore ideal for specific positioning of the ball.

The green at short range

Whilst still on the approach to the green, but at the point that just one shot at short range would place the ball on the green, a chip shot needs to be played. The club of choice for a chip shot would be a short iron or wedge, although any club could be used to make this play.

We are on the green

No more travelling through the air for the ball, we now need to direct the golf ball along the grass of the green, and into the objective hole. This is achieved with the putt shot and a club specific for this type of shot, known as the putter. At distance the ball is not hit directly at the hole, due to the design of the greens, as it would just veer off to the left or right. The ball is hit at an angle to the hole. Making the correct judgement call on the angle comes with practice, but is soon learnt.

Other types of shot

There are many other type of shots available to the golfer, but they will be discussed in another article, but as a means of reference here is a list of them, including the ones already discussed: bunker shot, pitch shot, lye-up shot, putt, chip shot, and flop shot.

Source: Free Guest Posting Articles from ArticlesFactory.com