Now we look at more swing basics. These should be established as you take your stance before the swing itself actually begins:

RELAXED ARMS and GRIP. Holding the club with light pressure in your hands and forearms before the swing begins is very important and easy to do. Remembering to do this each time, and keeping the tension out once you start the backswing is a little harder. But since it doesn't involve learning any complicated technique or manipulation, you simply need to incorporate it into every practice session until it becomes automatic. You'll be rewarded with a longer, more flowing backswing and a more controlled transition at the top.

A STRAIGHT LEFT ARM. The importance of keeping your left arm straight during the backswing can't be overstated. For most players, bending the left arm naturally occurs when they try to make a longer backswing than their flexibility allows. The solution is to go back only as far as a straight left arm will permit, but, at that point, be sure that a normal wrist cock takes place. The left arm should not be ramrod stiff but rather just comfortably straight. Bending your arm to achieve a longer backswing is a guarantee of inconsistent shot-making.

HESITATE AT THE TOP:  There's a very common tendency even among top golfers to rush the change-over, or transition, from backswing to downswing. This is a critical point in the swing. Starting down too quickly with the hands upsets the nice timing a good swing needs to produce the intended result.  A good way to deal with this problem is to hesitate a heart-beat at the top of the backswing before starting down. This is not to be a full stop. Rather, it's the feeling of delaying your hands at the top just long enough so the lower body has a chance to make it's natural move to the left, which is the way it should happen.

PUTTING:  You can make a lot more putts if, after you've considered the line, break and distance and just before you start the putter back, you focus you eyes and your mind on the back of the ball, take the putter back slowly, and then watch the putter head hit the ball. This should assure that your head doesn't move until the ball is under way. Needless to say, looking up too soon usually results in a missed putt, just as it ruins so many shots.