From time to time I write a post about what I work on with my swing to produce the results I want. You know, down the middle, reasonable distance. Not asking a lot.

For most of 2024 I worked on these things and take them into 2025 fully installed.

I see no reason why they wouldn’t work for you, too.

1. Backswing. All I want from the the backswing is for the clubface to be square when the backswing is finished. Because there are so many ways to get the clubface out of square, I have no guidance on how to achieve this other than to say swing back, check the clubface alignment, and if it isn’t square, figure it out. Hint: start with your grip. How do you check the clubface alignment? If you set up facing north, swing back, leave your hands where they are in space as you turn to the east, and lower the club to the ground.

2. Transition. Start the forward swing at the same speed you swung back.

3. Your head. Everything is moving toward the target in the forward swing: legs, hips, torso, arms, hands, club. Except your head. It stays put until after the ball has been struck. This is a very important point. Another way to say it is, stay behind the ball. See Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book, pp. 75-76.

4. Lag. At the end of the backswing there is an angle made by your trailing forearm and the clubshaft. In a light, graceful way, swing forward so that angle does not straighten out, but do not lock it in place. You could straighten it out, you just choose not to. The momentum of the swing will straighten it out for you at the right time.

5. Tempo and rhythm. Swing at a walk-in-the-park tempo that allows you to feel everything that is happening in your swing and that none of it is rushed. Your swing should have a dance-like rhythm to it. Remember you are trying to swing through the ball, not hit at it.