10 Key Visualizations for a Winning Golf Swing

Some people learn by feel, while others learn visually. Here are the 10 key elements to both feeling and visualizing the correct positions for a winning golf swing:

1. In the address position, it should feel as if… your arms are hanging like a piece of rope.
2. On the takeaway, it should feel as if… you are pushing a second ball (behind the clubhead) back away from the target.
3. During the backswing, it should feel as if… you are turning back to shake hands with someone behind you. (Left hand for right-handed golfers.)
4. At the top of the backswing, it should feel as if… your weight is loaded over the back foot like a baseball pitcher during his windup.
5. At the top of the swing, it should feel as if… you are a waiter carrying a tray–the right forearm is perpendicular to the ground.
6. On the downswing, it should feel as if… you are pulling a church bell straight down, perpendicular to the ground.
7. During the transition, it should feel as if… you are about to crack a whip–there would be a slight pause before the change in direction.
8. At impact, it should feel as if… you are driving a nail into a board with the clubface.
9. On the follow-through, it should feel as if… the clubhead is chasing the ball down the target line.
10. At the finish, it should feel as if… you are a flamingo, so that you can pick up your back foot and not loose your balance.

What kinds of visualizations do you use on the course to keep your swing in check?