Tiger Woods Corrects Amateur Swings: His Tips

Golf Digest asked its subscribers to send in their swings to Tiger Woods. He comments on a dozen of them—ranging from a four-year-old boy to a golfer who has undergone two back surgeries—and offers a simple tip each time to correct the main flaw.

Tiger Woods · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

What the lesson shows

Many corrections involve the lower body. To a young player who thrusts his hips toward the ball at impact, Tiger advises him to Keep your left buttock back: Otherwise, the finish becomes vertical, with a block to the right or a big hook. To a player who rolls onto the outside of her right foot during the backswing: keep the right thigh tight, engage the right hip without letting it roll outward, drive the right knee toward the ball, then keep the glutes back on the downswing, which creates room to swing without relying on the hands. For an almost perfect swing, he wants the right knee moving toward the target and the left knee moving away from the ball before impact. To a player who moves away from the ball on the upswing: have someone hold his hand near the left side of his head during the upswing. To another player, who is sitting back on their heels: adopt a more athletic stance, on the balls of your feet.

The other tips focus on the arms and the club. The club moves behind the hands during the takeaway, and the hands are high at impact: Imagine a window against your left arm and check in the mirror to make sure the club isn't behind your hands. Hands thrown far away from your body at the top of the swing: a few “push-ups” at the top, right shoulder back, with his left hip pulling and his hands dropping more vertically. A strong grip and a closed face at the top: bend his left wrist more to restore loft and grip the club less tightly. He passes on his father’s advice to a four-year-old boy: watch the ball until impact.

The Exercise, Step by Step

1. Film your swing and identify your main flaw among those Tiger discusses.
2. If your hips shift toward the ball at impact: repeat the downswing while keeping your left buttock back.
3. Right foot rolls outward: Keep your right thigh tight during the backswing and drive your right knee toward the ball on the downswing.
4. Club behind the hands on the takeaway: Keep your left arm against an imaginary window and check your form in the mirror.
5. Hands raised at the top of the swing: Do a few “push-ups” at the top, with your right shoulder back and your left hip pulling.
6. Head moving away from the ball: Ask someone to hold their hand near your head as you rise.

Key Takeaways

Mistakes to Avoid

• Push your hips toward the ball at impact.
• Roll onto the outside of your right foot during the backswing.
• Let the club pass behind your hands during the takeaway.
• Throwing the hands away from the body at the start of the downswing.
• Sit on your heels with your shoulders rounded.
• Grip the club with a strong grip and a closed clubface at the top of the swing.

Your Questions

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Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Tiger Woods). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.