If you're wondering 'how can I improve my golf swing?' then you really need to take a look at some of the issues that you're having with your swing.

You really want to ask yourself a few questions; what problems do you encounter with your swing? Do you slice the ball? Do you shank your shots? Or are you just not getting the desired results from your swing i.e. your shots aren't landing on target or you're not getting enough distance from your swing.

Whatever your issues may be they can all be traced back to problems in your swing. You really need to take a close look at the problems in your swing, if you can pinpoint these problems and ensure that you have a good solid swing technique, then you can achieve a great swing.

So how can I improve my golf swing?

To improve your golf swing, follow these three simple steps;

Step One: The Backswing

Problem: Lifting the club up

A common problem amongst golfers is that they tend to start the backswing with their arms. If you do this it's going to cause you to lift the club up as you take it back, rather than sweeping it back. Not only does it cause you to lift the club up, but the main problem which stems from swinging from your arms is that it causes your club to come off of it's correct path.

The arms will also get ahead of the body in the backswing and you're going to be in the wrong position at the top of the backswing and that can cause problems the main one being a slice.

Solution:

As you begin to bring the club back you want it to be a smooth motion. You want to bring the club back low to the ground as you first begin to take it back, you want to 'sweep' the club back.

To do this you want to swing the club back by rotating your body and moving your arms back in a nice simultaneous "one-piece" movement. This ensures that you are in the correct position at the top of the backswing.

Step Two: Downswing

The Problem: Using Your Lower Body Incorrectly

A good downswing is all about shifting your weight back towards your target. Now a problem which a lot of golfers have is with really getting that weight off of the back foot (your right foot if you're right handed) enough in the downswing.

A lot of power in the downswing comes from pushing your weight from your right leg to your left leg, towards the target. Now a lot of golfers don't get that weight off of their back foot enough in the downswing.

The Solution:

The downswing really begins by rotating your hips and body and shifting your weight from right to left. This then allows your shoulders, arms and hands to follow.

Now in order to really get that weight off the back foot and shift your weight correctly, you must not hang back on the right side, really get off of that back foot as you rotate back towards your target.

In order to do this you really need to have a nice firm and stable leg left to swing into. You need to ensure that when transferring your weight forward you have a balanced and firm left leg.

If you do this it will be much easier to swing through and you'll have maximum power. You really want to feel your right knee swing in towards the left leg on the downswing.

Step Three: Impact

The Problem: Lifting the ball

If you have made a good backswing and a good downswing then you should be in the perfect position for impact. However you do need to continue the correct movement and ensure that you're in the correct position at impact.

A problem that some golfers encounter at impact is that they try to hit up at the ball, they try to lift the ball up into the air with their club. It's an understandable mistake, you want something to go up so you lift it, it seems logical, but your golf club has not been designed to lift the ball.

The Solution:

The hips should lead the shoulders all the way into impact, you want to continue this rotation through impact until your belly button faces the target. At impact 75% of your weight should be on your front foot.

When hitting the ball it's important not to try and lift the ball with your club. If you want your ball to fly correctly you should hit down on the ball. The clubhead isn't designed to lift the ball, the loft of the clubface as been designed to get the ball into the air, so hit down with every club except the putter and the driver and let the loft of the club do its job.

Practice...

Now it's time to actually practice your swing. So get out there on the course, put these steps into action and you'll see some great results.