Stance

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with the ball positioned slightly toward your front leg. Keep your back straight, and the angle of your back to the ground at 45 degrees. Balance your weight on the balls of your feet. Bend your knees, but not so much that they are a distraction. A good stance is a comfortable stance. Before your swing, do a mental check to see if anything is strained or out of place.
  
  

Backswing

• Despite the common golf term "backswing," you're not really swinging the club at this point. Think of the backswing as winding the spring that you will use to drive the ball with your downswing. As you begin raising your club, shift your body weight from your front leg to your rear leg, the smoother the better. As your backswing starts, sweep the club head just over the grass as far back as you can to help achieve full extension. Concentrate on keeping this extension throughout your backswing. Keep the club face on a line with your ball throughout your backswing to help you keep this line during your downswing.
  
  

Downswing

• It's time to hit the ball. The downswing has the highest capacity for producing flaws in a golfer's swing, as it requires all the balance and mechanics of the stance and backswing, then adds power. The most important thing to remember during your downswing is that the more power you add to the swing, the harder it is to maintain balance and good mechanics. Distance is important, but accuracy is often more important--be honest with yourself, and don't try to hit the ball harder than your ability to do so. Keep your arms straight and elbows and wrists locked, drawing power from your shoulders, waist and hips. As your club face nears the ball, shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot for extra power. Remember, the best thing you can do for your downswing is to keep it smooth and under control. Always follow through after you strike the ball.