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Become a Better Ball Striker — The Golf Ball isn’t the Finish Line

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

When we watch the PGA or LPGA Tour each week, one thing that clearly stands out is the fluidness and confidence we see from the vast majority of swings made by the pros.
In particular, the held pose at the end of a beautifully executed swing is something that is hard not to notice. Great players, and great ball strikers understand completely that the finish line of any swing is this held, confident, and balanced finish position with weight transferred fully to the lead side.
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For many amateurs however, the idea of the finish line for the swing is usually impact. This creates an unfinished motion with poor and inconsistent ball striking being the result.
In general, the idea of a golf swing is this...after proper setup, from a static position, we create the motion of the swing by moving the club back through the rotation of our body. We are doing so around a fairly fixed point which is our spine and head. I did want to note that I did indeed mean a “fairly” fixed point as I don’t want to give folks the idea that this is a rigid thing...there will be some allowances for some very slight lateral movement as we coil and get loaded up.
The objective is to coil or load up as we go back so we can create potential energy. This potential energy that is created, as we work up to the top of our backswing, will, through the correct sequence, be unloaded through the ball on the downswing and on to a reactionary balanced and strong finished position with our weight fully transferred onto our lead side. Notice how I said, “THROUGH the ball” and not “At the ball.”
The idea of the ball being the finish line will interrupt this transfer of the stored-up energy you created in the coiling or loading up in the backswing as you attempt to release it on the downswing. Basically, the ball should be getting in the way during this transition of energy from the top of the backswing and on through to a solid, confident and balanced finish position.
My advice for better ball striking is simple. Pretend you are playing on the PGA or LPGA Tour and all the cameras are on you. You want to pose on your finish and smile for the camera! Be strong, balanced and confident and hold that position for a count of 3. Committing to this will surely help your ball striking.
Be sure to tune into PGA Coaching Live presented by Cadillac at www.pga.com/pga-coaching-live next week during the 103rd PGA Championship at the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island for more great coaching tips from PGA Professionals.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

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