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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.
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

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.