Conclusion: Golf technique is a constant — and fascinating — work in progress
Even the best golfers Players around the world continue to work on their fundamentals. Grip, posture, alignment, and swing are not boxes to be ticked once and for all: they are living elements, to be adjusted as your level progresses.
What differentiates a player who is stagnating from a player who is progressing is not talent. It is the ability to honestly return to the basics, to accept the external perspective of a teacher, and to repeat the correct movements until they become natural.
What if just one fundamental skill you've worked on this season could completely change your game?
Book a lesson with an instructor from Golf du Belvédère and build a solid technique, adapted to your swing and your level.
Golf technique: the 5 fundamentals to hit better right now
In summary: Grip, posture, alignment, swing, and putting—these five fundamentals are accessible to all levels. Work on them in order, and your progress will be visible from your very first practice sessions.
Golf technique is based on five fundamental movements that every golfer—beginner or experienced—must master to make lasting progress on the course. These five pillars are:
- THE grip (taking over the club),
- the posture (your location at the address),
- L'’alignment (your orientation towards the target),
- THE swing (the complete striking motion)
- THE putting (the game on the green). Without these solid foundations, no real progress is possible, regardless of your level or the quality of your equipment.
Many amateur golfers spend years searching for the secrets to a better shot by changing clubs or trying to hit harder. The reality is simpler:
- The main progress comes from the methodical mastery of these five fundamentals.
This guide presents them to you one by one, with classic mistakes to avoid and concrete benchmarks to progress from your next session.
Table of Contents — Golf Technique: The 5 Fundamentals
1. The grip — how to hold your club correctly
The grip is your one and only point of contact with the club. It therefore largely determines the clubface orientation at impact, and consequently the direction and trajectory of your ball. The grip is the most fundamental skill that is often poorly taught, especially by beginners who instinctively grip the club in their palm, like holding a hammer.
For a right-handed shooter, first place your left hand at the top of the grip. The shaft should rest on your fingers—not in your palm—from the base of your little finger to the first joint of your index finger. Close your fingers and check that two knuckles are visible. Then place your right hand underneath, palm facing the target. Your thumbs should form a V pointing towards your right shoulder.
- The straddled hold (Vardon): The little finger of the right hand rests between the index and middle fingers of the left hand. This is the most common hand position among adults.
- The intertwined grip: The little finger of the right hand intertwines with the index finger of the left hand. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods popularized it.
- The ten-finger grip: All phalanges in contact with the grip. Ideal for beginners and players with small hands.
Classic mistake: Gripping the club too tightly is not recommended. Excessive pressure stiffens the wrists, reduces clubhead speed, and tires the forearms. Hold the club with just the right amount of firmness—no more.
2. Posture — the position that conditions everything else
Posture is the position you adopt even before moving the club. It determines the quality of your contact, the fluidity of your rotation, and the consistency of your shots over time. A good grip combined with poor posture will never produce lasting results: the two fundamentals go hand in hand.
- Position yourself facing the ball, with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend your knees slightly — a soft bend that provides stability.
- Bend your torso from the hips (not from the back) until your arms hang naturally.
- Keep your spine straight and inclined, without arching.
- Slightly raise your chin to allow for a full rotation of the shoulders.
The ball's position in the stance varies depending on the club: in the center for short irons, progressively towards the front heel for long irons, woods, and the driver. On the driving range at Golf du Belvédère, lines on the ground help you regularly check this position.
Classic mistake: Leaning from the back rather than the hips. This fault creates tension in the lower back, limits hip rotation, and causes compensations that affect the entire swing.
3. Alignment — aiming accurately before you even swing
Alignment is one of the most common causes of dispersion among amateur golfers—and one of the least often corrected. You can have a perfectly executed swing and still miss every target if your body isn't properly oriented at address. Many golfers think they're aiming straight when they're actually pointing several yards off without realizing it.
The fundamental rule: At address, the clubface points towards the target. Your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders are parallels to the line of play — not directed towards the target, but parallel to the imaginary line that connects your ball to your goal.
- Place a club on the ground along the line of your toes.
- Step back and check if this line is parallel to your target.
- Use a second club to mark the playing line.
This exercise often reveals discrepancies of 10 to 15 meters on a 100-meter shot — a considerable dispersion that does not come from the swing, but solely from a lack of orientation at address.
4. The swing — the complete movement broken down
The swing is the most iconic movement in golf, but also the most often misunderstood. A smooth swing executed at 70-80% of your maximum power generally produces more useful distance and accuracy than a forced swing. The swing is a movement of coordination and rhythm—not brute force.
| Phase | Key gesture | A common mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Backswing | Shoulder rotation, stable hips, club on the right plane | Raise your arms without turning your shoulders |
| Downswing | The hips initiate the descent, the arms follow | Start the descent with your shoulders |
| Impact | Weight on the front foot, hips open, eyes on the ball | Straighten up before impact |
| Finish | Body facing the target, full weight on the front foot | Stop the movement on impact |
On the gently sloping course of Golf du Belvédère, a controlled and balanced swing will always be more effective than an uncontrolled, powerful swing. To learn more about this topic: the golf swing for beginners.
5. Putting — the technique that transforms your score
Putting is the most neglected fundamental skill by amateur golfers, yet it accounts for between 35 and 43 strokes played on a course. On a 9-hole course like Golf du Belvédère, improving your putting by one stroke per hole is equivalent to gaining 9 strokes on your scorecard—without changing a single aspect of your long game.
- Modified grip: The putter handle rests in the palms, with the thumbs resting on the flat side. The goal is to neutralize the wrists.
- Posture: Tilt your torso to place your eyes directly above the ball and read the line correctly.
- Pendulum motion: The shoulders guide the swing, the wrists remain passive throughout the entire stroke.
- Putter face: perpendicular to the putting line throughout the movement.
Expert advice: Most three-putts come from poor distance management, not from misreading the curves. Practice controlling your speed first—directional accuracy will naturally improve afterward.
Practice these fundamentals at Golf du Belvédère Annecy
Mastering the five fundamentals of golf technique It requires consistency rather than long hours of training. A few short, well-structured sessions are worth far more than one long, unstructured monthly session.
At Golf du Belvédère, just a stone's throw from Annecy, our multi-level driving range allows you to work on these five fundamentals in ideal conditions, with the expert eye of a state-certified professional who quickly identifies the most important flaw to correct. A 30-minute individual lesson can transform your ball-striking from the very next session.
- Work on only one fundamental per session — not all at the same time.
- Always use a precise target: the aiming routine is part of the technique.
- Check posture and alignment using a club placed on the ground before each set.
- Finish each session with 10 minutes of putting at varying distances.
Also read:
Conclusion: five fundamentals, visible progress
The golf technique It's not a mystery reserved for elite players. Grip, posture, alignment, swing, and putting: these five fundamentals are accessible to everyone, at any age and skill level. Each of these pillars reinforces the others—a good grip facilitates posture, good posture improves alignment, and proper alignment frees up the swing.
Work on them in order, methodically and patiently, and your progress will be visible from the very first sessions. On the Belvédère course, as everywhere else, the best amateur players are not those who hit the hardest—they are those who best master these simple and reproducible fundamentals.
Your next challenge? Choose just one fundamental skill to work on during your next practice session.
Discover our courses and training programs at Golf du Belvédère — Annecy
FAQ — Golf technique: your most frequently asked questions
What are the basic techniques in golf?
The basic techniques of golf are based on five fundamentals: the grip (holding the club), posture (position at address), alignment (facing the target), the swing (the complete striking motion), and putting (playing on the green). Mastering these five movements in order is the fastest way to progress steadily, regardless of your skill level.
How to swing properly in golf?
A good golf swing is executed in four phases: the backswing (the upswing initiated by shoulder rotation), the downswing initiated by the hips, impact with the weight on the front foot, and a balanced finish with the body facing the target. A fluid swing at 70-80° % of maximum power produces more consistency and useful distance than a forced swing.
How to hold a golf club correctly?
To hold a golf club correctly, place the grip on the fingers of your left hand (for a right-handed golfer) — not in your palm — then place your right hand underneath, palm facing the target. The pressure should be firm but not excessive. There are three variations: the straddle grip (Vardon), the interlaced grip, and the ten-finger grip.
How long does it take to master golf technique?
The fundamentals of golf technique—grip, posture, alignment—can be learned in a few structured sessions with a certified professional. Complete mastery of the swing and putting requires several months of regular practice. Private lessons can significantly accelerate this progress by focusing on key areas of weakness.
What is the most important fundamental in golf?
The grip is often considered the most important fundamental, as it's the only point of contact between the player and the club—an incorrect grip immediately affects the entire swing. However, posture and alignment have an equally crucial influence on the consistency and accuracy of shots.
How can I improve my golf technique on my own?
To improve your golf technique on your own, focus on one fundamental aspect per practice session: place a club on the ground to check alignment, practice your grip in front of a mirror, and practice putting with distance markers. Even occasional lessons with a professional will help quickly identify the priority areas for improvement.
Is putting really part of golf technique?
Yes, putting is one of the five fundamentals of golf technique and accounts for between 35 and 43 of the strokes played on a course. It's the fastest way for amateurs to improve: improving by one stroke per hole on a 9-hole course is equivalent to gaining 9 strokes on your scorecard without changing your long game.
