Table of Contents
Trying to find the best golf swing tips for seniors? Let us help. Professional Class A Golfer, Brittany Olizarowicz assists with critical golf tips all players need to know.
Swing Tips for Senior Golfers
Swinging the club as a senior is a little different than swinging the golf club as a junior. Having worked with golfers of all ages on their swings, I have seen that there are some common issues that seniors deal with regardless of their handicap.
With these golf swing tips for seniors, you won’t have to run out to the course and implement them all today. Instead, work on one at a time and see if it applies to your game. Sometimes an extra five yards or a shot saved around the greens is well worth your time!
Master The Three Quarter Golf Swing For Seniors
As a senior golfer, some days on the golf course are going to be easier than others. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to master a three quarter golf swing.
The three quarter golf swing limits the distance the club goes back, decreases movement in your golf swing, and it helps ensure that you make more solid contact with the golf ball. Seniors often worry that this three quarter swing will cost them distance.
Don’t be worried.
Some players find that the three quarter senior golf swing increases distance because of the quality of the strike. To make sure you stop at that three quarter position, feel as though you are taking a half swing, and momentum will carry the golf ball the rest of the way.
⛳️ Read Next: 23 Best Golf Tips For Seniors to Enhance Your Game
Open The Toes To Avoid Hip Pain
If you need a golf swing to avoid hip pain, the best thing to do is to open the toes a little when you set up.
A square stance with your toes pointing straight ahead is certainly preferable, but the fact that you are experiencing pain could mean there is just too much torque in your swing.
Even when you look at some of the best professional senior golfers to have ever played the game, you can see the toes fan out a little to help pressure on the hips. Don’t exaggerate this movement; do it to release the pressure.
Tee It Higher And Get After It
I have seen so many senior golfers try to tee the ball low and scoot it along the fairway as long as they can.
This does not work.
You must tee these large 460cc drivers high, play them in the front of your stance, and take the widest swing you have to get them flying. One of the best golf driver tips for seniors is keeping your arms extended and allowing for a long and wide follow-through.
If you can feel this extension in your swing just a few times, you will want to repeat it because of its effectiveness.
Incorporate Better Wrist Action
Senior golfers that can learn to release the golf club will have much better results on the golf course. When you look at a senior golf club distance chart, there is usually a range. I can guarantee you that the higher end of that range are golfers incorporating wrist action into their golf game.
As you swing the club down, pay attention to whether or not your wrists are turning over, squaring the clubface, and eventually releasing it.
If you are holding on through impact, chances are you struggle with a slice, which can cause quite a bit of distance loss.
Quality Of Strike Is Just As Important
So many golfers think that distance comes from clubhead speed. However, that is only part of the story.
If you hit the golf ball square in the center of the clubface, the ball will travel considerably further. Senior golfers need to start to focus on the quality of the strike as opposed to just swinging fast.
One of my favorite ways for seniors to do this is to take some swings with their feet together. You can use a 7 iron for this drill and stand with your feet together, and hit shots that focus on striking the center of the face.
Stay balanced, and take a half swing if it’s all you can do, but this simple drill teaches you the important movements in the swing and what you need to do to strike the center of the face.
Balance The Weight In The Feet
The most important muscles for golf swing speed include your legs and hip, as well as the shoulders. However, in order to get these muscles working the way we need them to, you must have your weight balanced, to begin with.
Senior golfers almost always ask me where the weight should start at the beginning of their golf swing. For most players, a balanced setup is key.
However, there are times when senior players put their weight on their toe or heel, and this causes a major issue with balance.
Make sure that in addition to having weight distributed between the left foot and right foot, it is also resting in the center of your foot. Play around with this concept when practicing chip shots, and you will see what a difference it makes.
Let The Arms Feel Heavy Around The Greens
One of the best golf swing tips for the short game that I have ever used with seniors is to let the arms feel heavy around the greens. When your arms are a little heavier in feeling, hitting down and through the chip shots is much easier.
Watch the professional golfers when they are near the greens. They are not swinging the golf club around as though it’s lightweight and quick flying.
Their tempo is perfect, their movements are deliberate, and they make consistent contact with the ground. This is just one of those little tricks with the mental game that can make you a much better short game player.
Golf Set Up: Don’t Get Sloppy
There is a lot to think about when you play golf, but one of the things that cannot slip through the cracks is the setup. Take a look at your normal position and ensure that you still have good posture and are balanced and ready to swing.
Older players tend to worry so much about scoring and distance they forget these fundamentals that will help lower your score and give you a few more yards.
Whether you’re hitting your driver or pitching wedge, your golf setup matters. Professional Golfer, Lee Trevino recently discussed the importance of engaging your body so that you can hit a solid wedge shot. While the backswing may be shorter, you still need to follow through to avoid getting out of sync. As a senior golfer, it’s important you don’t become sloppy in your golf stance.
⛳️ Jack Nicklaus Swing Modification | What We Can Learn
Narrow Stance For A Little Extra Speed
If you are a senior golfer that struggles to get the weight off your back leg, try making the stance a little narrower. It takes work to transition weight from the back foot to the front foot, but it needs to happen for consistency and power.
By placing your feet a little closer together, you may have an easier time and some extra distance. Sometimes this creates a feeling of less balance, but many players can easily adjust to that.
Exercise Matters More Than Ever
Senior golfers that stay in great shape can make up for distance loss that happens as we age. If you are looking for more distance, the back swing and the forward swing need to be more powerful.
Although physical limitations can lead to a slower swing speed, incorporating regular exercise into your routine can really get the golf ball flight back up and the ball speed considerably higher.
Light weights, some walking, and even a stationary bike will help you gain strength and stamina. In addition, resistance bands and weighted golf clubs can also make a difference.
We also recommend consulting your doctor if you’re making significant modifications or have prior health diagnoses.
🏌️♂️Read Next: The Incredible Gary Player Fitness Routine + Diet Tips
FAQs & Senior Golf Swing Tips
Here are a few most commonly asked questions about the best golf swing tips for seniors.
How can seniors improve their golf swing?
One of the best ways for seniors to improve their golf swing is to ensure that their grip, setup, stance, and posture are perfect before taking the club back. Once those things are in place, it’s then time to work on balance and clubhead speed. For most seniors, less movement is better than more.
How far should seniors hit irons?
Senior golfers will hit their golf irons about ten to twenty yards less than they did when they were younger. However, with modern technology and lightweight golf shafts, senior golfers should be able to get the golf ball considerably higher and more consistently than they did with their older golf clubs.
How often should seniors play golf?
A senior golfer should play golf at least once per week; I highly recommend playing at least three nine-hole rounds. Playing in shorter spurts can be good for your body and your mind.
What drill is best for an effortless golf swing?
A simple drill for seniors is to stand with feet next to each other and take half to three quarter swings. This is a great way to warm up, improve tempo and become a more consistent player. Some senior golfers like this drill so much that they incorporate it on the golf course!
Final Thoughts on Golf Swing Tips for Seniors
As I mentioned, there is no need to run out to the golf course and incorporate all of these golf swing tips for seniors this afternoon.
There are plenty of backyard practice tools or golf training aids you can use from the comforts of your home.
However, if you read through each of them, chances are something resonated with you and made you realize that you likely could improve a bit in certain areas. Seniors should be encouraged about how golf technology and education have changed; getting older does not have to mean poor golf!
