Golf swing for beginners: the phases, the angles at the top and the 3-to-1 tempo

The golf swing lasts two to three seconds and yet has a name for every section. This post puts them in order, gives the numbers PGA Deutschland states for the top of the swing, and shows three drills from the PGA of America that you can do without a ball. At the end it says what a simulator can say about the swing and what it cannot.

One swing, no ideal form

The PGA of America writes in its beginner booklet that you need to learn only one basic swing for golf. When the distance changes, you choose a different club from the set (PGA of America, First Swing). PGA Deutschland goes further: there is no ideal swing movement in golf, the movements are individual and adapted to the physical prerequisites, and even at the world's top they are partly very different. But very good players have a more reliable and more functional sequence than others (PGA Deutschland, learning material on golf technique). For you that means: you learn building blocks, not a pose.

The phases

Division	Phases
PGA Deutschland	backswing as the preparation phase, downswing as the main phase, follow-through as the final phase
PGA of America	before the swing the routine and the address, then the swing with takeaway, change of direction, downswing, impact and follow-through to the finish

The preparation phase should prepare the main phase optimally, in the main phase the task is solved directly, and the final phase stabilises the balance that is often unstable at the end. According to the PGA of America the swing should be completed in one smooth, fluid motion. That the downswing begins before the club reaches the top is no mistake: PGA Deutschland writes that backswing and downswing merge fluidly.

Before the swing: stance and balance

According to the PGA of America the ankle joints stand under the shoulders, the weight lies evenly between heels and balls of the feet and evenly on both feet. The German Golf Association puts it more simply: the weight rests in the middle of the feet, neither on the toes nor on the heels (DGV, five technique tips). What the grip looks like is in How to hold a golf club, and where the ball lies in the stance in Golf setup position.

Backswing: the numbers at the top

The swing starts with taking the club away, the takeaway. PGA Deutschland names a few numbers for the top of the backswing, in the technical language ToB for top of backswing:

Feature	Value at the top
Rotation of the shoulders	about 90 degrees
Rotation of the hips	about 45 to 50 degrees
Right hip	shifts about 5 centimetres to the right before the club has passed the 90-degree position
Head	moves about half a head width to the right
Hands	roughly above the right shoulder

The details apply to right-handers, for left-handers they mirror. The difference between shoulders and hips is intended: the twist creates a preload whose energy discharges in the downswing. The sideways movement is completed before the rotation, which PGA Deutschland calls translation before rotation. Anyone who wants to be flexible for this finds exercises in Golf fitness: exercises and Back, mobility and warming up.

Downswing and impact

The downswing ideally starts with a forward movement of the lower body, more precisely with a push-off from the right foot. As soon as the hip has reached its greatest acceleration and slows down again, the rotation of the upper body reaches its maximum. Then follow the arms and hands and finally the clubhead. That is why the hands are ahead of the ball at impact (PGA Deutschland). You can remember the chain: feet, hips, shoulders, arms, club.

The lowest point of the swing lies after impact. The ball is therefore hit first, and the dent in the ground, the divot, begins after the ball and not before it (DGV). Why shots turn out fat or thin is shown with numbers in Avoiding fat and thin shots.

Follow-through and finish

The clubhead works around the body, not in a straight line, even though the target direction stays straight. You work the face through the ball and let it keep turning: after impact the palm should point away from the body, not to the sky (DGV). In the finish all body parts and the club slow down gradually and come to rest. The head is, according to PGA Deutschland, exactly above the left leg at the end of the swing.

The tempo: slow, fast, slow

The PGA of America describes the swing as one continuous, rhythmic movement: smoothly back, change of direction at the top, then gradually faster to the finish. It calls this slow, fast, slow. The whole swing lasts two to three seconds. PGA Deutschland gives the ratio: with many successful players the backswing lasts three times as long as the downswing up to impact, so 3 to 1.

You can count it. In the backswing you count in your head one, two, three, in the downswing four, and the ball is gone. If your backswing does not last longer than the downswing, the ratio is smaller than 3 to 1. Try the 3-to-1 count first without a ball, then with a wedge, then with the 7-iron.

Three drills without a ball

The PGA of America describes in its booklet drills you do at home:

Drill	How it works	What it shows you
Whoosh	Turn the club upside down, grip below the head and swing. Listen for the whoosh at the lowest point	The louder the whoosh, the faster your swing, and it should whoosh at the bottom, not at the top
Cutting grass	Imagine cutting grass with the clubhead and let the club swing back and forth without stopping	the rhythm, the arms swing the club, the body turns
Baseball swing	Stand upright and make several swings like in baseball, then bend over until you are in the golf position and repeat	how the hand and arm movement should feel

The instructions come from First Swing. More drills for at home are in Practising golf at home.

More on this: Golf focus in the swing.

What a simulator says about the swing

A simulator does not judge your posture but the result: clubhead speed, angle of attack, smash factor, launch angle. That is the number behind the feeling. How to read it is in Understanding launch monitor numbers. On top comes the video with which you look at your swing and compare it with the details above: Filming the golf swing. For the driver Driver tee shot for beginners shows which numbers count, and the first ten things beginners should watch are in Golf tips for beginners.

What a simulator does not replace is the feedback of a person. 81 of the 110 indoor venues in the directory state coaching. The indoor golf training page lists them, the golf simulator near me page sorts them by distance, the map shows them by canton, and the prices of an hour are on golf simulator prices. For the first visit golf simulator for beginners is the start, and how long it takes to reach the first course is in How long does it take to learn golf.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a golf swing take?

According to the PGA of America the whole swing lasts two to three seconds, with the rhythm slow, fast, slow. According to PGA Deutschland the backswing of many successful players lasts three times as long as the downswing up to impact.

How far do shoulders and hips turn in the swing?

At the top of the backswing the shoulders are turned about 90 degrees according to PGA Deutschland, and the hips about 45 to 50 degrees. The twist between the two creates a preload that discharges in the downswing.

Is there one right golf swing?

No. PGA Deutschland writes that there is no ideal swing movement, that the movements are individual and adapted to physical prerequisites. The PGA of America says you need to learn only one basic swing, which applies to all clubs.

Where is the lowest point of the swing?

After impact, says the German Golf Association. The ball is hit first, and the divot begins after the ball, not before.

How do I practise the swing without a ball?

With three drills of the PGA of America: the whoosh, in which you turn the club over and let it whoosh at the bottom, cutting grass without stopping, and the baseball swing from which you bend over into the golf position. You can also count the 3-to-1 tempo.

Sources

• PGA Deutschland: Lernunterlage Golftechnik (März 2019) (keine ideale Schwungbewegung, Phasen, Winkel im höchsten Punkt, Rhythmus 3 zu 1)
• PGA of America: First Swing, Golfer's Guide (ein Grundschwung, Phasen, Stand, 2 bis 3 Sekunden, Übungen)
• Deutscher Golf Verband: fünf Technik-Tipps für die ersten Schläge (Gewicht mittig, tiefster Punkt nach dem Treffmoment, Schlagfläche weiterdrehen)
• Swiss Golf Simulators: eigene Einträge (Anlagen mit Coaching, Stand Oktober 2026)