As golfers get older, getting a grip of the club becomes a problem. Eventually, the lack of proper energy and the loose grip leads to a shallow golf swing. Senior golfers struggle to drive the ball the required distance and mend up making many mistakes and losing important games. Thankfully, senior golfers can still enjoy the golf game and hit the proper swing by following some golf swing tips.
Golf swing tips range from the standing posture of the player to the best golf clubs for seniors used and other minor details of the game. Even those who suffer from weight or back pain problems can still enjoy the game and hit the ball with power by following the right guidelines. Further, there are exercises that promote wrist flexibility and the overall ability of a senior player to hit the golf with power.
For tips from professional senior golfers on how to swing in old age, keep on reading.
What is the Age of a Senior Golfer?
The human body is susceptible to age-related fatigue as people get older. As a result, many golfers lose their stability, strength, and power at a certain age. In professional men’s golf tournaments, senior levels are preserved for players above 50 years. In other categories of the game, senior tournaments are for those above 45 years.
Outside professional golf, there are those who wish to play the game at an old age. In essence, senior golfers are classified as individuals above 65 years. For any individual above 65 who plays golf, the impact of aging can be quite strong. As a result, special equipment and tips are needed.
How Far Should a Senior Hit a Golf Ball?
For an individual above 65, the expected distance of a perfectly hit driver is much lower as compared to the younger ones. The range will depend on the golfer, his or her swinging skills, and the mechanics of the equipment used. There are senior golfers in their 50s who can hit the ball with the flexibility to the range of 250 yards.
The average driver distance for golfers between the ages of 50 and 60 is 211 yards whilst for those above the age of 60 is 196 yards. The distance also depends on the golf clubs used and the golf tips for seniors applied in the game. Since senior golfers can still drill the balls well and far, there are many factors that must be considered as shown below.
Tips for Senior Golfers to Improve Their Swing
Improving the swing is not something that can be achieved in a day. It is a process that involves plenty of exercises. The golfer interested in improving the swing must first put in the effort to learn new tips. The tips include how the body should be positioned. Every part of the human body, including the head, shoulders, back, and hips plays a role in the game.
Below are the key golf swing tips for seniors:
Harden the Grip
As a person ages, the hands become delicate and lose their strength. Griping much harder is a way to improve the swing. A firmer hold on the grips improves the swing even for younger golfers. For right-handed golfers, the trick is simply in rotating the hand a little more to the right. For left-headed swingers the reverse is true.
Narrow the Stance
At an older age, hitting the swing for a long-distance becomes quite difficult. Many elders find it difficult to deal with a long range of motion when swinging. The best option, in this case, is to narrow the stance. For a reduced motion, open legs further from each other than usual. This makes it much easier to turn the tip when making the swing.
Whilst this technique has been proven to work on many occasions, it needs exercise. Take time to practice the steps until each procedure is well understood. Comments by pro golfers on the position of the foot say a lot. Some comments on Youtube videos indicate that the golf clubs work better with open feet.
Watch Your Feet
The big problem that the elderly face is swaying once they make the swing. This is a problem that is caused by weight imbalance. In many cases, the problem affects those who are too stiff when making the swing. To avoid the problem, the right foot should be turned out when making the swing.
Recent comments by a top golfer on several Youtube Videos mention the feet. Similar comments by fans in the comments section seem to indicate there is a relationship between feet and golf club position.
Slightly Move the Ball Back
This tip is applied by both professionals and amateur golfers since it is very common. The common comments among golfers are that this step should only be taken when the ground is in good condition. The movement of the club close to the stance increases accuracy and offers a better hit.
Slow Down the Backswing
One of the most important swing tips for senior golfers is to always draw the golf club back in slow motion. This helps the golfer keep the eye on the ball and focus on the trajectory of the club. Further, swinging very fast means that the backswing is shorter.
Flex the Knees
The elderly watch plenty of videos on how to swing the clubs better for a longer range. The common comment they get is to keep the knees flexible. Stiffness is the enemy of the sport. When the knees are straightened, they affect the process of turning the hips and shoulders. For success in hitting the balls well, knees must coordinate with the hips in a flexible manner.
Don’t Lift Arms
If a person does not coil when taking the shot, the wrists or arms may also get hurt a situation that seniors should avoid at all costs. The cost of lifting arms is that the club head may hit directly into the ground, collecting some dust instead of hitting the golf.
Consider a Senior Flex
Senior flex is not more of a style of swinging but more about the angle and design of the club used. The position of the golf stance is adjusted when a senior flex is used. This type of club improves the speed and is much lighter making the golfing experience enjoyable. Youtube videos show that the position of the arm is also vital.
Know Your Handicap
The handicap can have a serious impact on the speed and accuracy of the swing. A lot of seniors capitalize on the position of the handicap to make the drill. Playing under or over the handicap always means there is low accuracy in the hit. Making adjustments improve the accuracy and the range.
What are the Best Golf Grips for Seniors?
Besides all the golf swing tips for senior golfers above, the equipment used is also important. Among the most important items in the bag is the grips.
Whilst there are so many grips to choose from out there, here are among the top based on comments from professionals:
- The JumboMax Tour Series has been praised by many senior golfers for being light according to pro-golfers comments.
- The Winn Dri-Tac Copper grip can help golfers apply the above tips for senior golfers.
- The Golf Pride CP2 grips can be helpful especially for those taking golf lessons on Youtube videos on how to grip based on pro comments.
The other option is the Karma Velour Jumbo grips that are among the most stable and can be helpful in improving speed and shoulder adjustment for stiff golfers.
Can the Same Grip be Used for Drivers and Irons?
The choice of grips also plays a role and is one of the most important golf swing tips used by golfers. Youtube videos have shown that one thing golfing seniors need is the best grips. Normally, pros use the same type of grips for all shots except for the putter.
This is even more vital for senior golfers. Another important swing tip for senior golfers is to stick with their favourite grip for as long as possible. This helps improve accuracy and power when taking shots.
How Far Should a Senior Golfer Hit a 7 Iron?
When looking for golf swing tips, it is advisable not to focus so much on the distance hit by others but rather on making the swing much better. If the above golf tips are used with the application of the best golf club, the required distance will be attained.
With that in mind, the average distance for a senior driver is 211 yards seen on television videos. For the irons, the average is about 113 yards whilst a 3-wood averages 186 for seniors. The above swing tips for senior golfers are key in unlocking the range for many golfers. Stick to the golf tips and everything will be just fine.
Best Golf Balls for Seniors
As much as golf swing tips for senior golfers are helpful, having the right equipment is still key. The ball used ensures flexibility and determines the curl as well as the range. Further, it determines the angle of the backswing depending on the orientation of the golf course. For the best swings on the course, adjustments made by the arm should be covered by other equipment.
Below are the available ball options for senior golfers:
- Titleist Tour Soft offers impressing hang time in all conditions, including the windy days. This feature alone goes a long way in making the above golf tips for senior golfers a reality.
- The Srixon Soft feel is another option that most seniors can use for a stable fit even in windy situations.
- The Callaway Supersoft is specifically designed to enhance performance for seniors. It can be very helpful in bringing the above tips for senior golfers to life.
- The other vital choice when it comes to balls is the Volvik Vivid golf swing option for seniors.
- More importantly, the Bridgestone E6 is one of the balls that can be used to offer the best golf swing for seniors.
All the above balls are vital and helpful in the game. Some are designed specifically for seniors but are commonly used by professionals for their weight benefits. YouTube videos offering tips for senior golfers use at least one of the options above.
Professional Golf Tips
Some of the tips for senior golfers mentioned above are sometimes used by professional golfers. Younger golfers use their energy to attain a golf swing that is more powerful. As a result, they may use other tricks apart from the common swing tips for senior golfers above. For those who wish to attain a strong golf swing without paying attention to the above swing tips for senior players.
Here are some tips used by pro golfers:
- Among the important swing tips for senior golfers is to keep the hands low. This tip is also important to pro golfers and is often used.
- The other important swing tip for senior golfers is using the body and foot for power. In the same way, pros rely on the feet and body to drill a powerful shot.
- Book the tee time in the early hours. This helps the sport in that, there is low wind speed and more pros are usually fresh.
- Exercise swings while taking video. The video helps with learning some mistakes made. Posting the video on Youtube may also help more fans.
Many seniors spend a lot of time on YouTube watching videos in a bid to get the best tips in the game. Whilst watching YouTube videos might be helpful in some cases, the sport can be more challenging if not handled well. Golfers can get more by using their email address to subscribe to reliable sources with all rights reserved to the tips provided like the ones above.
Instructions for senior golfers on how to improve their swing with tips on distance and accuracy would be incomplete without leading our readers on to our epic article on the Bryson DeChambeau Swing that has taken the Pro Golf world by storm!!