Quick and Simple Complete Golf Swing Lesson: Three Essential Tips for a More Dynamic Swing

Welcome to The Art of Simple Golf! Today, we’re diving deep into the nuts and bolts of an effective, powerful, and simple golf swing. If you’re the type of player who wants practical, no-nonsense advice you can apply right away—whether you get out on the range a few times a week or only when the mood strikes on weekends—this is your guide.

We’re breaking down a lesson built around just three main elements. This isn’t about complicated drills or the latest swing theories. It’s about making sure your setup and swing work with you, not against you, so you can hit better shots with less effort.

This blog post is crafted for golfers over 45 who value clarity, efficiency, and results—but it’ll help anyone who wants a more powerful, consistent, and easy-to-repeat swing.

“I want you to have a dynamic setup. And that means as I address the ball, it looks athletic. It looks like my intention to send something that way.”

Introduction: Why Simple Is Better

Golfers love to tinker. We watch videos, get pointers at the range, and sometimes end up overthinking the basics. But there’s real power in the simple.

Older golfers, especially, need swings that feel natural, save the body, and can be repeated on command—no matter if you’re playing once a month or every weekend.

This lesson is for you if:

You sometimes feel stuck or locked up over the ball.
You’re working too hard in your swing but don’t get the results.
You want a quick reset: three steps to a simple, repeatable golf swing.

Let’s dig in.

Step 1: Say Goodbye to the Passive, Square Setup

Why “Square” Isn’t Always Right

A lot of advice out there promises that perfect “square” setup: level shoulders, level hips, level knees, level eyes. At first glance, that sounds ideal! But if you watch experienced golfers, you’ll see their setup is anything but rigidly square.

Imagine a door frame built around your body.
Everything is lined up, but there’s no action. It looks static, passive, and honestly—like you’re about to pose for a picture, not hit a golf ball.

“My shoulders are level and square. My hips are level and square. My knees are level and square. My eyes are level and square. It’s all very straight.”

But here’s the catch:
A perfectly straight and square setup often makes your swing too stiff, and it doesn’t prepare your body to move dynamically through the shot.

How a Passive Setup Holds You Back

Problems With Being Too Square

No Direction or Intent: Your body gives off no real clue that you intend to swing through the ball, let alone down the fairway.
Difficult to Start the Swing: If you’re upright and passive, it takes extra effort (and questions about “how” each time) to start moving.
Overcompensation: You often end up leaning, reaching, or making unnecessary movements to get things going.

Bottom line:
A rigid setup looks organized, but it sets you up for a struggle. Your swing starts “from zero,” meaning all the energy, turn, and movement has to be manufactured on the fly.

How to Find a More Athletic Posture

Think Dynamic. Think Ready-to-Throw.

You want to stand over the ball like you’re prepared to throw a punch, pass, or ball—not like you’re about to sit for a portrait. It’s about intention, angles, and athleticism.

Key Elements for a Dynamic Setup:

Hips and shoulders: Slight tilt, not flat!
Eyes: Aligned according to your dominant eye.
- Left-eye dominant? Look a tad more from your left side.
- Right-eye dominant? Let your right side take over a bit.
Hands: A little more forward press, building a sense of movability.

Find Your Tilt

Stand behind your ball and imagine throwing a frisbee down your target line.
Notice your hips and shoulders naturally tilt? That’s the athletic movement you want at setup.

“I want you to have a dynamic setup. And that means as I address the ball, it looks athletic… It looks like I can throw my club, that I can swing through and strike this ball to go that way.”

Quick Drill: The Dynamic Setup

Get into your normal stance—nice and square.
Now add a little tilt: Drop your trailing hip down and back just a hair.
Tilt your shoulders slightly, so the lead shoulder sits a touch higher than the trail shoulder.
Let your eye line track the target, but favor your dominant eye side.
Press your hands slightly forward, feeling ready to launch the ball.

Take a look in the mirror or on video. You should look like you’re in the starting blocks—ready to move.

Why Is This Better?

You have less distance to travel in your backswing—making it shorter, and more efficient.
You start from a position loaded with intent.
Your swing becomes more athletic, responsive, and ready for power.

Step 2: The Secret to a Dynamic Backswing

With the right setup, your swing becomes a natural, easy movement. But even with a perfect stance, mistakes can creep in during the backswing.

How to Wind Up (Not Just Lift Your Arms)

A lot of golfers—especially when working on getting their arms “up”—end up lifting their arms straight up and disconnecting from the body. This is where timing breaks down and consistency disappears.

“All I want you to do is feel like you’re winding up your ribcage just a few inches up that way… allow those hips to sort of wind up and turn, but I’m staying in this dynamic posture.”

Focus On the Core, Not Just the Arms

Key idea:
Your backswing starts by winding up through your ribs and core—not by yanking your arms skyward.

Turn your ribcage away from the target, allowing hips to rotate.
Keep it short, tight, and controlled.
Your arms will move, but they’re following, not leading.

Why This Feels Short (But Isn’t)

When you look in a mirror, this shorter wind-up may seem like you’re not going “far enough.” But the truth is, momentum will always carry you a little farther in an actual swing.

The Value of Starting in the Right Place

When your setup is dynamic and your backswing is powered by your core:

The arms naturally elevate just enough.
There’s less reaching, less over-extension, and more efficiency.
Your body stays “connected”—meaning less timing required, and more consistency on the course.

Real-Life Example

“I was working with a golfer on the range, and this was one of the main things we were working on, because he would sort of lift his arms up and almost end up all the way up here and have to work all the way back down. So I said, right, let’s just get the setup…”

Common Backswing Pitfalls

Over-winding: Trying to go too far back leads to loss of control and strains the back or shoulder.
Arm-lifting: Separating the arms from the body breaks the swing chain.
Stiffness: Too square a setup or too rigid a backswing eliminates athleticism and flow.

Quick Drill: The Short Backswing Windup

Take your dynamic setup.
Wind your ribcage “a few inches”—just enough that your chest moves away from the ball.
Let your hips turn naturally, without forcing.
Pause and hold for a count of two. Feel the loaded, athletic posture.
Release and “swing through” easily.

Practice until this feels smooth and natural.

Step 3: Glide and Flow – Free Your Lead Arm for Power and Consistency

Now we get to the part that glues it all together: a lead arm that’s free, gliding, and allows for fluid momentum.

Why Arm Freedom Is Key

If you’ve ever felt like your arms are pinned to your sides—or found yourself trying to “muscle” the club through the ball—listen up.

Key insight: The lead arm (left arm for righties, right arm for lefties) needs freedom to move along the target line.
It shouldn’t be locked, stuck to the torso, or manipulated to “create lag” or “shallow” or anything else.

“We need to kind of activate everything, but we need it to have fluid feelings. And we do that by allowing the lead arm just to Glide.”

Mistakes That Kill the Glide

Pinning the arm: No room to move, leading to “stuck” swings or overcompensation with the hands.
Muscling it: Forcing the swing with just the chest or lower body.
No follow-through: Lead arm never gets the chance to finish the job.

How Glide Leads to Better Results

When your lead arm glides freely on the backswing, and then again on the downswing, a few great things happen:

You create natural width and room.
Your club approaches the ball on a sensible path.
You get more time and space, so you don’t “cut across” or have to “save” the shot at the last moment.

Simple Drill: Lead Arm Glide

Take your dynamic setup.
Make your core-driven “wind up.”
Instead of pinning your lead arm to your chest, let it glide up and across your body, following the path of your ribcage.
On the downswing, let the lead arm glide back through—again, following the target line.

Tip:
You can even practice this with the club held upside down, for a lighter feel and extra feedback.

The Rhythm: “Wind Up, Arm Glides, Arm Falls”

You’re training a swing that’s “back-and-through,” without any stalling or crunching up.

“That, my friends, is the golf swing. We’ve got the setup. Wind up, arm glides, let the arm fall and simply get out of my way.”

Practicing the Leads and Follows

Allow your body to “clear out of the way,” especially with the core and hips.
Don’t overthink “lifting” or “correct positions” for the club.
Focus on smoothness and intention instead of complicated mechanics.

Putting It All Together for a Simple, Repeatable Swing

Let’s recap the three easy steps:

Dynamic Setup:
- Add athletic tilt and intention to your posture.
- Slight lean, hands a bit forward, eyes using your dominant side.
Wind-Up Backswing:
- Rotate your ribcage and hips just a few inches.
- Let the movement stay compact—arms follow, not lead.
Lead Arm Glide:
- Allow your lead arm to swing freely up and through.
- Body “gets out of the way” on both backswing and follow-through.

Quick Checklist Before Every Swing

[ ] Is my setup dynamic and “ready-to-throw”?
[ ] Am I winding my ribcage, not just lifting my arms?
[ ] Is my lead arm gliding back and through, or pinned and stuck?
[ ] Am I swinging with intent, not just going through the motions?

Print this checklist or save it on your phone for reference at the range!

“Precise golf swing. That is simple. Execute. Put those steps in place. I promise you, whether you don’t have time to practice or whether you do, it doesn’t matter. This is simplicity at its best.”

FAQs: Your Golf Swing Questions Answered

Q1: How much tilt is too much at setup?

A: The tilt should feel athletic, not exaggerated! Imagine tossing a ball underhand down the fairway. Hips and shoulders are angled “just a bit”—enough that you feel ready to move. Test in a mirror or with a coach for feedback.

Q2: Isn’t a short backswing less powerful?

A: Not at all. A controlled, centered backswing filled with intent produces far more consistent results and speed than any “all arms” overswing. Let momentum help you—don’t force it.

Q3: My lead arm always feels tight. How can I fix that?

A: Practice the glide drill with the club upside down at home. Think about “painting a line” along your target path with your lead arm both back and through. If in doubt, relax your grip pressure first.

Q4: Should I focus on swing path or shaft lean?

A: Not for this drill! Just aim to let your lead arm glide naturally. The right path and shallow angle will emerge from the freedom and athleticism of your setup and choreographed movement.

Q5: How do I “clear space” for my lead arm on the downswing?

A: Turn your body (hips and chest) out of the way as you swing through. Imagine the space in front gets “vacated” for your club and arms to swing through the ball—smoothly and confidently.

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

If you’re an older golfer, or simply someone who wants to keep things straightforward and effective, making your golf swing simple is your secret weapon. By just focusing on these three steps—dynamic setup, the right wind-up, and a free-flowing lead arm—you’ll see better results with less strain and confusion.

“Let me know how you get on. And until then, check out this lesson, because it’s really going to give you some steps for better driving.”

What To Do Next:

Try these steps at home: Use a mirror, record yourself, or practice dry swings while waiting for the kettle to boil!
Bring one change at a time to the range: Don’t overwhelm yourself. Master the dynamic setup first, then add the wind-up and glide piece by piece.
Share your progress: Join our community or drop a comment—let’s keep helping each other move towards more enjoyable (and powerful) golf swings.
Check out the next lesson: For even more driving distance and consistency.

Thanks for reading!
Head out to the range and keep it simple—your golf game (and lower back!) will thank you.

This article is part of The Art of Simple Golf’s ongoing series to help real golfers save strokes, increase enjoyment, and simplify golf for life.

Quick and Simple Complete Golf Swing Lesson: Three Essential Tips for a More Dynamic Swing

Introduction: Why Simple Is Better