How to Make a Golf Swing Change Stick - A GOLFTEC Singapore Coach Explains

Imagine a golfer who consistently hits the ball with a curve to the right. They have probably spent years trying to fix it. They may have tried aiming further left, changing their swing path, or simply telling themselves to hit the ball straighter. But before we try to change anything, we need to understand what is actually causing the ball to curve.

Step 1: Identify the Problem

During a Swing Evaluation at GOLFTEC Singapore, we can look at the golfer's swing and measure what is happening. In this example, we might identify that the golfer's left hand grip is too weak, which is contributing to the clubface being too open at impact. That gives us something tangible to work with.

Instead of saying "You need to stop slicing," we can say "Your clubface is too open at impact, and your grip is one of the things contributing to that." You cannot fix something properly if you do not know what you are trying to fix.

Step 2: Accept That Discomfort Is Part of the Process

The golfer needs to accept that what currently feels comfortable is not necessarily what is correct. If a weak left hand grip has been part of their swing for years, it is going to feel normal. Changing it is going to feel uncomfortable. That is not a sign that the change is wrong - it is often a sign that something has actually changed.

The new grip might feel strange. The new movement might feel exaggerated. The ball might initially go in places the golfer is not used to seeing. That is part of the process. If the old movement feels comfortable but produces the same old result, there is very little point in trying to make it feel even more comfortable.

Step 3: Make the Intervention and Measure the Result

Now we can actually make the change - adjusting the position of the left hand on the club to better control the clubface through impact. But simply putting the golfer into a new grip is not enough. They need to learn what this new grip does and what it feels like when they use it.

This is where practice with feedback becomes so important. We can hit shots and measure the results. Has the clubface become less open? Has the curvature reduced? The golfer does not have to guess. This is one of the great advantages of practising at GOLFTEC Singapore - we can make a change, hit a shot, measure the result, and decide what needs to happen next.

Step 4: Exaggerate the New Intention

Golfers often try to make a change by doing exactly what they have always done, but just a little bit differently. That rarely works. Instead of trying to hit the ball straight, our golfer may need to feel as though they are trying to close the clubface much more than they normally would. They might even hit shots that curve to the left. That is not a bad thing - we are trying to get the golfer to experience the opposite of their normal pattern. If they can produce a shot that curves left on demand, they have started to develop control over the clubface in a way they did not have before.

Step 5: Practise Under Pressure

It is relatively easy to make a swing change on the range with no consequences. It becomes much harder on the first tee with friends watching, or facing a shot where water sits beside the green.

At GOLFTEC Singapore, a student could set up a virtual hole - such as the 18th at Serapong, Sentosa, with water tightly framing the fairway - where our golfer who previously hit right now has a very clear objective: hit the ball away from the water. If they find the bunker on the left, that might actually be a success. They have deliberately produced a shot that curves away from the danger. The pressure changes the practice. The golfer is learning how to trust the new movement.

Stop Guessing and Start Measuring

Making a swing change stick is not about finding a magic tip. It is a process: identify the problem, accept that change feels uncomfortable, make the intervention, exaggerate the new intention, and practise under pressure. Most importantly, use feedback throughout.

A swing change might feel uncomfortable at first. That is okay. If comfortable was working, you probably would not be trying to change it in the first place.

Book a Swing Evaluation at GOLFTEC Singapore and let's begin by measuring, not guessing. Or explore our coaching packages to find the right programme for your game.