Swing keys: you can swing as hard as you want, as long as your fundamentals are sound

Golf Digest, March, 2004 by Suzann Pettersen

I like my swing to be aggressive so that it matches my approach to the game. But for me to compete at my best, my swing has to be in good shape. So I spend most of my time on the range making sure my basics--grip, address, ball position and aim--are correct.

First I check my grip. It tends to get too strong, which can cause the clubface to shut at impact--and send me on too many visits to the left rough. I also check my ball position. I have a bad habit of playing the ball too far back in my stance.

My swing thoughts change from time to time, but they are always simple feelings. On the takeaway, I want to feel I rotate my arms and extend them away from the target. Keeping width on the backswing gives me room to hit the ball with my right side, as you can see in the photo at right.

When all of the basics are correct and my swing is working, I feel totally free to go for all my shots.

A standout in the 2003 Solheim Cup, Norwegian Suzann Pettersen completed her rookie year 31st on the LPGA Tour money list. She finished in the top 10 four times, earning $387,920.