Down the Line Golf Swing Sequence? (Master it!)

There are lots of ways to swing a golf club, and every player has a unique approach. But one swing type that will help you improve your accuracy and consistency when ball striking is the down the line golf swing sequence.

While you will need to spend a considerable amount of time practicing this sequence, you can begin by making some small but important adjustments, as we explain in this article. 

So, read on to find out how to master this technique and what you will need to change in your golf swing to see the results that you desire. 

What is the Down the Line Golf Sequence?

The down the line golf sequence refers to swinging the club straight through the middle of your stance. So, at the point of impact with the golf ball, your hands go straight through the strike, and, at least in theory, the ball flies straight towards the intended target.

On the PGA Tour, Adam Scott has one of the purest golf swings in the game, and his down the line swing is often touted as the perfect example of a golf swing that so many people try and replicate.

Check out just how pure and correct Scotts’ down-the-line swing is by this analysis brought by Sky Sports:

Unfortunately, swinging down the line isn’t overly easy to replicate, but there are some things you can do to try and improve your ball striking, as we explain in the following sections.

How Do You Swing Down the Line in Golf?

Swinging down the line is about keeping the golf club steady and straight throughout each phase of your swing. While many players have a natural draw or fade, when you swing down the line in golf, you hit the ball bullet straight.

One of the key things to swinging down the line in golf is hand extension. Following impact, your hands need to be as far from your body as you can get them as you extend all the way through the swing.

You also need to make sure your legs and arms move in unison throughout the golf swing, which is key to swinging down the line. Often, beginner swings are a little disjointed, and the arms don’t always follow through.

In other words, swinging down the line is about keeping everything in check and keeping your stance square to the golf ball.

While it takes a fair amount of practice to swing down the line, you can make the necessary adjustments to your swing with enough time spent out on the range.

The Ideal Golf Address Position on Down the Line?

When you’re hoping to hit the ball down the line, you need to make sure that you’re addressing the ball square on. Your feet need to be straight, your knees should be bent, and you should crock your back knee slightly inward towards the intended target.

To hit the ball down the line, you need to make sure you’re not setting up too much to the left or right. As you know, opening your body too much will result in a slice, while closing the clubface and your body at address will lead to a hook.

You should also make sure that your back is straight and your posture is good, which are fundamental aspects of any golf swing, regardless of the way in which you’re trying to shape the ball.

Once you’ve set up square and straight, you can then execute your backswing and make sure you follow through, throwing your hands out towards the ball.

Down the Line: What Is the Golf Impact Position?

Achieving the correct impact position in golf is something that all players strive for. If you get the impact position wrong, you are likely to fat or top your shot, which is almost certainly going to cause the ball to fly in a direction that you didn’t expect.

The most important thing to think about is the clubface angle at impact. When you’re trying to hit down the line, you need to make sure your clubface is square to the ball, as this will cause the ball to fly straight.

An open clubface will cause the ball to go right, while a closed clubface will lead to you hooking the ball to the left. Therefore, you need to make sure you’re square at impact when you’re trying to hit down the line.

If you’re too open or closed, you will almost certainly hit the ball where you don’t want it to go, so make sure you spend enough time working on your setup before starting on your backswing.

How Do You Copy Adam Scott’s Swing?

One of the best ways to copy Adam Scott’s golf swing is to break things down out on the range when you’re practicing. Remember, the key to hitting the golf ball down the line is keeping things square and following through with your hands.

Anyone who has ever watched Adam Scott swing a golf club is jealous of just how pure his swing is.

Everything is smooth and consistent, and he is able to generate a stunning ball flight and trajectory on every shot. But how do you copy Adam Scott?

Well, the trick is to try and work on the down the line golf sequence. Although Scott often hits a slight draw, he is very much the golfer to try and replicate if you’re hoping to hit the golf ball down the line.

The more you practice replicating Adam’s stunning swing, the more likely you are to be able to hit the ball straight off the tee or fairway.

Hitting a Driver with the Down the Line Technique?

Hitting a driver with the down the line technique is no different from hitting your irons. The mechanisms and dynamics of your swing should remain the same, and you should seek to drive through the ball. 

One of the only differences is that you should adjust your setup to ensure that your address is suitable for that of a driver. For most of us, it means that we should play the ball off our inside heel and widen our stance slightly.

Otherwise, the required motion for hitting down the line doesn’t change a great deal, and you still need to make sure you’re square to the ball and that you throw your hands through the shot.

Although it will take a while to make the necessary adjustments to your swing to hit straight down the line, it will undoubtedly be worth it when you start sending drives 275+ yards down the center of the fairway!

Can You Hit Wedges Using Down the Line Method?

Yes, you can hit any club down the line and wedges are no exception. Whether you’re hitting a long wedge on approach or hoping to send the ball high and stop it quickly around the greens, you can hit your wedges down the line.

Many beginner golfers often see their wedge shots fly left (for right-handers), while others overcompensate a struggle to get the ball airborne.

Syncing your swing and hitting the ball down the line is an excellent way of correcting this and ensuring your wedge shots go where you intend.

As is the case when practicing your down the line sequence with any club, the more time you spend out on the range, the more likely you are to see the results that you desire.

Golf is a game that you really need to work at, so the more you practice, the more skilled you will become.

Conclusion

Golfers at all levels of the game aspire to hit the ball down the line. After all, who wouldn’t want to hit the ball dead straight? But in reality, hitting down the line is harder said than done in golf.

If you’re looking for a role model to inspire your swing, Adam Scott is undoubtedly the player to turn to for modeling your own swing.

When you make the necessary adjustments, make sure you then spend enough time out on the golf course perfecting the sequence, so you can start middling your golf shots more often than not.