Weight Transference

How many golfers do you see with perfect balance?  For arguments sake, let's say that there are 50% of players who have regular problems in this area.  Do these people, young and old, male and female, have the same issues in everyday life?  A very small percentage may do but I think that the vast majority do not.  So, if they normally have good balance, why do they struggle when swinging a golf club?

Can we agree that your weight should move progressively on to the back foot as you swing the club away from the ball until most of it is on the back foot at the top of the back swing?  Can we go on to say that it then moves gradually forward until it is nearly all on your front foot at the end of your swing?  If you are throwing a tennis ball from one end of the court to the other or just a pebble into the sea, this kind of movement is totally natural.  Why then do golfers find it so difficult to perform in similar fashion when hitting a golf ball?

In my experience there are several explanations.  The most significant is the old devil of trying to keep your head still.  How on earth can you stay still and yet move at the same time?  Is this when golf starts to become complex and unnatural?  Next on the list is trying to develop resistance and 'coil' in your back swing.  Why would most golfers need to resist the flow of weight to the back foot?  Now add in the effect of trying to keep both feet glued to the ground as you move into your back swing and you can see a trend coming.  How do any of these widely held points help us?  The fact is that they do the opposite.

FACT - golfers who are too static in their back swings will invariably develop a tendency to finish with their weight on the wrong foot!!

Now, to a more mental rather than physical aspect of this issue.  The ball is static.  Somehow, we feel that if we don't move too much, and it doesn't, then we will have a greater chance of hitting the ball properly.  Sorry, this is totally false.  Remember, our basic requirements are to turn and shift our weight both back and through.  You simply can't achieve this if you are not moving.

You must trust your natural ability.  You can move and keep your balance.  You are doing this all the time, thousands of times a day.  I once walked the length of the main pedestrian walkway in Shanghai.  There were thousands upon thousands of people bunched together walking in both directions.  I didn't see people bumping into each other and falling over.  How amazing are we?

Have confidence in yourself, move freely and banish those outdated and unnatural ideas of still head, resistance going back and static feet to the rubbish bin.  Not only will you hit better golf shots, but you will also feel more comfortable and enjoy the sensations of swinging a golf club just as good players do.

I look forward to your comments on this article or any other issue you may like to ask.  Email me on brian@positiveimpactgolf.co.uk