Keep your head down? True or False

Answer: FALSE

Changing our golf swings is sometimes an arduous and on-going process.  We have to commit valuable time to improve and constantly refine. And every spring we set our sights on breaking 100, 90, 80 for the first time – working away on changing things like path of the club, grip, posture, ball position and the list goes on.

Unfortunately we all don’t have those winter getaways to work on our games and, subsequently, the position of the club-head and marriage to our hands tends to weaken during extended periods away from the game. To combat this I’d suggest you start developing a simple routine every spring that will ensure more distance, better ball flight and consistent results.

For this tip, I would like to reinforce the fact that vertical movement of the head before impact will result in inconsistent results; but lateral movement of the head towards the intended target will improve impact!

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Drill

We all were taught that the head must be stationary and may never move -  ‘keep your eyes on the ball‘.   I want to change the way you practice

The beautiful thing about this drill is that it doesn’t require a ball and recreates the correct feeling / movement of the head in relation to the hands and body while moving through the impact position.

• Position yourself in a correct starting position (in front of a mirror or a reflection of a window) with a club.  Start to initiate the movement of the lower body, noticing that your head and torso are also moving towards the intended target – there is no restricting of the head from moving forward or keeping it down.

Result
Looking in a mirror you will notice that the hips and shoulders are remaining parallel to the ground with more weight moving to your forward foot as a result of your head movement; you’ve just improved the impact position and more distance!  So many players fall into the trap of staying on the back foot as a result of the head not moving.

• Continue to move the head and eyes following the thumb on your right hand , with the club exiting parallel to the ground with the body in a balanced finishing position.

Result
By maintaining the relationship of the triangle created at address, assuming the marriage of the hands are positioned correctly, you should begin noticing that the relationship of the hands has not been changed and the club-head has not flipped over.

• After performing this motion several times slowly, assume the starting position and, without taking a backswing, introduce some club-head speed moving the club to a full balanced finish.

Result
As a result you will be creating better impact positions leading to increased distance, direction, trajectories and consistency.

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As golfers we don’t have to practice endless hours.  We do need to become aware of what controls the clubface at impact.  Thus, performing some dynamic drills without a ball or attaching things to a target and will prove beneficial.

Two great examples of this motion would be Annika Sorenstam and Robert Allenby.  Check out their swings.

Cheers,
Danny King

May Also be of Interest:

• Square the Face at the Top
• Impact – The Key to Consistency
• It all Starts with the Grip
• Drive it Long and Straight
• Pitching