The key to hitting solid golf shots is to keep your weight centered over the ball during the backswing and through impact. (Scott Stuart/EclipseSportsWire.com)

Stability of the body cuts back on instability of the golf swing

By Les Miller,
Contributor

Most average golfers have trouble hitting consistent, solid golf shots. The problem I see most is they have too much lateral motion on the backswing causing them to sway off the ball.

When this occurs, they loose stability, causing a golf swing with little power and consistency. The key to hitting solid golf shots is to keep your weight centered over the ball during the backswing and through impact.

To aid in preventing the body from swaying during the backswing, I suggest placing a head cover or towel under the heel of your back foot at address. This will allow you to keep flex in your back leg on the backswing, which will prevent swaying and also help you to push off the inside of your back foot on the downswing.

As you watch PGA or LPGA Tour players on TV, notice how well they keep their head centered over the ball during the backswing. They do this because they want to shift their weight back to the inside of their back foot, not a lateral slide that moves their head off the ball.

If you sway back off the ball, the head moves back, which requires you to move your head back over the ball to hit a solid shot. This move creates inconsistency and miss-hits. Instead, as the weight shifts back, you should keep your weight on the inside of your back foot to maintain a solid head position over the ball.

The head cover or towel will keep your weight centered over the inside of your foot, as opposed to over the outer side of your foot when you sway. This is a critical position as you can now push off the inside of your back foot as the clubface passes through the hitting area on the downswing.

Use this practice drill to dramatically improve your ball striking.

July 10, 2009

Les Miller was a longtime Golf Writers of America member who covered golf instruction for several newspapers and golf publications. His many years of experience as a golf professional, director of product development and tour relations for several major golf companies gave him a unique background and ability to help golfers increase their enjoyment of the game.