Swing with Balance

Just about every weekend golfer would like to have a balanced finish to his or her swing, one that looks like the pros' finish. Why shouldn't you want to copy the pros? They're pretty good, aren't they. A comfortable, balanced finish to a golf swing offers numerous benefits. It not only looks great, it also places less stress on your body. And for those who haven't guessed it, it also works better. Anything that works better generally takes strokes off your golf handicap. Unfortunately, many golfers lose their balance during their swings. Some spend hours trying to eliminate this flaw to no avail, despite taking golf lessons and studying golf tips in magazines and newsletters. That's because their corrective methods don't work. They may help for a short while, but in time, the golfer reverts to his or her old habits. Thus, an off-balance swing stays that way. Until they achieve proper balance, cutting strokes off their golf handicaps may be difficult to do.

Clubface Controls Balance What most golfers don't realize is that it's the clubface that controls balance. That's right. It's the clubface, not the body. Basically, our body is designed for making balanced, athletic moves, if it's allowed to do so. That's the key—allowing our bodies to make those balanced, athletic moves. Controlling the clubface enables your body to make those balanced, athletic moves.

The key for controlling the clubface in your swing is quite simply. Once you learn to properly position of the clubface through the swing, achieving proper balance in your swing is a snap. In fact, you'll be amazed at just how much more balanced—and powerful—your golf swing feels. But first you need to understand the swing's mechanics and how different moves affect balance.

Two Common MistakesTwo common mistakes golfers make tend to create an off-balance swing. Closing the clubface during the backswing is one. This mistake not only throws the golfer off balance but it also contributes to a reverse pivot. In fact, it's the main cause of a reverse pivot. That's because the body's natural reaction to a closed clubface is to shift the weight toward your front foot. A closed clubface also causes an instinctive hanging back on the right side during transition, creating poor contact and short-circuiting power.

The second mistake that causes an off-balance swing is over-rotating the arms, which leaves the clubface open. This move causes an overly flat rotation of the shoulders and a stranding of body weight behind the ball. More importantly, the move makes it difficult to get back on plane in the downswing and forces the body to move outside and around on the forward swing. This, in turn, makes most golfers fall toward the ball, creating a jammed impact position with little leverage for power.

Toe-up Drill Improves BalanceThe Toe-up Drill helps eliminates these mistakes and creates a better-balanced, more comfortable swing. The drill, which I've described in my golf tips newsletter, is easy to do at home or the range.

Assume your normal stance. As you start the swing, concentrate on turning the shoulders perpendicular to the spine in the takeaway. Allow your forearms and clubface to rotate naturally with the turn of your shoulders, so that the toe of the club points straight up as it reaches waist high. Do this several times.

When the club reaches your waist, you should feel your body weight move solidly on to your back heel. Instead of feeling weak and powerless, as you would if you over-rotated your arms or closed the clubface, you should feel coiled and powerful.

When you feel comfortable with the takeaway, try swinging to the top. Once there, you want the toe pointing straight down toward the ground. When you reach the top position, allow your arms to drop in an effortless manner and swing through to a simulated post-impact position. For best results, continue working on this drill. Each time you do it swing a little faster until you can swing at full speed. Once you feel confident, hit some balls using this new approach. You'll feel balanced and comfortable with your swing. A better-balanced swing will produce straighter shots and more consistency. Both will help you whittle strokes off your golf handicap.