How to Shift Weight Smoothly for a Better Swing
By Steve Silverman
The fundamentals of the golf swing involve having the right stance, the right grip and the correct swing. To build a repeatable swing, the golfer has to learn how to get his entire body into the swing and not just his arms and upper body. To swing consistently, golfers have to transfer their weight smoothly from the right side of the body to the left.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Address the ball squarely. Your left shoulder needs to be facing the target, and your left foot should be directly underneath the left shoulder. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart. The ball should be played about one ball length closer to your front foot than your back foot.
Bend your knees as you stand about 18 to 24 inches from the ball. Begin your swing by rotating your hips to the right. As you do this bring your hands backwards until you have finished your backswing. Your hips should be fully rotated to the right, your hands should be at shoulder height and the face of your club should be over your head.
Rotate your hips to the left. As you bring your hips through the hitting zone, your hands should follow. You should not hit the ball until your hips have turned fully.
Keep your eyes on the back of the ball as your bring your hips and hands through the ball. Most golfers are particularly anxious to see the results of their shots, and they tend to pick up their heads at impact or before. This often results in a mishit. Don't move your head until you have reached the midway point of your follow-through.
Make sure you finish your swing with your weight on your front leg and your club up high above your left shoulder. It is important that the swing is accomplished by shifting your weight from one side of your body to the other and that it is done in a smooth and rhythmic manner.
Tips & Warnings
Practice your swing regularly at the driving range. The key to a repeatable swing is the ability to shift your weight from your back leg to your front and make contact with the ball as your weight is being transferred from one side to the other.
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.
