In golf, every part of the swing is dependent on the one that preceded it. Golfers want to have a cohesive and repeatable swing that goes smoothly from one step to the other. In order to do this, the golfer must be balance and confident at all stages.
The stance
The golfer must be balanced at address. In order to feel confident in your stance, your feet should be shoulder length apart and your knees should be slightly flexed. This is an athletic position and it will allow you to begin your swing while feeling confident and strong.
The backswing
The golfer begins the swing while turning his hips back and to the right. When the hips are the engine of the swing, the golfer should not have a problem remaining balanced. However, if the golfer decides to speed up the swing and lead with the hands or arms, he may try to affect a weight shift by swaying backwards with the hips. That could result in a loss of balance.
The downswing and followthrough
It's important to concentrate on the back of the ball through the downswing and after contact. Many times, the golfer is interested in seeing the results of his shot and will pick his head up early in the process so he can see where the ball has gone. Picking up your head will almost certainly result in a loss of rhythm to the swing and a loss of balance.
Trying to put too much power behind the swing will also result in balance being impacted. You should allow the natural rhythm of your weight shift to direct the speed of your swing, not the speed of your arms.
About The Author
Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer who has been covering sports for 28 years. He is the author of "The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" (Triumph Books, Chicago) and two other books on the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
