How to Transfer Your Weight

By Steve Silverman

The ability to transfer your weight smoothly and consistently is what will give your shots power and accuracy on the golf course. By setting up properly and having the right grip, you will learn how to transfer your weight easily and naturally.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step 1

Take an athletic position when you address the ball. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart and your knees should be slightly bent in an athletic position. The bending of your knees (flexing) will allow you to shift your weight from your back foot to your front foot with ease.

Step 2

Grip the club comfortably but not too tightly. You should hold the club at about 5 on a scale of 1 to 10. This is the equivalent of a firm handshake. It is important not to grip the club any tighter than this or it will be difficult to swing the club smoothly and transfer your weight from your back foot to your front.

Step 3

Let your hips drive your swing and key your weight transfer. Start your swing by rotating your hips toward the rear of the tee box. Once you have reached the point where you can't turn your hips any further to the right (for a righthanded golfer), your hands should be at shoulder height. At that point you start to rotate your hips in the other direction. Once your hips have cleared the hitting zone, shift your weight from your back to your front as you bring the club through the hitting zone.

Step 4

Transfer your weight from your back leg to your front leg at the moment of impact. It is not how hard you swing at the ball that will determine your distance, it is how smoothly you can transfer your weight. If you do this easily, you should be able to hit long and accurate shots.

Step 5

Work on your weight transfer at the practice range. Do this by bringing the club back to your shoulder and then working on your hip turn and moving your weight from your back leg to your front leg. Exaggerate the movement so you learn the details of the weight transfer.

Tips & Warnings

Snap your right wrist through the ball at impact. This last move will help kick in the final stage of the weight transfer.

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.