Weight Shift - sit to square

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Proper lower body engagement enables consistent contact. Above all, learn to get the weight to the front side.

In many sports, imitation of athletic moves is apparent. For example throwing a baseball obviously looks better to shift weight to the forward foot. In golf this is not as intuitive nor obvious. Too often we want to get our feet as wide as possilbe and hang back on the back foot. This may feel good but it is not good for the golf swing.

All too often we hit the “big” ball (the earth) before we hit the “little” ball (golf ball). Per the other basics learned to this point, the apex of the swing is directly below the lead shoulder (for right handers that would be the left shoulder). So the physics suggests that the bottom of the swing is going to be directly below the left shoulder. In order to hit the little ball before the big ball, we need to advance the apex or left shoulder just in front of the golf ball because we want to hit the ball before the turf. The resulting divot begins where the ball was and continues towards the target.

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This is a good place to point out that a proper stance of a few inches outside of hip joint neutral is critical. If your stance is too wide, good luck!

In golf the apex of the swing is at the left shoulder. We want the club to bottom out in front of the ball. That can only happen if we transition our weight to the left side.

Most swings include this transition. Chip shots won’t. With a chip we set the weight per the position of the ball in our stance.

Besides increasing power and proper swing dynamics, this is best accomplished by shifting the weight to the left side - specifically to the left heel - during the downswing. Practice shifting weight to the left heel. This will properly advance the left shoulder or apex. Weight on the heels engages the glutes which are perfect for keeping balance. Quads are not for balance.

I think this is possibly the biggest difference between golf and other sports. There are few sports where the target, or apex, moves. Other sports have similar athletic moves but few others change the target/apex mid-swing. This is weight transfer so non-intuitive that it is not automatic.

I remember on one occasion my mid round swing was in such a mess that I decided to walk up on the ball and hit it mid stride. I was shocked how well it worked. It worked because I was transferring my weight to the left side. My apex was shifting so that I was finally taking the little ball before the big ball.

The apex of the swing at contact should be in front of the ball. Now when I chip, I shift my weight to the left side at address. There is no weight transfer. This minimizes hitting the ground before the ball.

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