Learning How to Stay Centered in Your Golf Swing

Golfers often have the wrong idea of how an effective swing works.  For example, students frequently tell me, “I am trying to shift my weight in the backswing.”  This is good if you want to hit behind the ball, top the ball, slice the ball or pull the ball.  I hope you can sense my sarcasm.

For better contact, more power and straighter golf shots, learn how to “stay centered” in your short game and full swing.  A centered swing turns around a steady head position.  Think of your head staying within a very small picture frame when you swing.

Your lower body weight at address should be slightly on your forward leg (the left leg for a right-handed golfer).  This can be achieved by flexing your left leg a slight bit more than your right leg at address.  When you swing, it should feel like it stays on the inside of the left leg through the backswing.  Yes, that is correct!  As your body turns through the backswing, your weight pivots around the inside of the left leg, while keeping a steady head position.  This will keep you centered.  To achieve this correctly, you will need to understand certain key points to support the concept:

1. Do not worry about keeping your right knee flexed.  It will straighten slightly.
2. It will feel like what most people refer to as a “reverse pivot.”  As you swing back, the right side of your body will feel higher than the left side of your body.
3. Your hands must remain close to your right leg during the takeaway.

This centered backswing position will allow your clubface to hit the correct spot at impact, which is just after the ball for an iron.  Rehearse this motion for two minutes every day without a golf ball so you can get used to the change.  When you play on the course, don’t overthink it and simply swing freely, thinking only of your target or a balanced finish position.  Do all practice and thinking away from the golf ball.

(Cover Photo Credit)