Golf is a game of precision, and all golfers want to perform at their best, regardless of ability. The golf swing is one of the most complex motions in all of sports, and golfers spend countless hours refining their motions and perfecting their craft. Tilting backward when driving the golf ball is a common mistake that robs the average player of distance and accuracy, but this swing flaw is easily correctable with an understanding of the fundamentals of the golf swing.
Flawless Setup
Golfers can start drilling themselves on proper setup immediately to stop tilting backward when driving the golf ball. The ball should be positioned just on the inside of the left heel. Your weight should be distributed evenly between both feet with some shoulder tilt backward on set-up, but during the swing, the body turns backward, then drives forward through impact. This move is essential to compressing the ball and driving for power and accuracy.
Shoulder Cover
Golfers that want to stop tilting backward when driving the ball should practice covering the golf ball with their shoulders on the downswing. A good drill to obtain this feeling is to place an alignment stick behind your shoulders and hold it in place with your hands. Make several practice swings pointing one end of the stick high into the air on the backswing, then pointing it directly into the ground on the downswing. This prevents a backward tilt and actually gets the shoulders working forward.
Out and Up
Proper shoulder turn and core rotation are essential to driving the golf ball long and straight. Using alignment sticks to aid proper hip turn helps prevent backward tilt. Practice rotating the your hips forward toward the target,and clearing the left hip out and up to drive the weight forward and the club into the slot position. This is accomplished by sticking an alignment stick into the ground outside of your left leg, then simulating a golf swing with several slow-motion hip turns.
Impact Bag
The impact bag is one of the most valuable training aids in all of golf and assists with the proper swinging motion. In order to impact the bag properly, golfers must drive down and through the golf ball with the hands leading the club face. A good drill is to make five practice swings with the impact bag, focusing on driving down and through the impact position and making a solid "thump," then hitting five golf balls attempting to get the same feeling.
Posted in: Golf